Work continues at both the former site of Rivers of America and at Big Thunder Mountain in Magic Kingdom.
Piston Peak National Park
The ongoing Piston Peak project is taking over the footprint of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. In the area beyond Big Thunder Mountain and Piston Peak National Park, there will also be an area themed to Disney Villains, which you can see in the distance on the left of the photo above and below.
In the Piston Peak construction area near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, we spotted a concrete mixer and a boom arm, seen in the images above and below, actively pumping concrete into the rebar-filled wooden forms we have been reporting on. We have seen this boom arm working for the last couple of weeks in a number of places in the Piston Peak area.
It is currently still unclear what will happen to the hill next to the Haunted Mansion, photo center.
While we are unsure what exactly the off-road attraction will consist of, a newly published patent application states that guests may soon be able to adjust several elements of their ride experience. This includes being able to control things like speed, direction, and acceleration, as well as avoiding or engaging obstacles. That could mean navigating the car around rocks or riding over bumps to make the experience more exhilarating.
Again, we are unsure if that patent is for Piston Peak attractions or something else entirely (or nothing at all).
Big Thunder Mountain
Just over the construction walls by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the installed beams remain near the exit of the ride. As of March 13, there were roughly one dozen vertical beams installed. At this time, we are unsure of what purpose these beams serve.
Scaffolding remains on the ride’s queue building, though not as much as there was previously. The entire attraction has received new tracks, having been closed for well over a year at this point.
Big Thunder Mountain is supposed to reopen in early May, and it remains to be seen how much of the pathway next to the exit will be open, as Piston Peak is taking up quite a bit of land for its expansion.
Westward Ho and Big Al’s remain open for now, though these two locations will most likely be demolished as part of the expansion.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopening
When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens, it will have an updated opening scene with a transformation of the Rainbow Caverns, refreshed Audio-Animatronics, and gold props. The ride’s entire track was replaced.
Watch our POV of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from before its closure below:
Disney announced opening dates for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom, Bluey’s Wild World at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT.
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