Credit: Becky Burkett, Inside the MagicA new refurbishment is in the works for an old Disney classic.
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While Magic Kingdom features some of the most iconic rides in all of Walt Disney World, you’d be hard-pressed to find an attraction as legendary as the Haunted Mansion. This spirit-filled dark ride has been a staple of the Magic Kingdom for decades and has remained one of the most popular attractions at the entire resort.
Sure, the ride has seen some upgrades over the years, but Haunted Mansion is still very much the same fun, creepy, and goofy experience it was back in 1971.
However, a sudden update has left fans curious about what Disney World has planned for its version of the Haunted Mansion.
Construction Spreads Through Haunted Mansion Graveyard at Magic Kingdom
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Most of Haunted Mansion’s line is located outside and runs along the former Rivers of America, giving guests incredible views of the island and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. However, construction walls now block views of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America inside Haunted Mansion’s queue.
These rivers, along with the island and the Liberty Square Riverboat, closed permanently in July to make way for Magic Kingdom’s new Cars-themed area, Piston Peak.
According to BlogMickey, minor updates are also being made to the attraction’s graveyard in preparation for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. During the party, special lighting and music will be pumped into Haunted Mansion’s queue.
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Disney’s decision to close Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America was not taken lightly by fans. The company first announced its controversial plans at its D23 conference in August 2024. This was hardly the only big project teased and/or announced by Disney, but it certainly made the most noise online.
Over the last few months, fans have made their voices heard, some grateful for the time they got to spend on Tom Sawyer Island, and others angry that these decades-old attractions and experiences would be going away forever.
Over the last week or so, Disney has been slowly draining the water from its faux waterways. Once this is complete, work will presumably begin on transforming the space into Piston Peak. This new area takes inspiration from Pixar’s Cars franchise as well as the real national parks located throughout the country.
The area will feature one new thrill ride: an off-road racing adventure similar to the one at Disneyland’s Radiator Springs.
A timeline for Disney World’s Piston Peak project has not been revealed. It’s expected that the new area will be completed by 2027.
Do you enjoy riding Haunted Mansion? What is your favorite dark ride at Walt Disney World?