Credit: Inside the MagicMagic Kingdom’s Liberty Square has served as one of Walt Disney World’s most atmospheric themed lands since the park opened in 1971, transporting guests to colonial America with cobblestone pathways, historic architecture, and the looming presence of the Haunted Mansion overlooking the Rivers of America.
The Gothic revival estate has remained largely unchanged for over five decades, maintaining its position as one of Disney’s most beloved attractions through generations of visitors who have dared to enter its foreboding halls and encounter 999 happy haunts. Liberty Square itself has evolved minimally compared to other Magic Kingdom lands, preserving its 18th-century aesthetic even as the park expanded around it with additions like Fantasyland’s New Fantasyland expansion and Tomorrowland’s various iterations.
The Haunted Mansion stands as the architectural anchor of Liberty Square, its weathered facade and overgrown cemetery serving as visual reminders that not all Disney attractions celebrate cheerful optimism. Recent months have brought unprecedented change to this corner of Magic Kingdom as construction activities surrounding the upcoming Villains Land and Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park have transformed the area into one of Walt Disney World’s most active construction zones. The Rivers of America have been drained, forests behind it’s a small world have been cleared, and massive earthmoving equipment has fundamentally altered the landscape that once provided natural buffers between themed environments. Amid these dramatic changes, the Haunted Mansion itself has undergone exterior refurbishment work that started modestly but has progressively expanded to cover increasingly larger portions of the historic facade with green construction scrim, prompting questions about the scope and duration of the restoration project affecting one of Disney’s most photographed attractions.
Photo Scrim Installation Signals Extended Construction Timeline
A photo-realistic scrim wrap has appeared on sections of the Haunted Mansion’s exterior, suggesting the refurbishment work may continue for an extended period. The large printed panel displays a photograph of the Mansion’s actual facade and has been installed across portions of the green scrim covering that has progressively expanded across the building.
Haunted Mansion Refurbishment Gets Photo-Realistic Scrim Wrap as Exterior Work Continues at Magic Kingdom https://t.co/D38pPY2zCH
— WDWMAGIC.COM (@wdwmagic) February 17, 2026
Disney typically employs decorative wraps like this when construction or refurbishment projects are expected to last long enough that the visual impact of plain construction barriers warrants softening for guest experience. The photo-realistic treatment attempts to maintain the illusion of the Mansion’s Gothic architecture even while physical access to the facade remains blocked by scaffolding and protective covering.
The scrim installation represents a visual acknowledgment that this exterior work will not conclude quickly. Short-term projects rarely receive this level of decorative treatment, as Disney generally reserves photo wraps for refurbishments extending multiple months or longer when the construction sightlines would otherwise significantly impact the guest experience and photo opportunities that form lasting vacation memories.
No official completion date has been announced for the exterior restoration work. The scope of scrim coverage has continued growing since work first began, with more of the facade now obscured than during the initial phases of the refurbishment project. What started as targeted sections has expanded to cover substantial portions of the building’s street-facing elevation.
Attraction Operations Continue Unaffected
The Haunted Mansion continues operating normally throughout the exterior refurbishment. Guests can still experience the attraction and access the queue without operational disruptions, as the construction work focuses exclusively on the building’s exterior envelope rather than interior show elements or ride systems.
The facade refresh addresses standard maintenance requirements for the historic structure. Florida’s humid subtropical climate proves particularly challenging for exterior building materials, and the Haunted Mansion’s deliberately weathered aesthetic requires careful preservation to maintain its “properly decayed” appearance without allowing actual structural deterioration.
The refurbishment work includes paint and stone stabilization to address wear on woodwork and faux-aged brickwork that creates the Mansion’s Gothic character. Roofing maintenance targets the iconic spires and weather vanes that define the building’s silhouette. Landscape modifications have temporarily removed shrubs and flower beds from the “dead” lawn surrounding the building to accommodate heavy scaffolding placement against the structure.
Despite internet speculation and social media rumors suggesting more dramatic changes, Disney has confirmed the work remains limited to exterior preservation. The Stretching Room pre-show, interior show scenes, Audio-Animatronics figures, and ride systems remain untouched by this refurbishment. The Stretching Room’s hand-painted portraits by Marc Davis, the “hanging man” effect, and the mechanical gallery elongation system all continue operating exactly as designed for the attraction’s 1971 opening.
Construction Context: Villains Land and Piston Peak Development
The Haunted Mansion’s exterior work occurs simultaneously with massive construction activities surrounding the attraction for the upcoming Villains Land and Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park projects. This convergence makes the Liberty Square area one of the busiest construction zones across all of Walt Disney World.
