We finally got a good look at how Piston Peak is actually going to sit inside Magic Kingdom, and Disney put a lot of thought into making sure this new land doesn’t feel like it was just dropped in from a different park entirely.
The reveal came via a massive model on display at the Imagineering: Horizons exhibit during D23, and it answered a question a lot of fans have had for a while now: how well is this thing really going to blend with the existing corners of Frontierland?
As a refresher, Piston Peak is being built in the space formerly occupied by Rivers of America, the Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island, which puts it right in the neighborhood of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Frontierland Trading Post, and Country Bears Musical Jamboree. Looking at the model, the piece closest to the viewer is the curve of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with its viewing bridge and pathway extending out, and Piston Peak appears to begin almost immediately behind that walkway.
That existing wooden pathway leading to the Tiana’s overlook is sticking around too, along with the rest of the bridge, though it’s getting a makeover with more twists and turns worked in. A new building appears to be going in where Big Al’s outdoor merchandise stand currently sits, though the walkway ends there — meaning if you’re hoping to enter Piston Peak from the Frontierland Trading Post and Country Bears side, water will be blocking that path. Instead, you’ll either enter from the front, facing Liberty Square, or walk right in from the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad side, which has no water or barriers in the way.
Looking at the land from the back (imagine standing in the currently empty space between Big Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion) gives a clearer sense of just how deliberately Disney is hiding this thing. The large white mountain appears positioned to block Cinderella Castle from view entirely, preserving the park’s sightlines, and it’s also the only lighter-colored piece of the whole land, likely so that on the rare chance it is visible, it blends in with the gray castle rather than clashing with it.
There’s a similar trick happening on the Adventureland side. Another large hill, tied to one of the land’s attractions, looks like it’ll help block views into Adventureland, and the color palette of the ride is designed to match Adventureland’s existing building tones so that even any visible overlap reads as intentional rather than out of place. This is also likely why Haunted Mansion recently got its new paint job — it still fits the attraction’s spooky vibe, but it now blends more smoothly with what’s rising up next door in Piston Peak.
A few smaller details are worth flagging too. There appears to be a food truck built into the land, complete with guest silhouettes standing in line…a fun touch if food carts are getting worked into the actual theming rather than just functioning as generic snack stops. There’s also a new snack stand shown roughly where Westward Ho currently sits, positioned across from Pecos Bill, though it’s unclear yet whether it’s a replacement or an addition.
On the ride side, the land’s kiddie attraction reportedly resembles the version at Disneyland Paris most closely, and comparisons are already being drawn to Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios and Junkyard Jamboree at Disney California Adventure. The marquee and entrance for the Rally Racers attraction were also on display, with a queue that winds through natural scenery,mand a Cast Member confirmed the ride will send vehicles through one at a time, rather than racing side-by-side like Radiator Springs Racers. The model also marked out where the on-ride photo moment will happen, which is a nice bit of insider detail for anyone already planning their ride-day picture.
And for anyone worried a fan favorite might get swallowed up in all this construction: the Frontierland Boardwalk is staying put, and it sounds like it’s actually getting an upgrade in terms of scenery and surroundings once Piston Peak is finished.
Between the hidden sightlines, the matching color palettes, and all these small connective details, Imagineering is clearly putting serious effort into making sure Piston Peak feels like it belongs in Frontierland rather than sitting next to it. We’ll keep watching as construction moves forward.
What do you think of how Piston Peak is shaping up to blend with the rest of Frontierland? Let me know!
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