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 workplaces within the Vehicles and Villains Land mission website in Magic Kingdom. This particulars the newest on this multi-month saga, what this might imply for time limits and development, and why we (nonetheless) consider it is a mistake.
By means 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 mission website 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 sights in a reimagined space of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom and Villains Land enlargement at Magic Kingdom, basically behind Vehicles Land, and between/behind Large Thunder and Haunted Mansion.
Shortly in any case of that was introduced eventually summer time’s D23 Expo, Walt Disney Imagineering set to work submitting permits for the expansive mission. That concerned forwards and backwards 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 mission approval nearly precisely two months in the past. As we famous when that was permitted, it was not the ultimate allow for the Villains and Vehicles Lands tasks as a complete (not by an extended shot), nevertheless it was the one which posed the best diploma of problem and scrutiny from the state. The remaining ought to principally be rubber-stamped–together with the 6 permits that had 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 rather more pedestrian permits that lay the groundwork for the substantive work on the mission to start. Walt Disney Imagineering filed new development permits to “set up trailers” with an deal with similar to a backstage space behind Large Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Journey in Magic Kingdom.
Probably the most important of those permits is assigned to McGrath RentCorp, an organization with a ‘Cell Modular’ phase that rents and sells modular buildings designed to be used as short-term workplaces adjoining to present services, development subject workplaces, and varied 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 mission final spring. I’m certain Walt Disney World would like this referred to as a “development mission compound” or “subject workplaces” or possibly one thing flowery like “Magical Cell Modules of Magic.” However that is, in essence, a trailer park. A trailer park by means of which a billion-plus greenback mission will move, however a trailer park, nonetheless.
This trailer park joins the aforementioned one in Tropical Americas, in addition to a current enlargement on the STOL Port subject workplace and repurposing of the previous Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser behind Disney’s Hollywood Studios into subject workplaces for the Monstropolis enlargement there.
All of those are expansions to Imagineering’s presence at Walt Disney World within the final yr, above and past longstanding subject workplaces in Florida. This follows the cancellation of the Lake Nona Inventive Campus, which might’ve relocated Imagineering’s headquarters to Florida (or at the very least made Lake Nona their largest location).
Regardless of that, Imagineering presently has its largest presence ever at Walt Disney World. That is important–and crucial, in our opinion–because it means these tasks are being helmed by Floridians with selections being made on the bottom in Florida as a substitute of from the consolation of Burbank. I don’t say this to disparage Californians, however as a visitor who has typically been perplexed by doubtful design selections 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 must be occurring pretty organically, particularly with improvement on Common’s Epic Universe being carried out and liberating up these artistic sources (expertise bounces forwards and backwards between Common Inventive and Imagineering on a project-by-project foundation). Significantly better than Chapek’s pressured relocation plan. However I digress.
By way of what’s subsequent, institution of the trailer park, clearly. That must be a reasonably fast and painless course of, particularly as in contrast with Animal Kingdom. It most likely may be completed briefly order, permitting for substantive work to begin this summer time.
That may start with drainage, demolition, and many dust shifting–not essentially in that order. There are low-lying areas to the northwest of the Rivers of America, requiring further work to ascertain the aforementioned gravel laydown yards. These are a mandatory prerequisite to demolishing and filling within the Rivers of America.
There might be three gravel laydown yards in whole across the northwestern perimeter of Magic Kingdom. Two might be positioned past the berm, which means exterior of Magic Kingdom visitor areas, with the third laydown yard that must be seen from inside Magic Kingdom alongside the northwestern banks of the Rivers of America. These gravel laydown yards might be used for development gear, 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 includes 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 probably 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 stuffed in, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will kind the inspiration of Vehicles Land and a portion of Villains Land. The laydown yards will then themselves finally be used for future improvement, together with a portion of Villains Land. The water administration permits are step one forward of starting substantive development as a result of waterways being rerouted and displaced.
As mentioned in our newest version of Walt Disney World’s 5-Yr Building Plan, the positioning prepwork alone for Vehicles Land and Villains Land might be a herculean endeavor that can 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 probably conscious, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America haven’t any time limit at current. Walt Disney World did point out that “visitors can have loads of time to expertise the attraction and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s at this time” 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 may begin, any time after Easter wouldn’t shock me. That is what we’ve been saying for months (because the first permits had been filed final August). Now that Easter is sort of right here, I nonetheless assume this is kind of correct.
As we’ve additionally been saying since then, Magic Kingdom would possibly attempt to get by means of Summer time 2025 earlier than closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be massively fashionable upon debut and can want ample viewing house throughout its opening summer time alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Building partitions up on one aspect of the walkway would cut back viewing capability.
Beginning the guest-facing portion of the mission shortly after Labor Day 2025 is thus what strikes me as most believable. That offers Walt Disney World all summer time with the Rivers of America working as regular, which is perhaps mandatory at a time when so much might be down in Magic Kingdom. Park management might wish to push off the mission so long as attainable provided that.
As prompt above, there’s a number of backstage prep and website work that may very well be undertaken to ascertain the laydown yards and new retention ponds. All of this might take months, which means an extended runway earlier than the Rivers of America is drained or Tom Sawyer Island is demolished.
Disney may 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 may lengthen the period of time followers should say goodbye to those areas whereas additionally decreasing visible blight till it’s completely mandatory. (See photograph above of the final time a coffer dam was used throughout a refurbishment just a few years in the past.)
In such a situation, the Liberty Sq. Riverboat can be first to shut, and that may most likely occur by Fall 2025. On the very least, Walt Disney World will wish to get shifting on the again half of the Rivers of America whereas Large Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed for refurbishment till 2026. However it may imply that the entrance half of the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the beautiful vista is preserved by means of the vacation season and into early 2026. I wouldn’t wager on that, however I wouldn’t wager towards it, both.
On a special observe, this sends one more sign that Walt Disney World is not pumping the brakes on the Vehicles Land mission. There was a number of hypothesis, wishful considering, and “rumors” (heavy air quotes) that this mission is being reconsidered as a result of fan backlash.
I’ve but to listen to something credible to corroborate this. Every thing I’ve heard suggests the precise reverse. The ultimate plans would possibly differ barely from the idea artwork on the prime of the put up, however this mission is occurring. I’m not attempting to be a debbie downer or no matter to followers nonetheless holding out hope that their campaigns to save lots of the Rivers of America will show fruitful. Only a realist.
The one time I’ve had any pessimism about this mission shifting ahead got here when Bob Iger Warned of Tariffs’ Influence 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 consequence is that Disney would proceed with its deliberate investments, however lower corners as a result of rising prices or stretch the tasks into much more fiscal years. Which means that the most probably consequence 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 Big Magic Kingdom Grime Pit for the subsequent ~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 trip the Liberty Sq. Riverboat. Old skool sights 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 environment.
That is one thing we coated beforehand in Actually Horrible Selections Made by Walt Disney World and at size within the commentary to our unique put up about Vehicles Land Changing Rivers of America. For those who’re struggling to grasp 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 sights.
I’ll miss this peaceable promenade and nonetheless assume 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 mission and it being clear that Disney intends to take action as deliberate, I’m nonetheless hoping for the most effective 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 will pull it off.
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Your Ideas
Ideas on one more Imagineering trailer park being constructed at Walt Disney World? Pleased that WDI already has its largest-ever presence in Florida and what which means for future mission selections? Disillusioned 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 Big EPCOT Grime 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 might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
