Water has returned to the Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom Park, much to the delight of some Disney Parks fans. After being drained in July for construction, the waterway around Tom Sawyer Island is once again flowing. This marks the latest hurdle in Frontierland’s ongoing transformation, which is undergoing a major update to make way for a new Cars (2006)-themed area.
The change was first announced over a year ago at the D23 Expo 2024, and fans later learned that the new Frontierland area would be called Piston Peak National Park. This new section, which will be inspired by the natural beauty of America’s national parks, will incorporate several existing features from the Rivers of America, including barrel bridges. The new land will feature two Cars-themed rides: a thrilling rally race and a family-friendly attraction.
The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat closed permanently on July 7, 2025. Shortly thereafter, Disney Park guests noticed Imagineers surveying Tom Sawyer Island and tagging props for destruction or preservation. Once the Rivers of America went dry, some guests spotted crews removing sections of the former Liberty Square Riverboat tracks.
Interestingly, Mother Nature appeared to have a role in the project’s timeline. Several Disney Park guests recently reported that heavy rainfall in Central Florida caused the Rivers of America to partially refill.
“Water has been re-added to the Rivers of America, we won!” said @bigthunderzac on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Unfortunately, Magic Kingdom Park guests won’t have the opportunity to watch the construction for long. The scaffolding seen in the video is only the beginning of the taller barricades that will soon block views of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island as demolition begins.
Walt Disney World Resort has not issued any public statements on the ongoing construction or issues with the Piston Peak National Park project. As work continues, crews are expected to install new infrastructure, like drains, to prevent future water pooling.
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort’s decision to replace Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom with Piston Peak National Park? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
I guess too many Disney guests must have liked Rivers of America and the paddleboat ride, so Iger decided to get rid of it. What they really need to do is get rid of IGER! As a Disney shareholder I would vote to fire him if that opportunity became available.
Disney has thousands of acres available at the Ordando cocation. I know that part of the area is dedicated to conservation, but that still leaves a lot of land to develop. Animal Kingdom is only 500 acres; surely there is room for several more 500 acres “parks” there. They could keep the “old people” attractions, after all we all become old people eventually. Hey!!! They could even make a retired old folks park with all slow rides…..bound to be a success !!!