After three months of anticipation, a familiar feature has returned to Magic Kingdom Park’s Frontierland. The “Passage to Frontierland” sign, which had been missing since January, is back on the walkway between Adventureland and Frontierland, close to Tortuga Tavern and Pirates of the Caribbean. This refurbishment is part of several ongoing changes in the area, with Disney working to refresh various parts of the park.
Frontierland has seen a lot of change over the last year. In addition to the “Passage to Frontierland” sign returning, Walt Disney World Resort has already made substantial updates in the area, such as the closures of Splash Mountain and the Country Bear Jamboree attractions. These have been replaced with new experiences like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the refreshed Country Bear Musical Jamboree. There was also the demolition of the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade, which was replaced with a new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) lounge that opened this year.
Even more changes are on the horizon. At D23 Expo 2024, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, revealed that the Cars (2006) franchise would be making its way into Frontierland, with two new attractions set to replace Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. The Pixar-inspired attractions will be different from those in Cars Land at Disneyland Resort’s Disney California Adventure Park.
Though the official closing dates for Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat haven’t been confirmed, early permits have been filed to demolish parts of the original Frontierland area.
Along with that, a Disney Villains land is being developed “beyond Big Thunder Mountain.” Big Thunder Mountain Railroad itself is undergoing a year-long refurbishment to add “new magic.”
Amid all of these exciting plans for the future, WDWNT recently reported that a piece of classic Frontierland has finally returned: the “Passage to Frontierland” sign. Located near Tortuga Tavern and Pirates of the Caribbean, the wooden, hanging sign features the same design as the original. One side reads “Passage to Frontierland,” while the other side says “Adventureland.” It’s unclear whether it’s a completely new sign or the original one repainted.
Disney typically doesn’t make announcements about minor refurbishments like this one. Still, the return of the “Passage to Frontierland” sign marks a rare moment of nostalgia for fans as they look forward to even more changes coming to Magic Kingdom Park in the future.
Have you noticed any other subtle changes around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
