- DIsney World is adding a number of new attractions.
- Magic Kingdom will add an entire new land.
- An iconic attraction is being demolished to make way for new attractions, shows, and restaurants.
Anyone who has visited a Disney theme park more than once knows not to expect the same experience on return visits.
That’s because Disney constantly refreshes its attractions, rides and restaurants. Sometimes the theme park updates are low-key such as removing the bride-auction scene from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” or remodeling “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” to become “Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: Breakout!”
Sometimes the refurbishments are drastic, such as with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, which closed in January 2025 and will reopen after a complete overhaul at some point in 2026.
Then there are rides and attractions that go away forever.
At Disney World, one of the lands that has been there since day one is now gone, demolished to make way for an entirely new land. This is no mere remodel.
Image source: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Disney World makes way for Piston Peak National Park
Disney has officially razed Tom Sawyer Island’s Fort Langhorn, marking the start of a historic transformation at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
This is the first major structure to fall in an enormous construction project that crosses the entire island in Frontierland. Aerial photos show the iconic wood fort reduced to rubble.
Fort Langhorn has been a beloved hangout spot for families for decades. The attraction could only be accessed by walking over Superstition Bridge, which has also been torn down.
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The log fort featured multi-stories ripe for exploration, audio animatronics, mock rifles and a secret escape tunnel that led explorers down to the bank of the Rivers of America.
Fort Langhorn was a prime example of Disney’s earliest interactive experiences and one of its most nostalgic attractions.
Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America will be transformed into Piston Peak National Park, a “Cars” themed expansion of Frontierland, and the all-new Villains Land.
Largest expansion in Walt Disney World history
The plans for the new land are monumental.
Walt Disney Company executives have said the new lands will be the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history and will define the park’s identity for the many years to come.
“As we develop the next generation of Disney Experiences, we’re always looking for new ways to tell the stories people love,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said. About Piston Peak, he added, “We’re thrilling Cars fans by building on this incredibly successful franchise and creating the next chapter in this story.”
Related: Disney announces drastic theme park changes no visitor wants
The project is moving quickly. Disney announced the replacement plan in August 2024. The company received regulatory approval for the demolition in February 2025, and formally closed Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island in July 2025.
By September 30, 2025 the river had been drained, and fencing was erected to shield the work from view, according to photos shared on BlogMickey.
When will Piston Peak open at Disney World?
The Walt Disney Company has not announced an opening date for Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land. Many Disney fans have speculated that the new attractions won’t open until at least 2027.
Considering the sheer scale of this project, it makes sense that construction will take more than a year.
In Piston Peak, Disney Imagineers are using “Parkitecture” (an actual terms used by the National Park Service) to build:
- Trees and mountains to complement Liberty Square and Big Thunder Mountain
- A visitor lodge
- Ranger headquarters
- Trails with scenic overlooks
- Themed ride entrances
- Water features
Villains Land, part of the expansion, will be home to two major attractions, dining, and shopping. “Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls,” D’Amaro announced during Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. “It’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.”
Upcoming/recent Disney World improvements:
Disney World entertainment and shows
- Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away: A new nighttime parade featuring characters from Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen, and more. Debuted in Summer 2025 at Magic Kingdom.
- Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After: A live show starring Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent, opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Summer 2025.
- The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure: A stage adaptation of the classic film, opened Summer 2025 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether!: A new show and character meet-and-greet featuring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, debuting November 7, 2025, at Animal Kingdom.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
Disney World new Attractions & Lands
- Pirates-Inspired Tavern: A new dining experience themed around Pirates of the Caribbean, opening late 2025.
- Spaceship Earth Lounge: An elevated lounge experience near Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, opened in late Spring 2025.
- Indiana Jones Adventure Ride: A new dark ride featuring Indiana Jones, set to open in 2027 at Animal Kingdom.
- Tropical Americas Land: A reimagining of Dinoland USA into an 11-acre area themed to the Tropical Americas, with a new carousel and animal-themed attractions, opening in phases starting Fall 2024 through 2027.
Related: Disney World shares permanent closing date for popular restaurants
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