Over 30% of Frontierland Erased: 5 Classic Offerings Cut in Massive Magic Kingdom Overhaul
Magic Kingdom guests don’t have to look far to see just how different Frontierland has become.
Several experiences that once defined this corner of Walt Disney World are already gone. In fact, more than 30% of its classic experiences have been removed or permanently closed.
The remaining longtime attractions have received major updates as Disney pushes ahead with a much larger transformation.
Taken together, today’s Frontierland looks increasingly removed from the land generations of Disney World guests remember.
Decades of Change Lead to a Bigger Transformation
Frontierland debuted with Magic Kingdom in 1971, creating an area inspired by America’s westward expansion.
Disney continued expanding the land over the following decades. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in 1980, followed by Splash Mountain in 1992. Dining locations, shops, entertainment, and smaller attractions helped create the Frontierland that millions eventually came to know.
More recently, however, Disney accelerated those changes.
Splash Mountain became Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in 2024. Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island permanently closed in 2025 to clear space for Piston Peak National Park.
The Cars-themed expansion will feature mountains, waterfalls, trails, geysers, and two attractions. Its construction has already dramatically altered the surrounding area.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade Ends a 52-Year Run
One of the first major losses came in 2024.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade had operated since Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, allowing guests to shoot at interactive targets throughout an Old West setting.
The attraction welcomed guests for the final time on June 23, 2024.
Disney then converted the location into McKim’s Mile House, a Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge. Although the building remains, the shooting experience itself ended after more than five decades.
Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island Disappear
Disney’s next round of closures changed Frontierland on a much larger scale.
Rivers of America had been part of Magic Kingdom since opening day, wrapping around Tom Sawyer Island and providing a waterfront along Frontierland and Liberty Square.
That landscape disappeared after the area permanently closed in July 2025.
Tom Sawyer Island went with it. Guests once traveled there by raft before exploring its caves, trails, bridges, and other spaces without following a traditional ride experience.
The island operated for the final time on July 6, 2025.
Disney cleared both areas as part of its preparations for Piston Peak, giving the company substantial space for its next generation of attractions.
Splash Mountain Gives Way to Tiana
Another major piece of Frontierland disappeared before that construction even began.
Splash Mountain opened in 1992 and remained one of Magic Kingdom’s signature thrill attractions until January 2023.
Rather than demolishing its entire ride system, Disney transformed the attraction into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by The Princess and the Frog (2009).
The new attraction opened in 2024 with different characters, music, animatronics, scenery, and storytelling.
Guests can still experience the famous drop, but Splash Mountain itself is permanently part of Disney history.
Westward Ho Becomes Another Piston Peak Casualty
The changes haven’t been limited to major attractions.
Westward Ho Refreshments permanently closed in June 2026 as construction of Piston Peak continued nearby.
The small Frontierland location offered grab-and-go food along the land’s main walkway. Its closure further demonstrates the scale of Disney’s work.
Entire sections of the area are being rebuilt rather than Disney simply swapping one attraction for another.
Even Frontierland’s Survivors Look Different
Country Bear Jamboree and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad remain, but both have undergone substantial changes.
Disney replaced Country Bear Jamboree with Country Bear Musical Jamboree in 2024. The familiar bears stayed, while the new performance introduced country-style versions of Disney songs, including music from Frozen (2013).
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad followed with its own overhaul. The coaster reopened in May 2026 with refreshed storytelling, new visual effects and details, and Rainbow Caverns.
Frontierland’s Walt Disney World Railroad station also remains unavailable. It has been out of service since 2025 due to construction, with trains currently running between Main Street, U.S.A., and Fantasyland.
What Will Happen to Frontierland?
Disney isn’t eliminating Frontierland, but it is building a substantially different version of it.
Five familiar experiences are gone, surviving attractions have evolved, and Piston Peak will eventually occupy much of the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island area.
That transformation will bring new experiences to Magic Kingdom.
It also means the Frontierland longtime guests remember is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
