For years, the second floor of Columbia Harbour House has been one of the most reliable places in Magic Kingdom to observe changes taking place in the park’s western reaches. Whether fans were watching developments around Tom Sawyer Island, updates to Liberty Square’s edge, or distant prep work for planned expansions, the quick-service restaurant offered a rare opportunity: an indoor, elevated look at portions of Walt Disney World’s massive behind-the-scenes projects.
However, those unofficial observation days appear to be over—at least for now. As confirmed by Blog Mickey, Walt Disney World has installed frosted coverings on several upper-level Columbia Harbour House windows, effectively eliminating previously unobstructed views into the active Frontierland construction zone. The update comes as work intensifies on the large-scale expansion planned for the area behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
While Disney hasn’t issued a public explanation for the change, the timing clearly coincides with an uptick in site-clearing activity and early groundwork for future lands. Here’s what we know about the change, what guests can expect moving forward, and why the next few years will transform one of the most familiar corners of Magic Kingdom.
A Longtime Viewing Spot Suddenly Obscured
According to Blog Mickey’s recent visual update, windows on Columbia Harbour House’s second floor that once faced toward Frontierland and Tom Sawyer Island are now completely frosted. This includes the very windows many construction watchers used to photograph—and track—updates from above ground level.
Before the frosted panels went up, guests could routinely see:
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Construction machinery staged along the waterway
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Tree-clearing operations across Tom Sawyer Island
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Demolition debris from early site preparation
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Excavation areas on the edge of the Frontierland expansion
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Cranes positioned for heavy work deeper inside the construction footprint
These angles weren’t widely advertised by Disney, but they became known within fan circles as one of the better spots in Magic Kingdom to check in on progress without boarding an attraction or maneuvering around work walls.
Now, those same windows are fully obscured, creating an opaque barrier that prevents any meaningful visibility into the work zone.
Why Disney Likely Frosted the Windows
Disney routinely masks areas under construction, especially in locations where heavy equipment and incomplete structures would disrupt the story of the surrounding land. The company typically prefers guests to remain immersed in the themed environment rather than viewing logistical activity that could break that illusion.
Covering the Columbia Harbour House windows accomplishes several things:
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It prevents guests from photographing sensitive early-phase work.
Foundations, demolition, utility preparations, and staging zones are historically the least thematic parts of a project. -
It keeps the interior dining space visually consistent.
Guests eating lunch above Liberty Square will no longer be confronted with construction noise and movement directly outside the window. -
It aligns with Disney’s standard construction protocols.
Frosted glass, themed scrims, and decorative walls are commonly used across resort projects.
Given the early stage of the Frontierland expansion—where much of the work is still structural and infrastructural—the visual shielding makes operational sense.
A Temporary Obstacle for Fans Who Track Construction
Blog Mickey notes that the blocked windows will make photography and progress monitoring harder for the foreseeable future. For fans who enjoy following every stage of a new land’s development, this is a setback.
However, the publication also points out that this restriction is temporary in the broader timeline. Once Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens in 2026 after its scheduled refurbishment and layout enhancements, portions of the queue and attraction are expected to provide expansive, elevated views into the newly redeveloped area. Given the scale of the planned additions, these views may end up being far more dramatic—and more revealing—than anything Columbia Harbour House ever offered.
What’s Coming to Frontierland
Disney has already confirmed that the area beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will serve as a large new expansion pad for Magic Kingdom. While final attraction details remain unrevealed, two major concepts have been publicly acknowledged:
Piston Peak National Park
Based on the world of Planes: Fire & Rescue, the new zone is expected to include naturalistic rock formations, forested environments, and thematic elements reflecting the firefighting-oriented setting of the film.
Villains Land
A long-speculated idea among fans, this new land will center around Disney’s iconic villains and is expected to introduce entirely new experiences, likely including at least one major attraction.
The combination of these lands represents one of the most significant expansions in Magic Kingdom history and will reshape the terrain behind Frontierland for years to come.
Where Fans Can Still Get Construction Updates
Even without access to Columbia Harbour House’s once-useful sightlines, fans aren’t out of luck. Blog Mickey emphasizes that aerial photographer Bioreconstruct continues to capture detailed overhead images of the ongoing changes. His coverage has been particularly valuable during the early phases of the Frontierland expansion, showing:
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The extent of tree removal
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New pathways carved for construction access
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Shifts in terrain elevation
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Heavy machinery positioning
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The scale of newly cleared plots
These aerial views offer a comprehensive perspective not possible from ground level and will likely remain a key resource throughout the development process.
The decision to frost the Columbia Harbour House windows is a small update in the context of a much larger transformation, but it signals just how active—and visually disruptive—the Frontierland project has become. While fans may miss the ability to casually monitor progress over lunch, the changes underway are poised to deliver entirely new experiences that will redefine the western edge of Magic Kingdom.
By 2026, once Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens, guests should once again have clear views into the worksite—and by then, the most exciting elements of the project will be fully underway.
Until then, aerial photography and occasional on-the-ground glimpses will be the primary ways to watch the evolution of Disney’s largest current expansion.
