Walt Disney World Resort is permanently transforming the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park after more than half a century. New construction work signals Disney's plan to extend portions of the attraction that were never meant to be seen by guests, fundamentally altering the 1971 original.
Latest Construction Phase Begins
Fresh scaffolding appeared on Wednesday, January 21, on the Haunted Mansion's left rear section, WDWNT reported. The construction framework sits on the front lawn, where crews previously cleared some shrubbery. Fortunately, the scaffolding doesn't currently block queue views of the Victorian mansion facade.
The new scaffolding connects to the framework erected last week in the graveyard queue area. Green scrim now covers the older scaffolding, camouflaging it within the graveyard environment while hiding construction activity. The lawn scaffolding remains exposed for now, though scrim installation will likely follow within days.
Construction barriers and scaffolding have dominated the Haunted Mansion queue since last summer, when the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island closed. The current work prepares to extend the attraction's facade and graveyard to accommodate changes in visibility once Piston Peak National Park opens.
Haunted Mansion Backstage Areas Becoming Public-Facing
The Haunted Mansion was designed with certain sections intended to remain hidden behind landscaping and natural barriers. The upcoming expansion of Piston Peak National Park eliminates those buffers. A new walkway connecting the Haunted Mansion to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will expose formerly backstage portions of the 54-year-old ride building to guest sightlines.
Disney is extending facade elements and graveyard features to ensure the newly visible sections appear intentional rather than revealing unthemed show building walls or backstage infrastructure.
Despite ongoing construction around the attraction, the Haunted Mansion continues normal operations, welcoming guests throughout the renovation.
Cars Land Drives Changes
The Haunted Mansion alterations stem from Walt Disney Imagineering's D23 Expo 2024 announcement introducing Piston Peak National Park to Magic Kingdom Park. The Cars (2006)-themed Frontierland expansion will feature two attractions—a thrilling rally race and a family-friendly ride—situated in an environment inspired by American national parks.
Creating space for Piston Peak National Park required closing the Liberty Square Riverboat, Rivers of America, and Tom Sawyer Island last summer. Demolition of Tom Sawyer Island and the drained Rivers of America is substantially complete, with crews now installing foundational infrastructure for the new attractions.
Aerial photo of construction on West side of Magic Kingdom. For Villains land and Piston Peak National Park.
Aerial photo of construction on West side of Magic Kingdom. For Villains land and Piston Peak National Park. pic.twitter.com/81uqYwjbWX
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 18, 2026
A backstage equipment staging area and trailer complex supports construction for both Piston Peak National Park and the Disney Villains land under development in the area “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” Together, the projects are Magic Kingdom Park's most ambitious expansion since its opening.
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