Walt Disney World Resort recently posted new notices inside the Magic Kingdom, urging visitors to exit the park. While this might sound alarming, the reason behind the signage isn’t as dramatic as it may seem. Let’s take a closer look at what’s really going on.
In July, Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, and the Liberty Square Riverboat all saw their final Disney Park guests as preparations began for a Cars (2006) expansion in Frontierland. The new area, dubbed Piston Peak National Park, is set to bring the beauty of American national parks to Frontierland. This new space will feature two exciting rides—a thrilling rally race and a family-friendly attraction—while still incorporating elements of the original landscape, such as water features and the iconic barrel bridge.
Since the closures, construction walls have been erected around the Rivers of America, signaling the start of the transformation. Guests at Magic Kingdom Park spotted Walt Disney Imagineers surveying Tom Sawyer Island by boat and foot, tagging props for archival preservation or destruction. Over the past few weeks, Disney Park guests have also noticed the water in the Rivers of America gradually being drained. Because of the construction, the Walt Disney World Railroad is operating in “shuttle mode” between Fantasyland and Main Street, U.S.A.
But the changes extend beyond the park’s borders. This summer, construction crews also cleared hundreds of trees outside the Magic Kingdom to make room for a new backstage area. These trees made way for temporary office trailers and an equipment staging area that will support the ongoing work in Frontierland. This space will serve as the construction base for both Piston Peak National Park and a new Disney Villains land set to be built “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”
On Sunday, August 3, new decorations appeared on the construction walls in Frontierland. X (formerly known as Twitter) user @DrewDisneyDude shared several photos of the new posters, which reference several Disney attractions and Easter eggs, including Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:
New posters and signs have been installed on the construction walls outside of the Cars-themed area and Villains Land project sites at Magic Kingdom!
One of the large posters advertises the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, an all-you-can-eat dinner show at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. The poster encourages visitors to travel from Magic Kingdom Park to Pioneer Hall, where the show takes place.
The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a long-time favorite at Walt Disney World Resort, performing Wednesday through Sunday at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. Guests can check the Walt Disney World Resort website for showtimes and availability; reservations are required.
What Cars characters do you hope to see in Piston Peak National Park? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
