New aerial photographs reveal that Disney has installed retaining walls along the Liberty Square side of the Piston Peak National Park construction area at Magic Kingdom, marking visible progress in the transformation of the former Rivers of America. The infrastructure development includes material staging and ground preparation work across the site where two new themed lands will replace the permanently closed waterway.
What construction progress is visible at Piston Peak National Park?
The aerial photos show several key developments across the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island site. Retaining walls have been completed along the Liberty Square boundary of the Piston Peak project area, representing one of the most substantial visible changes since work began.
The former Rivers of America service canal has been completely filled in as part of the site preparation. Construction crews have staged concrete culverts across the area awaiting burial, with steel pipes arranged in organised rows nearby.
Orange barriers now mark upcoming development zones throughout the construction site. Ground levelling work has created a partial rectangle outlined in dirt within the designated Villains Land area.
What infrastructure changes are happening at the Rivers of America site?
The Rivers of America transformation Piston Peak infrastructure development includes a new Cast Member Utilidor access point, which is visible in the construction photographs. This underground access system allows Cast Members to move between areas without disrupting guest experiences above ground.
Trees displaced during the initial clearing phase are being housed temporarily on the construction site. The staging suggests Disney plans to relocate some existing vegetation within the new themed areas, though specific landscaping details remain unconfirmed.
When will Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land open?
Disney has not confirmed opening dates for either Piston Peak National Park or the adjacent Villains Land. The construction timeline for completion also remains unconfirmed, though the visible infrastructure work suggests the project is progressing through foundational phases.
Whilst Disney announced that Villains Land will feature two major attractions, specific details about these attractions remain unconfirmed. The company has not provided updated timelines since the initial project announcements.
