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Credit: Disney FanaticIt’s finally happening.
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Guests visiting Magic Kingdom Friday will likely notice water levels have dropped significantly in the park’s Rivers of America, indicating Disney World has officially “pulled the plug” and actually started to drain the area.
Over the last week or so, the water surrounding Tom Sawyer Island has slowly subsided but is now moving substantially faster. The water levels are so low, in fact, that guests can actually see the track previously used by the Liberty Square Riverboat.
This area is being drained to make way for Magic Kingdom’s newest expansion, Piston Peak.
Disney’s Piston Peak Plan
Related: Main Street Area Closed at Disneyland Effective Immediately
Disney announced its plans for Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America during the company’s D23 event in August 2024. While Disney made several announcements during the conference, namely a new Monsters Inc.-themed land for Hollywood Studios and confirmation of a Pandora on the West Coast, it was Disney’s Piston Peak project that garnered the most buzz.
Disney confirmed that work had already started on designing a new area for the Magic Kingdom inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise. The area also draws inspiration from the real-world national parks guests can visit.
The news was certainly exciting, but not everyone was thrilled by the reveal that Piston Peak would take over the space occupied by Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat, staples of the Magic Kingdom. This entire section of Magic Kingdom is heavily focused on history and patriotism. The names “Liberty Belle” and “Rivers of America” harken back to a classic period of American history, one that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the park in 2025.
Guests can still travel through history with the Hall of Presidents, but it seems clear that Disney is moving away from classic Americana stylings and toward more branded, IP-heavy experiences.
The decision to close such iconic parts of not just Magic Kingdom but Walt Disney World has proven to be one of Disney’s most divisive and controversial moves yet, even compared to the company’s handling of other classics like the now-defunct Splash Mountain.
Nevertheless, work has been steadily moving along on this project, with all water likely soon to be gone. As work continues, construction walls have extended around the Rivers of America, blocking views of Tom Sawyer Island. Walls were also recently placed inside the queue for Haunted Mansion.
Exact details regarding Piston Peak’s construction remain a mystery. It’s assumed the land could be ready to open by 2027.
Guests can expect other parts of the Walt Disney World Resort to look considerably different in 2027, with work also underway on several other large-scale projects. Disney is in the midst of transforming both DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom and Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios.
Both of these parks are getting new lands. Hollywood Studios is set for a Monsters Inc.-makeover with Monstropolis. The fictional city seen in the classic Pixar animated film will take over the location that previously featured attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D and restaurants like PizzeRizzo.
DinoLand will eventually become Tropical Americas, a fresh take on Disney’s prehistoric land. This area will feature several new locations and rides, one of which will be themed around Encanto.
Are you excited for Piston Peak? What is your favorite place to visit in the Magic Kingdom?