Fan-favorite Americana elements are literally draining from the Magic Kingdom as crews lower the water levels in the Rivers of America.
On July 7, 2025, Walt Disney World Resort permanently closed Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Square Riverboat, and the Rivers of America. Since then, crews have been steadily draining the waterway, and construction walls have cordoned off much of the Frontierland area. Walt Disney Imagineers were spotted tagging props on Tom Sawyer Island for destruction or archival preservation.
Walt Disney World Resort originally announced plans for the transformation of Frontierland in 2024, with a Cars (2006)-themed area set to replace Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. This new area, Piston Peak National Park, will feature a rally race-style thrill ride and a family-friendly attraction. It will be inspired by the natural beauty of America’s national parks and include existing water features and barrel bridges.
Disney began preparing for the construction of Piston Peak National Park long before Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America closed. In June, crews bulldozed trees and cleared space backstage for a trailer lot and equipment staging area. This will serve as a home base for the Cars construction and the development of a Disney Villains land “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”
For many Disney Parks fans, however, the most noticeable change has been the reduction in water levels in the Rivers of America. The once-iconic waterway, which had long served as a tranquil backdrop to the Liberty Square Riverboat, is now largely drained, exposing the once-submerged tracks.
The sight of the Liberty Square Riverboat’s tracks rising above the low water is a jarring visual for many Disney Park guests. On August 13, 2025, @WDWNT shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing the current state of the Rivers of America. The footage revealed that the water has receded enough to fully expose the tracks that guide the Liberty Square Riverboat.
The Rivers of America is now drained enough for the track to be fully visible above the water.
Walt Disney World Resort has not announced grand opening dates for Piston Peak National Park or the Disney Villains land at Magic Kingdom.
Have you visited Magic Kingdom Park during the Frontierland construction? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments!
