Roughly two months after getting the inexperienced mild to demolish Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, Walt Disney World has filed a flurry of permits pertaining to an Imagineering subject places of work within the Vehicles and Villains Land challenge web site in Magic Kingdom. This particulars the newest on this multi-month saga, what this might imply for deadlines and development, and why we (nonetheless) imagine this can be a mistake.
By the use of recap, this follows the earlier allow issued by the South Florida Water Administration District (SFWMD) in mid-February 2025, giving Imagineering till February 17, 2030 to redevelop the realm and modify utilities, make updates to the drainage system, facility renovations, stormwater administration enhancements, and extra. The underlying SFWMD allow is large in scale and scope, encompassing over 300 acres round Magic Kingdom and past the park.
The challenge web site itself is about 14-plus acres, and can start with the elimination of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Rather than these areas, Walt Disney World introduced two all-new Vehicles points of interest in a reimagined space of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom and Villains Land growth at Magic Kingdom, basically behind Vehicles Land, and between/behind Large Thunder and Haunted Mansion.
Shortly in spite of everything of that was introduced finally summer season’s D23 Expo, Walt Disney Imagineering started working submitting permits for the expansive challenge. That concerned backwards and forwards between Walt Disney World, Imagineering, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (on behalf of Walt Disney World), and the SFWMD for a stretch between August and December.
This was lastly resolved, as famous above, in Disney’s favor with the issuance of the challenge approval virtually precisely two months in the past. As we famous when that was authorized, it was not the ultimate allow for the Villains and Vehicles Lands tasks as a complete (not by a protracted shot), however it was the one which posed the best diploma of problem and scrutiny from the state. The remainder ought to principally be rubber-stamped–together with the 6 permits that have been simply filed. That SFWMD allow was the hurdle that mattered–the one materials obstacle to the Vehicles and Villains Land tasks.
Which brings us to mid-April 2025, with Disney now submitting way more pedestrian permits that lay the groundwork for the substantive work on the challenge to start. Walt Disney Imagineering filed new development permits to “set up trailers” with an handle equivalent to a backstage space behind Large Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Journey in Magic Kingdom.
Probably the most vital of those permits is assigned to McGrath RentCorp, an organization with a ‘Cellular Modular’ section that rents and sells modular buildings designed to be used as short-term places of work adjoining to present amenities, development subject places of work, and numerous different functions. The opposite 5 permits all relate to this–providing fireplace suppression, HVAC, plumbing, and different unexciting stuff to those trailers.
If all of this sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of there have been very related permits for a trailer park and staging space behind Kali River Rapids in assist of the Tropical Americas challenge final spring. I’m positive Walt Disney World would favor this known as a “development challenge compound” or “subject places of work” or possibly one thing flowery like “Magical Cellular Modules of Magic.” However that is, in essence, a trailer park. A trailer park by way of which a billion-plus greenback challenge will circulation, however a trailer park, nonetheless.
This trailer park joins the aforementioned one in Tropical Americas, in addition to a latest growth on the STOL Port subject workplace and repurposing of the previous Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser behind Disney’s Hollywood Studios into subject places of work for the Monstropolis growth there.
All of those are expansions to Imagineering’s presence at Walt Disney World within the final yr, above and past longstanding subject places of work in Florida. This follows the cancellation of the Lake Nona Artistic Campus, which might’ve relocated Imagineering’s headquarters to Florida (or not less than made Lake Nona their largest location).
Regardless of that, Imagineering at present has its largest presence ever at Walt Disney World. That is vital–and crucial, in our opinion–because it means these tasks are being helmed by Floridians with choices being made on the bottom in Florida as an alternative of from the consolation of Burbank. I don’t say this to disparage Californians, however as a visitor who has usually been perplexed by doubtful design choices at Walt Disney World that made me surprise: “was the selection to not have shade or shelter from rain made by a Californian?!”
This is only one of many, many the reason why it’s nice to listen to that Imagineering has been staffing up in Central Florida. And it’s a course of that needs to be occurring pretty organically, particularly with improvement on Common’s Epic Universe being carried out and releasing up these artistic assets (expertise bounces backwards and forwards between Common Artistic and Imagineering on a project-by-project foundation). A lot better than Chapek’s compelled relocation plan. However I digress.
When it comes to what’s subsequent, institution of the trailer park, clearly. That needs to be a reasonably fast and painless course of, particularly as in contrast with Animal Kingdom. It in all probability may be completed briefly order, permitting for substantive work to begin this summer season.
That may start with drainage, demolition, and many filth transferring–not essentially in that order. There are low-lying areas to the northwest of the Rivers of America, requiring extra work to ascertain the aforementioned gravel laydown yards. These are a obligatory prerequisite to demolishing and filling within the Rivers of America.
There might be three gravel laydown yards in complete across the northwestern perimeter of Magic Kingdom. Two might be situated past the berm, that means exterior of Magic Kingdom visitor areas, with the third laydown yard that needs to be seen from inside Magic Kingdom alongside the northwestern banks of the Rivers of America. These gravel laydown yards might be used for development tools, heavy equipment, supplies staging, earth-moving, and so forth.
Along with the laydown yards, Disney wants someplace for the displaced stormwater capability misplaced from infilling the Rivers of America. Such is the character of development within the swamps. This entails creating a brand new retention pond for water administration that’s roughly three-quarters of a mile to the northwest of Magic Kingdom. It’s seemingly that the bottom eliminated when digging the brand new pond might be used for filling the Rivers of America. Circle of life and all that.
As soon as crammed in, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will type the inspiration of Vehicles Land and a portion of Villains Land. The laydown yards will then themselves ultimately be used for future improvement, together with a portion of Villains Land. The water administration permits are step one forward of starting substantive development on account of waterways being rerouted and displaced.
