Magic Kingdom Frontierland Update: Five Classic Offerings Gone as Piston Peak Remake Reshapes the Land
Magic Kingdom's Frontierland has lost five longtime offerings as Disney pushes ahead with Piston Peak and major updates.
Frontierland at Magic Kingdom is looking markedly different as Disney continues a major remake of the land. For longtime Walt Disney World fans, the biggest headline is simple: five familiar offerings are gone, key survivors have changed, and more of the area is being rebuilt for Piston Peak National Park.
What changed in Frontierland
Disney's Frontierland has been evolving for years, but the current overhaul has removed more than 30% of the land's classic experiences, according to Disney-focused coverage of the changes. The most visible shift is tied to Piston Peak National Park, a Cars-themed expansion planned for the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island area.
That project is set to bring mountains, waterfalls, trails, geysers, and two attractions to Magic Kingdom. It has already significantly changed the surrounding section of Frontierland.
Among the offerings no longer available, Frontierland Shootin' Arcade ended its run on June 23, 2024, after operating since Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. The building remains in use as McKim's Mile House, a Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge, but the interactive shooting experience is gone.
Splash Mountain also became part of the land's past. The ride closed in January 2023 and returned in 2024 as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, inspired by The Princess and the Frog. The attraction kept the signature drop, but Disney replaced the story, characters, music, animatronics, and scenery.
The biggest physical change followed in 2025. Rivers of America permanently closed in July 2025, and Tom Sawyer Island, which guests reached by raft to explore caves, trails, bridges, and other spaces, operated for the final time on July 6, 2025. Westward Ho Refreshments then permanently closed in June 2026 as nearby construction continued.
What it means for guests now
For guests visiting now, the Frontierland many families remember is harder to find. Disney is not removing the land entirely, but it is replacing a substantial portion of what defined it for decades.
Some staples are still there, though not unchanged. Country Bear Jamboree was replaced in 2024 by Country Bear Musical Jamboree, which keeps the bears but shifts the show to country-style versions of Disney songs, including music from Frozen. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad also returned in May 2026 with updated story elements, new visual effects and details, and Rainbow Caverns.
There is also an operational impact for railroad riders. Frontierland's Walt Disney World Railroad station has been unavailable since 2025 because of construction, with trains currently running only between Main Street, U.S.A., and Fantasyland.
Frontierland opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971 and grew over time with additions including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 1980 and Splash Mountain in 1992. What remains today is still Frontierland, but for Disney fans tracking park history and present-day operations, the land is in the middle of one of its biggest identity shifts yet.
