New Wall Supports Spotted Dividing Big Thunder Mountain and Piston Peak National Park

Walls Rise as Magic Kingdom Expansion Charges Ahead Near Big Thunder Mountain

If you’ve been wandering through Magic Kingdom lately and thought, “That’s a whole lotta wall,” you’re not wrong. Construction is kicking into high gear as crews continue transforming Frontierland’s edges into the future home of Piston Peak National Park and the highly anticipated Villains Land.

Related: Disney World Unveils Newly Rethemed Wish Lounge at Magic Kingdom

The biggest visual change this week? Fresh concrete has officially filled in sections of a growing retaining wall near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. What was recently just a skeletal rebar frame is now a solid structure, with crews actively working to reinforce additional sections. The tallest portion of the wall closest to Big Thunder is nearly complete, hinting at a major permanent boundary taking shape.

And then there are the steel supports. Rising just beyond the scrim-lined fencing near the Big Thunder exit, these towering beams look like the early bones of a long-term divider that will separate Frontierland from Piston Peak and the future Villains Land expansion. Similar supports are popping up on the opposite side of the mountain as well, creating a clear footprint of what’s to come.

Meanwhile, there’s fresh excavation happening nearby, adding even more fuel to the “this is happening fast” fire. It’s not just vertical progress, either. Work continues all around the area as Imagineering reshapes this corner of the park into something entirely new.

Over at Big Thunder itself, the attraction is just about ready to roll again, with reopening expected in a little over a week. Final touch-ups are underway, including work on the iconic entrance sign. Consider it a quick polish before the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness welcomes guests back into the chaos.

Related: Disney World Cast Member Celebrates 40 Years of Gardening Excellence at EPCOT

Elsewhere in Frontierland, construction walls are spreading like tumbleweeds in a windstorm. Near Big Al and the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, walls have expanded to cover more ground, and a few familiar spots are marked for demolition. Both a merchandise kiosk and the Westward Ho food kiosk are on the chopping block, clearing space for future updates.

Even the landscaping isn’t safe from the overhaul. Sections of plants have been removed, with scrim covering the ground where new work is likely about to begin. The boardwalk will remain, though it’s expected to get a refresh as construction continues.

All signs point to a massive transformation underway, with each new wall and support beam acting like puzzle pieces snapping into place. Frontierland is slowly but surely making room for its next chapter… and it’s shaping up to be a wild one.

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

Let our friends at Get Away Today help you book your next Disney or Universal Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.