![\"Piston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0048.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe ongoing\u00a0Piston Peak <\/a>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\u00a0themed to Disney Villains, which you can see in the distance on the left of the photo above and below. <\/p>\n 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<\/a>. We have seen this boom arm working for the last couple of weeks in a number of places<\/a> in the Piston Peak area.<\/p>\n It is currently still unclear what will happen to the hill next to the Haunted Mansion, photo center.<\/p>\n While we are unsure what exactly the off-road attraction will consist of, a\u00a0newly published patent application<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Again, we are unsure if that patent is for Piston Peak attractions or something else entirely (or nothing at all).<\/p>\n Big Thunder Mountain Just over the construction walls by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the installed beams<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Scaffolding remains on the ride\u2019s queue building, though not as much as there was previously. The entire attraction has received new tracks<\/a>, having been closed for well over a year at this point.<\/p>\n Big Thunder Mountain is supposed to reopen in early May<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n Westward Ho and Big Al\u2019s remain open for now, though these two locations will most likely be demolished as part of the expansion<\/a>.<\/p>\n Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopening When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens, it will have\u00a0an\u00a0updated opening scene<\/a>\u00a0with a transformation of the Rainbow Caverns, refreshed Audio-Animatronics, and gold props. The ride\u2019s\u00a0entire track was replaced<\/a>.<\/p>\n Watch our POV of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from before its closure below:<\/p>\n Disney announced opening dates for\u00a0Buzz Lightyear\u2019s Space Ranger Spin<\/a>\u00a0at Magic Kingdom,\u00a0Bluey\u2019s Wild World<\/a>\u00a0at Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom,\u00a0Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live<\/a>\u00a0at Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios, and\u00a0Soarin\u2019 Across America<\/a>\u00a0at EPCOT.<\/p>\n Are you looking forward to Piston Peak? Let us know on social media!<\/p>\n For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow\u00a0WDW News Today<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n