Walt Disney World Resort has removed Big Al, the Country Bear Musical Jamboree icon, from his post in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. Here’s what changed at the original Central Florida Disney park this week.
Big Al Disappears From Frontierland
This year, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed the permanent closure of Big Al’s merchandise kiosk in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. After 55 years, the store sold its final souvenir earlier this week, and demolition began on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, May 13, Big Al’s sign, including a sculpture of its namesake, disappeared from above the construction walls. The building’s chimney remains intact, though the entire structure is expected to be demolished as part of the Piston Peak National Park area coming to Frontierland. WDW News Today shared this photo of the construction site on Facebook:
Information about Big Al’s has been removed from Walt Disney World Resort’s website and the My Disney Experience app. The kiosk has also been removed from the paper maps available at Magic Kingdom Park.
Big Al’s began as a ticket booth when Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971, and served several purposes before being converted to a merchandise location inspired by the nearby Country Bear Jamboree in 1989. In 2024, the audio-animatronic show in Frontierland reopened as the reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree, featuring Big Al and his friends performing country-Western covers of iconic Disney songs.
Part of a Wider Update at Magic Kingdom Park
The demolition of Big Al’s is just the latest part of the biggest-ever overhaul of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. In the summer of 2025, Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, and the Liberty Square Riverboat permanently closed to make way for the Cars (2006)-inspired Piston Peak National Park.
Inspired by the natural landscapes of national parks across the United States, this Pixar-themed area will feature two attractions that differ from those in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park: a rally race thrill ride and a family-friendly attraction featuring a new Park Ranger character, J. Autobahn Woodlore.
Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America have already been flattened and drained, and construction has begun on Piston Peak National Park. The Westward Ho snack kiosk near Big Al’s is also expected to close to make way for the new section of Frontierland.
What do you think about the Frontierland overhaul at Magic Kingdom Park? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
