The Kingdom Sentinel
Walt Disney World Construction Tracker
Live status of the 4 new lands coming to Walt Disney World, tracked from official Disney announcements and aerial construction photography.
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Tropical Americas is under active construction across the former DinoLand footprint as of mid-July 2026. The most recent BioReconstruct aerial coverage from June 20-21 showed foam blocks staged across the Encanto show building roof for landscape hill sculpting, entry portal archways forming at both land entrances, and berm earthwork advancing at the Casita Madrigal base. Ground-level documentation from the first two weeks of July confirms scaffolding on northern entrance columns, wooden queue framing taking shape at the carousel, initial landscaping planted near an entry portal wall, and continued exterior work on the former Restaurantosaurus building.
Foam blocks are staged across the roof of the enclosed Encanto show building, consistent with exterior landscape hill construction. Concrete archways have formed on both sides of the pedestrian entry path near the carousel, with one central arch still being framed in wood and two smaller arches on the opposite path fully poured and stripped of forms. At the Casita Madrigal base, fresh dirt fills the completed concrete forms and new U-shaped forms in front indicate berm construction to seat the Casita on a hillside.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows a more defined Mayan pyramid steel framework rising above the former DINOSAUR building, a 10-sided carousel canopy frame in place over its concrete foundation, recently cast concrete walls at the Casita Madrigal base, and a wide overview of the broader Pueblo Esperanza construction zone.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show vertical construction underway on the Casita Madrigal base, with steel framing for the garden house queue entrance visible alongside concrete walls for the Casita structure, and the Mayan temple facade rising at the former DINOSAUR building.
BioReconstruct aerial photos accompany veteran Imagineer Joan Hartwig's discussion of Tropical Americas cultural research, showing the current state of the construction site across the Encanto, Indiana Jones, and carousel areas.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows the steel frame for the Maya temple facade of the Indiana Jones ride installed at the former DINOSAUR building, with the carousel canopy and Encanto show building visible in the background.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show the carousel canopy frame with horizontal perimeter beams installed atop vertical supports, the Encanto show building with roofing progressing, and a staging area where reference models for land theming elements are being worked on.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show tall scaffolding erected adjacent to the carousel concrete foundation, with the Encanto show building visible in the background and additional foundation work for land entrance structures in progress.
BioReconstruct aerial photos reveal the DINOSAUR marquee fully removed from the former attraction building, concrete forms placed in front for the Indiana Jones temple facade, and theming models and texture test panels visible at the Imagineering laydown yard north of Expedition Everest.
BioReconstruct aerial photo shows texture test panels in a laydown yard north of Expedition Everest representing wall finishes, roofing, archway, and rockwork for Tropical Americas, alongside what appears to be early construction of the Indiana Jones Mayan temple facade.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows the entirety of the former DINOSAUR courtyard cleared, demolition active at the ride's entrance, the carousel base taking shape, and the Encanto show building frame progressing with the crane in operation.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show the complete Tropical Americas site now open to construction after DinoLand closure, with the entire pathway through the former land demolished, the carousel base defined, and the Encanto show building frame progressing.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show the Encanto ride building steel frame rising with roofing materials being added to the top, a tower crane on site, and Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures building still standing ahead of final DinoLand closure.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show concrete forms in place for the carousel foundation at the former Boneyard site, with steel staged nearby and early excavation work visible adjacent to the forms.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show concrete recently poured for the Encanto show building foundation, with the large footprint of the future attraction clearly visible and a change in elevation apparent across the construction area.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show vertical construction begun on the Encanto show building, with support columns rising from the foundation and a deep excavation area near the rumored finale scene location, plus a crane installed at the Casita construction site.
The Boneyard playground demolition is shown as nearly complete in aerial photos from this flight, with the former structures reduced to rubble and the DinoLand entrance marquee removed. Separately, concrete footers are being poured for the Encanto show building foundation, with the base of a tower crane assembled nearby in preparation for vertical construction.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show new progress on the Encanto attraction site including expanded backstage area work, material and scenic paint tests at the Imagineering laydown yard north of Expedition Everest, and dirt work extending into the backstage perimeter.
