Frontierland at Magic Kingdom is not closing, but it is in the middle of the biggest physical transformation in its history. Piston Peak National Park is now actively under construction, Disney has revealed both of its Cars attractions, most of the old Frontierland boardwalk has been closed off, and Disney just revealed the first major ride details for Villains Land.
There are also a lot of Frontierland rumors circulating online, which makes it increasingly difficult to separate something Disney has actually announced from construction speculation.
So I am going to keep this page focused on that difference: what Disney has confirmed, what has already closed, what is still operating and what remains a rumor.
Frontierland Is Open, but the Construction Zone Is Getting Bigger
The most important thing to understand before visiting is that Frontierland itself remains open.
You can currently still experience major Frontierland attractions including:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Country Bear Musical Jamboree
The land simply looks and moves differently because a huge construction project is happening along its former waterfront and beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Disney describes the combined work around this side of Magic Kingdom as part of the largest expansion in the park’s history.
Piston Peak National Park Is No Longer Just Concept Art
Piston Peak National Park is Disney’s Cars-themed expansion of Frontierland.
The project is being built across the area formerly occupied by Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America and will create a new wilderness landscape inspired by American national parks.
Disney says the setting will include mountains, waterfalls, rivers, geysers, trails, Ranger HQ and a visitor lodge. Imagineers are using a National Park Service-inspired design philosophy called “Parkitecture” so the buildings blend into the surrounding landscape.
Disney’s August 2026 update also confirms that construction is fully underway.
If you are trying to understand how this differs from Cars Land in California, my guide to Cars Land at Disney World covers that question separately.
Cars Ridge Run Rally Is the Big Piston Peak Ride
Disney has now given the major Piston Peak attraction an official name: Cars Ridge Run Rally.
This will not be a copy of Radiator Springs Racers from Disney California Adventure.
The attraction sends guests into an off-road rally through mountain trails, mud flats, rivers, snowy terrain and a geyser field before racing toward the finish.
Lightning McQueen and Mater will provide commentary from the sidelines.
The ride technology may end up being one of the most interesting parts of the project. Disney says the new vehicles use actual tires and suspension that respond to the terrain rather than simply simulating off-road movement on a conventional ride system.
The Second Cars Ride Is Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along
The smaller family attraction finally received a name at D23 2026 too.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along will be themed around the demolition-derby school bus from Cars 3.
Disney says the experience will feature a school-bus-sized Miss Fritter Audio-Animatronic presiding over the action.
This gives Piston Peak the two-ride structure Disney originally promised: a major off-road attraction and a second experience intended to work for a broader family audience.
Disney has not announced an opening date for Piston Peak National Park.
I would treat any specific opening year or date circulating online as speculation until Disney publishes one.
The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island Are Already Gone
This part of the project is no longer upcoming news.
The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat closed permanently in July 2025 so Disney could transform the area for Piston Peak.
That changed the physical character of western Magic Kingdom dramatically. The old open water separating Frontierland from Tom Sawyer Island is now an active construction area that will eventually become the mountainous Cars landscape.
If you see an older guide telling you to ride the Liberty Square Riverboat or cross over to Tom Sawyer Island, it is out of date.
The Frontierland Boardwalk Closure Rumor Is Becoming Reality
One of the more specific Frontierland rumors has involved the wooden boardwalk that ran along the former waterfront.
That concern was justified.
Sections began closing behind construction walls in 2026, and by August only a relatively short portion remained available to guests.
The boardwalk has also disappeared from Disney’s current digital park map as the Piston Peak construction perimeter pushes farther into the existing Frontierland promenade.
I would therefore use the current My Disney Experience map while walking through this area rather than rely on an older Magic Kingdom map or memorized shortcut.
Westward Ho and Big Al’s Have Closed
The construction has also begun affecting smaller pieces of old Frontierland.
Big Al’s merchandise kiosk permanently closed in May 2026.
Westward Ho followed in June, and the former refreshment stand was completely demolished by August.
Nearby snack carts have been moved as the construction walls expand.
These are much smaller changes than losing the Rivers of America, but they show that the Piston Peak project is no longer isolated to the former island. Construction is actively changing the existing Frontierland promenade too.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Is Open Again
There is good news among all the closures.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened on May 3, 2026 following its lengthy refurbishment.