As mentioned in our newest version of Walt Disney World’s 5-Yr Development Plan, the positioning prepwork alone for Vehicles Land and Villains Land might be a herculean endeavor that may take many months–if no more than a yr. Followers will bemoan the prolonged timeline, however Vehicles Land debuting in 2029 truly appears pretty aggressive given the dimensions and scope of labor. I’d be stunned if we see something go vertical till late 2026 on the earliest.
As you’re seemingly conscious, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America don’t have any deadline at current. Walt Disney World did point out that “visitors can have loads of time to expertise the allure and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s at the moment” earlier than development kicks into excessive gear. However that assertion was final August, and loads of time has already handed since then.
As for when development might begin, any time after Easter wouldn’t shock me. That is what we’ve been saying for months (because the first permits have been filed final August). Now that Easter is sort of right here, I nonetheless suppose this is kind of correct.
As we’ve additionally been saying since then, Magic Kingdom may attempt to get by way of Summer time 2025 earlier than closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be massively well-liked upon debut and can want ample viewing area throughout its opening summer season alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Development partitions up on one facet of the walkway would scale back viewing capability.
Beginning the guest-facing portion of the challenge shortly after Labor Day 2025 is thus what strikes me as most believable. That offers Walt Disney World all summer season with the Rivers of America working as regular, which may be obligatory at a time when rather a lot might be down in Magic Kingdom. Park management could need to push off the challenge so long as doable on condition that.
As instructed above, there’s a variety of backstage prep and web site work that may very well be undertaken to ascertain the laydown yards and new retention ponds. All of this might take months, that means a protracted runway earlier than the Rivers of America is drained or Tom Sawyer Island is demolished.
Disney might even set up a cofferdam to protect entry to Tom Sawyer Island and the view of the Rivers of America for the entirety of 2025. They’ve carried out this with cofferdams earlier than–and it might delay the period of time followers should say goodbye to those areas whereas additionally decreasing visible blight till it’s completely obligatory. (See picture above of the final time a coffer dam was used throughout a refurbishment a number of years in the past.)
In such a situation, the Liberty Sq. Riverboat can be first to shut, and that will in all probability occur by Fall 2025. On the very least, Walt Disney World will need to get transferring on the again half of the Rivers of America whereas Large Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed for refurbishment till 2026. Nevertheless it might imply that the entrance half of the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the gorgeous vista is preserved by way of the vacation season and into early 2026. I wouldn’t guess on that, however I wouldn’t guess towards it, both.
On a unique notice, this sends yet one more sign that Walt Disney World is not pumping the brakes on the Vehicles Land challenge. There was a variety of hypothesis, wishful pondering, and “rumors” (heavy air quotes) that this challenge is being reconsidered on account of fan backlash.
I’ve but to listen to something credible to corroborate this. All the things I’ve heard suggests the precise reverse. The ultimate plans may differ barely from the idea artwork on the high of the submit, however this challenge is occurring. I’m not making an attempt to be a debbie downer or no matter to followers nonetheless holding out hope that their campaigns to avoid wasting the Rivers of America will show fruitful. Only a realist.
The one time I’ve had any pessimism about this challenge transferring ahead got here when Bob Iger Warned of Tariffs’ Affect on Disney’s $60 Billion Enlargement Plans. However as I famous there, it was (and is!) a “watch out what you want for” situation. The more likely end result is that Disney would proceed with its deliberate investments, however reduce corners on account of rising prices or stretch the tasks into much more fiscal years. Which means that the most probably end result in such a situation is the worst of all and a repeat of one thing we simply endured at Walt Disney World’s second gate–the creation of a Large Magic Kingdom Dust Pit for the following ~5 years.
I’ll wrap this all up by as soon as once more reiterating that eradicating the Rivers of America is a mistake. That is regardless of the truth that only a few visitors go to Tom Sawyer Island or journey the Liberty Sq. Riverboat. Old-fashioned points of interest are not the irreplaceable worth being misplaced right here. It’s not in regards to the admittedly low hourly capability being misplaced–it’s the serenity, charming, and distinct sense of ambiance.
That is one thing we lined beforehand in Really Horrible Selections Made by Walt Disney World and at size within the commentary to our unique submit about Vehicles Land Changing Rivers of America. For those who’re struggling to know why followers are upset about this, contemplate studying a type of. I’m not going to fixate or belabor the purpose right here because it’s already been made repeatedly, however this waterway is a part of the center of Magic Kingdom and not only for the visitors who actively make the most of these points of interest.
I’ll miss this peaceable promenade and nonetheless suppose it’s a mistake that Disney isn’t retaining the waterfront whereas redeveloping the again half of Tom Sawyer Island and the realm that’s truly past Large Thunder. However with the inexperienced mild to proceed with the challenge and it being clear that Disney intends to take action as deliberate, I’m nonetheless hoping for the very best with Vehicles Land. It’s going to be a troublesome needle to string, however Imagineering can create a Nationwide Parks-inspired Vehicles space with mountains, water, and extra that slot in Frontierland. Right here’s hoping they’ll pull it off.
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Your Ideas
Ideas on yet one more Imagineering trailer park being constructed at Walt Disney World? Pleased that WDI already has its largest-ever presence in Florida and what meaning for future challenge choices? Disenchanted that the Vehicles Land remains to be changing Rivers of America? Provided that that is going to occur regardless at this level, do you hope it’s full steam forward so we don’t should endure a repeat of the Large EPCOT Dust Pit fiasco? Excited or underwhelmed by the plan to interchange Rivers of America with Vehicles land? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
