Overview
- Aerial photos published September 20, 2026 show active, large-scale work across the former Rivers of America site, including a tower crane, deep excavations, foundation preparation, materials staging, and transplanted mature trees.
- Disney permanently closed and removed the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square riverboat in 2025 to clear space for the new developments.
- At D23 2026 Disney confirmed Piston Peak National Park will include two Cars-themed attractions — Cars Ridge Run Rally and Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along — and that Villains Land will feature two major villain-focused attractions plus dining and retail.
- Aerial images also show nearby resort projects such as a new backstage office frame, a rerouted Floridian Way, and a fireworks launch alignment near Cinderella Castle, though Disney has not publicly confirmed long-term purposes for all staging areas.
- The scale and speed of work point to a lasting change in Magic Kingdom’s guest experience by replacing slower, atmosphere-focused spaces with denser, IP-driven environments and larger operational footprints, and Disney has not announced opening dates.