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Credit: Inside the MagicThe dusty wooden boardwalks of Frontierland have long been a sanctuary for those seeking a slower pace in the Magic Kingdom. It’s a place where the smell of smoked turkey legs lingers in the air, and the rhythmic splashing of the Liberty Belle provides a backdrop to the American pioneer dream. But as of February 19, 2026, that dream is being packed up in crates.
For months, Disney fans have been speculating about when the massive “Beyond Big Thunder” and Cars expansions would begin physically altering the park. Today, we have our answer. Disney has officially filed a series of construction permits, signaling the beginning of the end for the current Frontierland layout.
While many expected the massive restaurants to be the first to go, the actual “hit list” is more surgical. The first casualties of the Cars takeover are three beloved staples that have served as the front lines of the Frontierland experience for years. If you were planning on grabbing a corn dog at Westward Ho or a souvenir at Big Al’s, your time is officially running out.
The “Enchanted” Paper Trail: Breaking Down the Permits
The permits filed today are “Notices of Commencement,” which, in the world of Disney Imagineering, are the legal equivalent of a bulldozer warming up its engine. These documents authorize specific contractors to begin “general construction,” but in the context of the Frontierland waterfront, that is corporate speak for demolition and site clearance.
Unlike the sweeping rumors that suggested Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe would be the first to fall, the actual permits focus on the smaller, high-traffic kiosks that line the path toward Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain.
The three specific locations targeted in the latest filings are:
- Westward Ho (The iconic snack window)
- The Frontierland Churro Cart (A cult-favorite snack stop)
- Big Al’s Gift Kiosk (The heritage merchandise stand)
By targeting these three spots, Disney is effectively clearing the “clutter” from the riverfront to make way for the massive infrastructure changes required to fill in the Rivers of America.
Westward Ho: The Loss of a Snacking Institution
For many guests, Westward Ho is more than just a wooden shack. It is the holy grail of Magic Kingdom snacking, famous for its breakfast donut holes, candied bacon, and—most importantly—its jalapeño poppers and corn dog nuggets.
Its location is its undoing. Nestled right along the water’s edge, Westward Ho sits directly in the path of the projected “land bridge” that will eventually lead guests into the new Cars area. To transform the Rivers of America into a dry, rugged canyon for Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater, the current shoreline must be completely reconstructed.
The permit for Westward Ho indicates that the structure is not just being “refurbished,” but is likely being removed entirely to allow for heavy machinery access. While it’s possible a version of this stand could return in the future, the “Ho” as we know it is headed for the history books.
The Frontierland Churro Cart: A Sticky Situation
It wouldn’t be a day at the Magic Kingdom without a churro, and the Frontierland Churro Cart has long been considered the best place to get one (mostly because everything tastes better while you’re watching a riverboat float by).
The removal of this cart is a logistical necessity. As Disney prepares to drain the river and begin infilling, the entire walkway between Liberty Square and Frontierland will become a high-traffic construction corridor. Small, mobile-ish kiosks like the churro cart are the first things that need to be cleared to ensure that construction crews have the “turning radius” needed for the massive equipment that will soon descend on the park.
Big Al’s: The Country Bear Connection
Perhaps the most sentimental loss in this first wave of permits is Big Al’s. Named after the most depressed (and most beloved) member of the Country Bear Jamboree, this merchandise kiosk has sat as a sentinel of the Old West for decades.
Big Al’s represents the “old-school” Disney aesthetic—a small, themed stall that doesn’t push high-tech toys but rather coon-skin caps and toy muskets. Its removal is a clear signal that the park’s “thematic center of gravity” is shifting. Disney is moving away from the generic “pioneer” branding and toward its heavy-hitter Intellectual Properties (IP).
The permit for Big Al’s indicates that the structure will be dismantled to facilitate reshaping the land. It’s a somber irony that shortly after the Country Bears were updated to the “Musical Jamboree,” their namesake gift shop is being cleared for a racetrack.
Why These Three? The Logistics of a $60 Billion Expansion
You might be wondering why Disney is starting with a churro cart and a gift kiosk instead of the big stuff. The answer is utility and access.
To build the Cars land—which will feature a high-speed desert race and a second family attraction—Disney has to undertake the largest geological project in the park’s history. Filling in the Rivers of America isn’t as simple as dumping dirt into a pond. It requires:
- Drainage Systems: Installing massive new pipes to handle the water displacement.
- Soil Stabilization: Ensuring the new ground can support the weight of a roller coaster.
- Access Corridors: Creating a “road” for dump trucks that doesn’t involve driving them through the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.
Westward Ho, the Churro Cart, and Big Al’s are all located on the “perimeter” of the water. They are the “gatekeepers” to the riverfront. By removing them now, Disney creates a wide-open staging area that allows them to begin the “Great Infill” of 2026 without endangering guests or blocking sightlines more than necessary.
What This Means for Your 2026-2027 Vacation
If you are planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom this year, the “Frontierland experience” is going to be significantly altered. Here is the reality of the situation based on these new permits:
- Snack Deserts: With Westward Ho and the Churro Cart gone, the “grab-and-go” food options in Frontierland will be severely limited. Expect much longer lines at Pecos Bill (which remains open for now) and Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square.
- Construction Walls: We expect a massive line of green walls to go up shortly after these permits are executed. This will block the view of the river from the Pecos Bill seating area all the way to the entrance of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
- The “Beyond Big Thunder” Noise: This is no longer a “Blue Sky” project. This is a construction site. The peace and quiet of Frontierland is officially a thing of the past.
Conclusion: The First Domino Has Fallen
The permits filed on February 19, 2026, are the first real confirmation that the “Old West” is being traded in for “Radiator Springs.” While the removal of Westward Ho, the Frontierland Churro Cart, and Big Al’s may seem minor in the grand scheme of a multi-billion-dollar expansion, they represent the first physical steps toward a new version of the Magic Kingdom.
For those of us who grew up on the “Walt standard” of Frontierland, these changes are bittersweet. We are gaining a world-class Cars attraction and a path to a potential Villains land, but we are losing the small, atmospheric corners that made the park feel like a cohesive world rather than a collection of movie sets.
The message from Disney is clear: The future is coming at 200 mph, and if you’re in the way—even if you’re a beloved churro cart—you’ve got to move.