BioReconstruct aerial photos show early-stage demolition of the former Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama area with construction vehicles and a crane positioned at the back of the site beyond the former DinoLand perimeter fencing, and a hydrovac truck prepping the ground in the old Dino-Rama space.
Monstropolis is under active construction at Hollywood Studios, with coaster track installation underway inside the show building and the multi-story steel frame continuing to rise. Walt Disney Imagineering filed a Notice of Commencement for electrical work at the future Glob Theater on July 9, 2026, naming Elite A/V Systems as contractor for that scope. Disney has not announced an opening date for the land.
The first section of Door Vault coaster track is now bolted to a support inside the show building at the service floor level, with the highest structural supports above reserved for ride track through the first scene. Aerial views also document multiple floors developing within the building frame, with the track sitting deep inside the steel structure and visible only from above. Remaining track sections continue to sit staged on the building floor, rigged for subsequent lifts.
The first section of Door Vault coaster track has been raised for installation inside the show building, now connected to the support steel structure above the concrete slab. Remaining track sections sit staged in the nearby EPCOT area staging yard, visible from the Disney Skyliner. The show building steel frame continues to expand across the full slab footprint with active crane operations ongoing.
A wide-site aerial reveals multiple levels of steel beams, diagonal bracing, and metal decking now installed across the Door Vault coaster show building frame, with cranes and personnel lifts active around the structure and two concrete block shaft structures visible on the slab. At the Monstropolis entrance, a curved garden wall is under construction along the right side of the entry corridor, designed to merge with an existing adjacent wall. Facade work on the future Harryhausen's restaurant and scaffolding on the Glob Theater building are also visible across the courtyard footprint.
An intricate steel frame rises inside the Door Vault coaster show building, with parallel structural passages near the ceiling consistent with dual show scene tracks emerging from the load station. Concrete forms for the land entrance near Grand Avenue are also visible, marking early progress on the pedestrian entry sequence into Monstropolis.
BioReconstruct aerials show the load area under active construction with concrete block structures and scaffolding where two separate track routes will merge into one, plus additional coaster supports and one visible blue support column distinct from the black show-building columns.
BioReconstruct aerials show all former Muppets Courtyard buildings completely stripped to studs and sheathed in plastic, with wood forms protecting electrical conduits at column bases and scaffolding indicating facade installation has begun; show building construction continues with additional coaster supports being placed.
BioReconstruct aerials show several more black coaster support columns installed with horizontal beams and X-shaped cross-bracing now visible near the top of some vertical columns inside the show building footprint.
BioReconstruct aerials show additional black coaster support columns installed and at least one blue support column now standing in the show building footprint, with steel framing near the center suggesting early show building walls taking shape.
BioReconstruct aerials show multiple coaster support columns installed across the freshly paved foundation area, the MuppetVision 3D facade fully covered in scrim and scaffolding, and the entire exterior of the former Stage 1 Company Store painted gray.
BioReconstruct aerials and ground-level photos show the first Door Vault coaster track support columns installed on the massive show building foundation, with the columns visible above construction walls from the parking lot; exterior facade stripping continues across the former Muppets Courtyard city street area.
BioReconstruct aerials show five Door Vault coaster support columns installed on the west side of the show building foundation pad alongside a concrete boom pump truck positioned for additional pours, with footers, rebar, and conduit still being set across the remaining foundation sections.
BioReconstruct aerials show continued Muppets Courtyard facade removal with more of the Gonzo's Royal Flush restroom area stripped and surrounded by scaffolding, construction equipment staged around the former Mama Melrose's with windows boarded, and construction materials laid out in front of the former MuppetVision 3D entrance.
BioReconstruct aerials show the Door Vault coaster show building foundation in the cast member parking lot with multiple sections in concurrent concrete preparation stages including sand burial, rebar placement, and conduit threading around structural support bolts.
BioReconstruct aerials show the multi-layer Door Vault coaster show building foundation with concrete poured over sand and rebar, scaffolding rising on the future Glob Theater, and new cutouts in the former MuppetVision 3D brick facade for future theming elements.