The Rivers of America have been completely drained to accommodate the Beyond Big Thunder expansion that will introduce both new lands. Forests behind it’s a small world have been cleared, fundamentally altering the landscape buffers that previously separated themed environments. The tree canopy that once surrounded the Haunted Mansion has been significantly thinned, exposing the attraction to more direct sunlight and changing the atmospheric qualities that contributed to its foreboding presence.
A new building under construction adjacent to the Haunted Mansion serves as a critical infrastructure element for the expansion. Recent permits filed by Walt Disney Imagineering reveal this structure’s strategic placement between Liberty Square’s colonial atmosphere and the upcoming Villains Land. The building functions as both a sightline shield blocking views of Villains Land show buildings from Liberty Square and a thematic transition point bridging the two drastically different environments.
The building’s footprint suggests it could house restrooms, retail space, or a specialized transition experience leading guests from Liberty Square into Villains Land. Its exterior design will likely mirror the Haunted Mansion’s Gothic architecture, appearing as an abandoned carriage house or forgotten wing of the Gracey Estate to maintain architectural coherence within Liberty Square while preparing guests for the darker aesthetic awaiting in Villains Land.
Piston Peak National Park will occupy former Rivers of America space with rally race tracks inspired by the Cars franchise. Villains Land will feature attractions, dining, and entertainment celebrating Disney villain characters in an environment designed to contrast sharply with Magic Kingdom’s traditionally heroic storytelling.
Guest Experience Implications
The photo scrim installation improves the visual experience for guests visiting during the refurbishment period compared to plain green construction barriers. While the printed facade photograph cannot fully replicate the three-dimensional architectural details and atmospheric lighting that make the Haunted Mansion photogenic, it provides a more aesthetically pleasing backdrop than unmarked scrim.
Guests planning Magic Kingdom visits in coming months should anticipate the Haunted Mansion’s exterior remaining partially obscured for an indeterminate period. The photo scrim signals Disney’s acknowledgment that this situation will persist long enough to warrant the investment in decorative treatment. However, the attraction’s continued operation means the Haunted Mansion experience itself remains available without significant modifications to wait times or operational patterns.
The interactive queue remains accessible, though the surrounding landscape changes affect the experience. The removal of trees and ground cover has increased sun exposure in areas that previously benefited from shade, making afternoon queue waits potentially less comfortable during Florida’s warmer months. Morning visits may prove more pleasant for experiencing the outdoor queue elements and cemetery details.
The construction activities surrounding the Haunted Mansion create unusual sightlines and noise that contrast with Liberty Square’s intended 18th-century atmosphere. Heavy equipment, construction barriers, and earthmoving activities visible from various vantage points remind guests that this corner of Magic Kingdom is undergoing its most significant transformation since the park opened.
Disney occasionally incorporates Easter eggs or thematic elements into construction barriers, and observant guests might discover hidden details within the photo scrim or surrounding construction treatments that hint at upcoming Villains Land elements or acknowledge the Haunted Mansion’s role in Magic Kingdom history.
Planning Considerations
Guests should not skip the Haunted Mansion despite the exterior construction aesthetics. The attraction continues operating at full capacity with its complete complement of show elements, Audio-Animatronics, special effects, and atmospheric details that have made it a Disney Parks icon for over five decades.
Photography opportunities have diminished with the facade partially obscured, but creative angles may still capture portions of the building’s architecture along with the surrounding Liberty Square environment. The photo scrim itself might become a curiosity for documenting this transitional period in Magic Kingdom history before Villains Land and Piston Peak National Park fundamentally alter the area’s character.
The Haunted Mansion’s proximity to active construction zones means guests should prepare for occasional construction noise, modified pathways, and visual intrusions that temporarily compromise Liberty Square’s immersive theming. These represent necessary compromises during the expansion period that will eventually deliver two entirely new themed lands to Magic Kingdom.
Alright, real talk: yes, the Haunted Mansion looks a bit rough right now with all that scrim covering the gorgeous facade, but the ride itself is still running perfectly and you’d be crazy to skip it just because of some temporary construction aesthetics. The photo wrap at least makes it look better than plain green barriers, and honestly, this is just part of visiting Disney during a massive expansion period. The area around Liberty Square is going to be a construction zone for a while as they build out Villains Land and Piston Peak, so you might as well embrace it and focus on the fact that the Stretching Room, Madame Leota, the singing busts, and all 999 happy haunts are still waiting inside exactly like they’ve been since 1971. Snap a photo of the scrim if you want proof you visited during this weird transitional moment, then get in line and enjoy one of the best attractions Disney ever created, construction walls and all.