Forget Disney World’s Wall-cot! Welcome to Wall-tierland! Major changes are underway at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, with construction now expanding into Frontierland. As walls go up around the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, fans are already coining a new nickname for the area: ‘Wall-tierland,’ a nod to Epcot’s recent ‘Wall-cot’ phase.
When Disney’s Epcot theme park went under construction for a complete overhaul of Future World, it was divided into World Nature, World Discovery, and World Celebration. Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind was added, along with a brand new CommuniCore Hall and Plaza. The construction lasted just under five years due to a worldwide pandemic. Guests and Fans started getting a little stir crazy about all the construction walls that were in place over those five years. Renaming Epcot to Wall-Cot.
Now that Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom is about to go through the largest expansion to the park in history, walls are starting to appear around the land. They will be in place for a long time while the new Cars-themed land, Piston Peak National Park, is being built. Before anything can be built, Disney Imagineering has to remove Tom Sawyer Island, drain Rivers of America, and bulldoze the whole area. Which means these walls will be around for the next few years. Hence, the new nickname Wall-tierland!
So far, we have seen the removal of the Liberty Square Riverboat signage, along with signs pointing toward Tom Sawyer Island. Walls are up from the entrance to Tom Sawyer Island, all the way to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Which is under refurbishment until 2026, and has its own set of walls up). Temporary walls are in place at the entrance to the Liberty Belle, including the exit and ramps. Including a door to nowhere. While over at the Haunted Mansion, walls now separate guests waiting in the extended queue from seeing Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America.
Above is the Rivers of America wall. Including near the Haunted Mansion
Below, you can see the walls closer to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tom Sawyer Island.
Piston Peak National Park is coming, along with two new Pixar Cars-themed attractions. The future looks even better when you read about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopening in 2026 with new magic, and further down the road is Disney’s Villains Land with 2 major attractions that were just announced, along with shopping and dining.
Westward Ho! Crossing into New Frontiers at Magic Kingdom
Since the early days of Magic Kingdom, adventurous guests have traveled across space and time as they pass from Liberty Square to Frontierland. Starting with architectural influences from upstate New York and colonial America in Liberty Square, before traveling to a bear-y fun concert in the North Woods, a stop by New Orleans at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and ending in the Arizona bluffs at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
At the heart of all these stories are heroic characters with a belief in themselves that helped forge a path to their dreams. To continue this journey in great American storytelling, Piston Peak National Park will be part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom.
Welcome to Piston Peak National Park
Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers, and impressive geysers. While fictional, Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the history and iconic sights of the American Frontier and its national parks.
Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails, and more, all set within the Disney and Pixar “Cars” universe. To make sure these buildings fit naturally within the surrounding majestic landscapes, Imagineers are using a style of architecture called “Parkitecture,” which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment.
From the outside, trees will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall, and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally.
But that’s not all happening at the Magic Kingdom. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen next year with new magic, and later this summer, Disney Starlight will grace the streets of Magic Kingdom with its grand debut on July 20, and The Beak and Barrel will welcome pirates of all ages.
Forget Disney World’s Wall-cot! Welcome to Wall-tierland!