BioReconstruct aerials show the three-part coaster show building foundation in progress with a concrete slab poured over a yellow vapor barrier, electrical conduits buried in sand, and removal of roof elements and additional brick from the former MuppetVision 3D facade.
BioReconstruct aerials show the multi-layer Door Vault coaster show building foundation under construction, with a concrete slab over a sand base, fresh rebar mesh, and electrical conduit being buried in the sand ahead of another concrete pour, alongside a new sand-base perimeter road forming around the building footprint.
BioReconstruct aerials show additional concrete poured across the show building footprint with a substantial amount of fill dirt visible, marking continued expansion of the gravity building foundation pad in the former cast member parking lot.
BioReconstruct aerials show the show building foundation concrete floor nearly complete across the rectangular footprint in the former cast member parking lot, with tarps covering freshly-poured sections and auger-drilled concrete pillar tops being cut to height along the far edge of the pad.
BioReconstruct aerials show the first concrete poured in one corner of the Door Vault coaster show building foundation, with auger-drilled support pilings cut to height and visible across the cleared parking lot site alongside early utility ditches in front of the former Muppets Courtyard buildings.
BioReconstruct aerial video shows the cleared former cast member parking lot behind Muppets Courtyard with early foundation work visible, including an array of concrete supports in a rectangular ditch marking the initial footprint of the Door Vault coaster show building.
BioReconstruct aerials show early demolition work in the former Muppets Courtyard with brickwork and stairs removed from the plaza area in front of the former Stage 1 Company Store, and a rough outline of the cleared cast member parking lot footprint where the coaster show building will be constructed.
Piston Peak National Park is under active construction in the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island footprint at Magic Kingdom. As of June 22, 2026, the retaining wall along the Frontierland boardwalk is complete, with sand filled and graded between the wall and the construction barriers fronting Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; utility work including staged drainage pipe sections, blue potable water lines, and purple reclaimed water lines is progressing across the graded site. A general construction permit for the former Aunt Polly's site on the former Tom Sawyer Island footprint was filed on July 1, 2026.
The retaining wall running parallel to the Frontierland boardwalk is nearly complete, with the final section still being cast near the former Riverboat Landing. Crews have poured and graded sand in the wide space between the wall and the construction walls in front of Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, where a green conveyor belt runs over the wall to bring in additional fill. Near the center of the site, sections of drainage pipe with vertical concrete ends are staged and ready to be buried, and utility work including potable and reclaimed water lines is visible across the graded land.
A crane and smaller retaining walls are visible near the former Liberty Belle dock, with the full construction site stretching across the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island footprint. Concrete berms extend across the site, indicating ongoing waterway reshaping and terrain grading, and the scale of the transformation is clearly visible from the air.
The Mike Fink Keel Boat Landing demolition is now complete, with only remnant structures near the Haunted Mansion entrance remaining. A separate aerial overview captures the full Piston Peak and Villains Land construction zone, with concrete retaining walls in a stepped or angled configuration, staged materials, and heavy equipment visible across the graded land; the sheer size of the construction zone dwarfs the surrounding Frontierland and Liberty Square areas.
Tall steel fencing columns are being erected along Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to screen construction from guests, with a recently cast concrete retaining wall for Piston Peak visible at the bottom right of the frame. Labeled imagery identifies the Utilidor access point, displaced tree storage, and the filled-in Rivers of America service canal.
Aerial video and stills show the retaining wall snaking along the Frontierland boardwalk from Big Thunder Mountain toward the former Liberty Square Riverboat Landing, and a backstage viaduct under construction that will connect to the Walt Disney World water management system.
The retaining wall is rising along the Frontierland edge of the Piston Peak site, with the few remaining transplanted trees staged at the center of the former Rivers of America footprint and concrete pipes staged beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
Newly added concrete forms at lower elevation near Big Thunder Mountain show vertical rebar indicating the start of a possible retaining wall or structural support element for the Piston Peak ride layout; the forms snake along the boardwalk from a point near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad toward the former Liberty Square Riverboat Landing.
