Just weeks after the closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom Park, new reports suggest that the construction in Frontierland has damaged parts of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
At D23 Expo 2024, Walt Disney World Resort announced that the entire Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island area would be rethemed to Cars (2006), replacing Magic Kingdom Park’s patriotic landmarks with a new expansion called Piston Peak National Park. The updated Frontierland area will feature a rally race ride, a family attraction, and nods to America’s national parks. A handful of classic Frontierland elements — such as the barrel bridge — will remain, but the era of riverboats and island adventures has officially ended.
The once-bustling Rivers of America has now been reduced to little more than muddy puddles. The draining of the Frontierland waterway followed the permanent closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat, both of which retired last month. Crews immediately moved in to clear the area, removing props from Tom Sawyer Island — some destined for the Walt Disney Archives, others headed for disposal.
As the water levels dropped, so did the veil on Magic Kingdom Park’s hidden infrastructure. The drained riverbed now exposes support beams, unpainted rockwork, and other structural details that Disney Park guests rarely see. Despite construction walls, concealing the demolition from every corner of Frontierland is impossible.
This view of the Rivers of America is so sad.
Construction crews began bulldozing land behind Frontierland months ago, clearing trees to create equipment staging areas for Piston Peak and the upcoming Disney Villains land that is taking shape “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” Now, heavy machinery has rolled into the drained Rivers of America to start the next phase.
On Wednesday, WDWNT reported that the waterway had been reduced to sparse puddles. Birds have already taken advantage of the shallow pools to hunt leftover fish.
But the more significant discovery lies near the bridge to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. A mesh barrier separating the ride from the drained Rivers of America appears to have collapsed during the recent demolition. Footprints in the mud suggest that Imagineers are actively investigating the damage.
The timeline for Piston Peak National Park and the Disney Villains expansion has not been revealed. Walt Disney World Resort has yet to announce an opening date for either project.
Have you noticed any other construction projects around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