The work included refreshed ride vehicles and track along with updated story details and the return of Rainbow Caverns.
Big Thunder is therefore fully back in the current Magic Kingdom ride lineup while the much larger expansion develops around it.
If the attraction is a priority during a busy visit, my Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane strategy covers where Big Thunder currently fits into Multi Pass.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Is Now an Established Frontierland Ride
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened at Magic Kingdom on June 28, 2024, replacing Splash Mountain.
It initially relied on a virtual queue, but that is no longer the case. Disney added a regular standby queue in February 2025.
Tiana is also part of the story Disney is using to connect the changing western side of Magic Kingdom. Disney describes the progression from Liberty Square into the North Woods of Country Bear Musical Jamboree, through Tiana’s New Orleans setting and onward toward Big Thunder’s Arizona landscape before reaching the future Piston Peak environment.
That is a more useful way to understand Piston Peak than thinking of Disney simply dropping a copy of Cars Land into Frontierland.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree Is Still Open
Country Bear Musical Jamboree remains part of Frontierland and is currently operating at Grizzly Hall.
The current production replaced the original Country Bear Jamboree in 2024 and features the familiar bear characters performing a new lineup of country-style Disney songs.
Disney’s Piston Peak concept places the new landscape across from Grizzly Hall, so the Country Bears remain part of the transition between Liberty Square, Frontierland and the future expansion.
The Walt Disney World Railroad Currently Skips Frontierland
The Walt Disney World Railroad is still operating, but it cannot currently make its traditional full loop around Magic Kingdom.
Disney has modified the route because of the construction.
The train currently shuttles between Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland only. Frontierland station is excluded from the route.
Disney has not published a reopening date for normal Frontierland railroad service.
That matters if you previously used the train as transportation to this side of Magic Kingdom. For now, I would plan on reaching Frontierland on foot.
Villains Land Is Confirmed, and We Finally Know What the Rides Are
The biggest Frontierland-adjacent news from D23 2026 may actually be what Disney is building beyond it.
Disney has now confirmed that the official name is simply Villains Land.
The land is being developed beyond the current Frontierland area and will include two major attractions, restaurants and shops.
The Maleficent Coaster
One of the two headliners will be a coaster centered on Maleficent.
Disney says riders will travel through enchanted briars surrounding her mountaintop fortress.
Imagineers have also said the coaster will use elements they have not attempted on similar attractions before, although Disney has not yet revealed the full ride system.
The Magic Mirror Dark Ride
The second major attraction will use the Evil Queen’s Magic Mirror to bring guests into what Disney calls the Mirror Realm.
Unlike the Maleficent coaster, this attraction is designed around multiple Disney Villains rather than a single character.
Disney has compared the overall scale of Villains Land to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Disney still has not announced an opening date for Villains Land.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Still a Frontierland Rumor?
As of August 2026, I would separate the information this way.
Confirmed by Disney
- Piston Peak National Park is being built as a Cars-themed expansion of Frontierland.
- Cars Ridge Run Rally is the major off-road attraction.
- Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along is the second Piston Peak attraction.
- Construction on Piston Peak is actively underway.
- Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America were transformed to create the new area.
- The railroad currently skips Frontierland.
- Villains Land is officially coming to Magic Kingdom.
- Villains Land will have a Maleficent coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride.
- Villains Land will also include dining and shopping.
Still Unconfirmed
- An opening date for Piston Peak National Park
- An opening date for Villains Land
- The complete restaurant and shop lineup for either project
- The final Lightning Lane setup for the new attractions
- Many specific characters rumored to appear throughout Villains Land
If Disney has not announced something, I would be cautious about treating concept-art interpretation, permit speculation or social media posts as settled fact.
What the Construction Means if You’re Visiting Frontierland Now
I would still include Frontierland in a Magic Kingdom day.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Country Bear Musical Jamboree give the area three substantial experiences even while construction surrounds them.
The main practical change is movement.
Old waterfront paths are disappearing or becoming narrower, construction walls are moving, and the Frontierland railroad station is unavailable. I would use the current My Disney Experience map rather than assume a route from an older visit still works exactly the same way.
I would also check my Magic Kingdom ride closures and refurbishments page shortly before the trip. With this much construction happening on one side of the park, current operating information matters more than an old touring plan.
For the rest of Magic Kingdom, continue with the main Magic Kingdom guide.