The first concrete forms placed within the Piston Peak National Park construction zone are visible, positioned in the area near the former Tom Sawyer Island boat launch and adjacent to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad footprint.
First aerial construction photos show early concrete formwork and rebar in the former Rivers of America basin, representing the first visible signs of new structural work for Piston Peak National Park.
Aerial photos taken from approximately 3,100 feet show ongoing demolition of the Rivers of America and expanded work beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, with the cleared site and staging areas for the Piston Peak and Villains Land projects visible across the full northwest corner of Magic Kingdom.
Early land clearing and construction staging work west of Magic Kingdom is being prepared to support the Cars-themed Frontierland expansion and Villains Land, with laydown yards and contractor compound areas visible across a large site west of the park.
Villains Land is in active site preparation in the northwest corner of Magic Kingdom, with the most recent aerial documentation from June 22, 2026 showing sand graded across the footprint to mark future building locations, color-coded utility pipes staged for installation, and excavation behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad forming a new body of water connecting to the park's service canal. The adjacent Piston Peak retaining wall, documented on June 21, was shown nearing completion with sand fill advancing between the wall and the Frontierland boardwalk.
Sand has been graded across the Villains Land construction footprint in patterns corresponding to future building locations, with the largest structures placed at the back of the park behind the Haunted Mansion show building per permit filings. Color-coded utility pipes are staged for installation across the site, blue for incoming water and purple for outgoing and reclaimed water. Construction work is visible at the edge of the site behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, where crews are forming a new body of water intended to connect to the park's existing service canal.
The Piston Peak retaining wall, running approximately parallel to the Frontierland boardwalk, is shown nearing completion, with sand poured and graded across the wide zone between the wall and the construction barriers fronting Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Sections of drainage pipe are staged near the center of the Piston Peak construction site, with vertical concrete segments at each end and at a sharp interior turn. The Villains Land site to the north remains in ground preparation phase, visible across the broader aerial view of the northwest Magic Kingdom expansion zone.
The Villains Land site continues extensive ground preparation, visible as a large expanse of graded earth north of Big Thunder Mountain; retaining wall construction remains focused on the Piston Peak side to the south while the Villains Land area is in active site shaping.
BioReconstruct aerial shows the Mike Fink Keel Boat Landing at the Liberty Square edge of the construction zone has been fully demolished, with the dock and pavilion structure cleared, as Piston Peak and Villains Land construction expands toward the Haunted Mansion entrance.
BioReconstruct aerial shows concrete culverts staged and partially buried in the Villains Land area, with dirt mounds relocated and the ground leveled further; a partial rectangle is outlined in the dirt near the bottom right corner of the site indicating early footprint demarcation.
BioReconstruct aerial shows tall construction fencing being installed along the right side of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to screen the Villains Land and Piston Peak construction sites from guest views, with a recently cast concrete retaining wall for Piston Peak visible at bottom right.
Aerial overview shows the fully leveled Villains Land grading site from the north, a viaduct under construction backstage that will connect to the Walt Disney World water management system, and sand being mined west of the park on the Floridian Place side.
Aerial photos show extensive dirt moving across the northwest Magic Kingdom construction site, with a backstage area showing early utility digging tied to infrastructure connection points along Floridian Way; analysis estimates a 94,000 sq ft show building footprint behind the Haunted Mansion.
Aerial photos from a February 14 flight show the Villains Land site in active land-clearing phase, while the adjacent Piston Peak area shows the first concrete forms and vertical rebar installed, with community analysis suggesting the winding forms may correspond to the Piston Peak ride route or a new water feature running parallel to the former boardwalk.
BioReconstruct aerials show land clearing expanding to the area directly adjacent to the Haunted Mansion show building, with an excavator working the slope behind the outdoor graveyard queue and additional clearing extending the Villains Land construction footprint behind the attraction.
BioReconstruct aerials show the first concrete forms installed in the Piston Peak area along the side closest to Big Thunder Mountain, alongside early site preparation views of the Villains Land footprint as a boomerang-shaped clearing of dark graded dirt extending behind it's a small world.
