Frontierland used to feel untouchable.
For years, it stood as one of Magic Kingdom’s most consistent lands — steady, familiar, and largely unchanged while other parts of Walt Disney World evolved around it. That sense of permanence is fading fast. Disney has now confirmed that two more Frontierland locations will permanently close, and the land’s footprint is officially getting smaller.
Westward Ho and Big Al’s are the latest closures tied to Magic Kingdom’s expanding construction zone. They won’t reopen. They won’t be reimagined. They’re simply being cleared away.
On their own, these closures might not sound dramatic. Westward Ho was a grab-and-go spot for coffee and snacks. Big Al’s sold novelty souvenirs that felt perfectly at home in Frontierland. But together, they represent something larger: Frontierland is actively being dismantled to make room for the future.
This isn’t the first sign of that shift. Guests have already noticed construction walls pushing closer to walkways, blocked river views, and altered access points. Even the railroad station that once anchored Frontierland has been affected, operating differently than it did for decades.
Now, the closures make it official. The land isn’t just under construction — it’s being reshaped.
The reason is no secret. Disney is building toward Cars Land and Villains Land, two projects that require space Magic Kingdom didn’t previously have. Unlike expansions at other parks, this one doesn’t happen neatly off to the side. It cuts through existing areas, and Frontierland is absorbing much of the impact.
As construction expands into the riverwalk area, Disney needs to reroute guests and maintain parade flow. That’s where these closures come in. Removing these locations allows Disney to move walls forward and create temporary pedestrian pathways to keep traffic moving.
From an operational standpoint, it makes sense. From a guest perspective, it feels like another piece of familiar ground disappearing.
Frontierland has always been about atmosphere as much as attractions. The shops, the walkways, the quiet spaces — they all worked together. When those pieces start to vanish, the land feels different even before anything new opens.
Disney has promised relocated snack carts and improved traffic flow, but that doesn’t replace the feeling of walking past a place you’ve known for years. These aren’t headline attractions being replaced with bigger rides. They’re everyday locations that anchored memories without demanding attention.
What makes this moment especially noticeable is how quickly it’s happening. One closure leads to another. Walls move. Pathways change. And suddenly, Frontierland doesn’t feel as wide or as calm as it once did.
That doesn’t mean Disney is abandoning Frontierland entirely. But it does mean the version guests grew up with is slowly being phased out.
Change is the cost of growth, and Magic Kingdom is growing in a big way. Still, as Frontierland shrinks to make room for what’s next, it’s clear that the park’s most traditional land is being asked to give up more than any other.
The future may be exciting. But the present is undeniably transitional — and Frontierland is right in the middle of it.
