Guests arriving at the Magic Kingdom on April 16 found a new stretch of construction walls in Frontierland, just the latest sign that the Old West-themed land is undergoing its most dramatic transformation since the park opened in 1971.
What's Being Built
The walls are connected to Piston Peak National Park, the Cars (2006)-inspired area Walt Disney Imagineering announced at D23 Expo 2024. Set within the landscape of America's national parks, the new Frontierland addition will introduce two original attractions not found in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park: a family-friendly experience centered on a new park ranger character named Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore, and a high-energy rally race-style ride. No opening date has been confirmed.
Making room for Piston Peak National Park has already cost Magic Kingdom Park some of its most beloved historic elements. The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat all closed permanently last year, with the waterway drained and the island cleared before vertical construction began.
These changes are just the latest part of the ever-evolving Frontierland: in 2024, Splash Mountain became Tiana's Bayou Adventure while the Country Bear Jamboree became the modernized Country Bear Musical Jamboree, and, at the time of reporting, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is mid-overhaul.
Big Al's Is Next
Last month, construction permits pointed to two more casualties of the Frontierland overhaul: Big Al's, a merchandise kiosk that had been a former ticket booth, and the Westward Ho Quick-Service dining cart. Both are expected to close permanently to accommodate the expanding footprint of Piston Peak National Park, though Walt Disney World Resort has not confirmed the exact closure dates for either location. Both remain open to Disney Park guests for now.
On April 16, WDWNT reported that plywood construction barriers had gone up along the Frontierland boardwalk overnight, positioned closest to Big Al's across from Frontierland Trading Post.
The boardwalk itself remains open to Magic Kingdom Park guests, though it now runs between construction walls and scrim on both sides, leaving little to look at. The walkway is expected to stay accessible when Piston Peak National Park eventually opens, though temporary closures for updates or construction work remain possible.
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