Aerial photos show site preparation underway for Villains Land behind the it's a small world and Haunted Mansion show buildings, with land clearing extending to the forested area north of Magic Kingdom's previous berm; a January 2026 permit filing reveals building layouts including two large Villains Land show structures.
Aerial photos show land clearing expanding behind the it's a small world attraction in Fantasyland as part of the Villains Land site preparation, with the former Tom Sawyer Island area fully leveled and grading extending northward.
BioReconstruct aerials taken from approximately 3,100 feet show ongoing demolition of the Rivers of America, with demolition work also expanding to areas adjacent to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as site preparation for Piston Peak and Villains Land advances.
BioReconstruct aerials show massive land clearing west of Magic Kingdom in the staging and laydown yard areas beyond Big Thunder Mountain, with early preparation work tied to construction support infrastructure for the Cars-themed expansion and Villains Land.
Aerial overview shows two distinct sections of cleared land west of Magic Kingdom, with work on a new routing of Floridian Way visible at the northwest corner of the graded area; the clearing establishes an early site footprint spanning the zones that will become both Villains Land and the Cars-themed expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions: Walt Disney World Construction
Tropical Americas opens in 2027 at Disney's Animal Kingdom, a date Disney has officially confirmed. The 11-acre land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. is under active construction, with the Encanto ride building, the Indiana Jones Maya temple, and a new carousel all vertical as of mid-2026.
The Encanto ride opens in 2027 as part of Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is a ride-through attraction set inside the Madrigal family's magical Casita, the first Encanto attraction at any Disney park. Disney confirmed the 2027 opening for the full land.
Yes. DINOSAUR closed permanently on February 2, 2026, and its building is being transformed into a new Indiana Jones adventure set inside a newly discovered Maya temple. It opens in 2027 as part of the Tropical Americas land at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
DinoLand U.S.A. is being replaced by Tropical Americas, an 11-acre land set in the village of Pueblo Esperanza. It includes an Encanto ride, an Indiana Jones adventure, a carousel, and one of Disney World's largest quick-service restaurants. DinoLand closed in phases, ending February 2, 2026.
Disney has not confirmed an opening date for Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Based on construction pace, with the coaster show building steel rising through mid-2026, a 2028 opening is the most likely estimate. Construction began after the Muppets Courtyard area closed in June 2025.
Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios will feature a first-of-its-kind coaster that travels through the Door Vault from Monsters, Inc. Riders enter the monster world during H.U.M.A.N. Day, a citywide celebration welcoming humans. The coaster's show building is under construction, with no confirmed opening date.
MuppetVision 3D closed permanently on June 7, 2025, along with PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose's, to make way for Monstropolis, a Monsters, Inc. themed land. The former Muppets Courtyard buildings are being rethemed, and the land's signature Door Vault coaster is under construction.
Yes. The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Belle Riverboat closed permanently on July 7, 2025, and the waterway has since been filled and graded. The site is becoming Piston Peak National Park, a Cars-themed land, as part of Magic Kingdom's largest-ever expansion.
Disney has not confirmed an opening date for Piston Peak National Park, the Cars-themed land at Magic Kingdom. Permit filings target infrastructure completion in 2027, pointing to a likely opening around 2029. The land includes an off-road rally race attraction, a visitor lodge, and Ranger HQ.
Piston Peak National Park is a Cars-themed land under construction at Magic Kingdom, built on the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Themed as a wilderness of towering trees, snowcapped mountains, and roaring rivers, it features an off-road rally race attraction, a visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, and trails.
Disney has not announced an opening year for Villains Land at Magic Kingdom. Permit filings target infrastructure completion by December 2027, and construction pace points to an opening around 2030. The land is rising in the northwest corner of the park, beyond Big Thunder Mountain.
Disney has confirmed two major attractions for Villains Land, along with dining and shopping, all built in a style Imagineers call Conjured Architecture, a blend of Art Nouveau and fantastical design. Disney has not yet officially named the attractions or the villains they will feature.
The current development beyond Big Thunder Mountain is the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, adding two new lands at once: Piston Peak National Park, themed to Cars, and Villains Land, home to the Disney Villains. Both are under construction on and beyond the former Rivers of America.