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 as of mid-August 2026. A BioReconstruct aerial from August 17 documented the Casita Madrigal facade framework rising at Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, wire mesh for rockwork underway on the Indiana Jones temple, and ongoing work on the carousel roof and hacienda restaurant transformation. Disney confirmed the official names of all three in-land attractions at D23 in August 2026.
Steel framework for the Casita Madrigal facade has risen at the front of Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, with a concrete retaining wall dividing the future guest area from the in-progress house structure. Wire mesh panels are being applied to the Indiana Jones temple steel frame, beginning the rockwork sculpting phase of that facade. The El Carrusel de los Animalitos roof canopy remains exposed, and a new steel frame entrance is visible at the front of the former Restaurantosaurus hacienda building, where old roofing has been stripped in preparation for themed replacement.
Wire mesh chips for rockwork are installed on the highest roofline of the Encanto show building, now painted in go-away green, marking the first exterior theming work visible on the structure. The carousel foundation and its surrounding structures are taking shape near the northern entrance, and a mature transplanted tree has been placed in that same entrance area. At the Imagineering backstage area, the clearest aerial photos yet show scenic element development for the Indiana Jones ride, while the Maya temple steel facade on the former DINOSAUR building remains active with boom lifts still positioned around the multi-story framework.
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 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 the Door Vault coaster show building receiving additional curved track sections staged beside its foundation and multi-level interior steel framing continuing through mid-August 2026. Facade theming is advancing across the courtyard, with scaffolding coming down from the Glob Theater's updated clock tower and monster-themed trim elements installed on multiple buildings. New entrance columns are being installed at the land entry corridor following removal of an earlier set.
Multiple curved Door Vault coaster track sections have been relocated from the distant EPCOT staging yard to immediately beside the show building's concrete foundation, grouped on dirt near the structure's edge alongside straight steel pieces and other construction materials. Overhead views of the show building reveal the steel frame continuing to rise with multiple levels of framing and sections of metal decking installed, while cranes remain active around the perimeter. A separate aerial view of the EPCOT staging yard shows a significant remaining supply of track segments, supports, and pipes organized along its perimeter, with flatbed trucks and a crane positioned among the stored components.
Overhead photos show the newly constructed Monstropolis entrance columns cut into sections and hauled away in dumpsters, confirming full removal of all four columns after their progressive demolition over the preceding days. Wooden triangle forms for the first themed concrete features are also visible from above at the entrance zone, with workers actively pouring wet concrete to create horn-and-teeth shapes consistent with the land's concept art. Paving continues through the entry corridor leading into the courtyard.
Aerial photos reveal a dense, multi-level steel structure now rising from the Door Vault coaster show building, with one notably taller section concentrated around what is believed to be the opening scene of the attraction. Corrugated steel floor decking has been installed over sections of the framework, partially obscuring lower ride hardware from overhead view, with bright yellow vapor barriers marking areas slated for additional concrete pours. A pair of parallel rails near the lower portion of the structure is believed to be associated with the coaster maintenance bay.
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.
The load area is under active construction with concrete block structures and scaffolding at the zone where two separate track routes will merge into one, alongside additional coaster supports and one visible blue support column distinct from the black show-building columns.
All former Muppets Courtyard buildings appear 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 across the foundation slab.
Several more black coaster support columns are now installed inside the show building footprint, with horizontal beams and X-shaped cross-bracing visible near the top of some vertical columns. A crew member in a personnel lift is visible working on one of the upper structural connections.
Additional black coaster support columns are now installed in the show building footprint alongside at least one blue support column, with steel framing near the center suggesting early show building wall structure taking shape. The foundation slab extends across the full cleared parking lot footprint.
Multiple coaster support columns are now installed across the freshly paved foundation area, the MuppetVision 3D facade is fully covered in scrim and scaffolding, and the entire exterior of the former Stage 1 Company Store has been painted gray. The cleared slab footprint shows the full scale of the show building pad from above.
The first Door Vault coaster track support columns are now installed on the massive show building foundation, visible above construction walls from the parking lot. Exterior facade stripping continues across the former Muppets Courtyard city street area, with additional scaffolding appearing around multiple buildings.
Five Door Vault coaster support columns are now 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. Track beams and additional coaster components remain staged at the EPCOT area yard visible from the Skyliner.
Continued Muppets Courtyard facade removal is visible, with more of the Gonzo's Royal Flush restroom area stripped and surrounded by scaffolding. Construction equipment is staged around the former Mama Melrose's with windows boarded, and construction materials are laid out in front of the former MuppetVision 3D entrance.
The Door Vault coaster show building foundation in the cast member parking lot shows multiple sections in concurrent concrete preparation stages, including sand burial, rebar placement, and conduit threading around structural support bolts. Several sections of the multi-part foundation pad are in different stages of readiness simultaneously.
The multi-layer Door Vault coaster show building foundation shows concrete poured over sand and rebar in the parking lot footprint, while scaffolding rises on the future Glob Theater building and new cutouts appear in the former MuppetVision 3D brick facade for future theming elements. The overall foundation slab is taking its full rectangular shape from above.
The three-part coaster show building foundation is progressing, with a concrete slab poured over a yellow vapor barrier and electrical conduits buried in sand visible across multiple sections. Roof elements and additional brick from the former MuppetVision 3D facade are also being removed on the courtyard side.
The multi-layer Door Vault coaster show building foundation is under construction, with a concrete slab over a sand base, fresh rebar mesh, and electrical conduit being buried in the sand ahead of another pour. A new sand-base perimeter road is also forming around the building footprint in the former parking lot.
Additional concrete has been poured across the show building footprint with a substantial amount of fill dirt visible, marking continued expansion of the foundation pad in the former cast member parking lot. The rectangular outline of the full pad is now clearly legible from above.
The show building foundation concrete floor is 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.
The first concrete has been poured in one corner of the Door Vault coaster show building foundation, with auger-drilled support pilings cut to height visible across the cleared parking lot site. Early utility ditches are also visible in front of the former Muppets Courtyard buildings on the courtyard side of the footprint.
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. The overall scale of the cleared site relative to the existing courtyard buildings is apparent from above.
Early demolition work is visible in the former Muppets Courtyard, with brickwork and stairs removed from the plaza area in front of the former Stage 1 Company Store. The cleared cast member parking lot footprint where the coaster show building will be constructed is also visible to the rear of the courtyard buildings.
Piston Peak National Park is under active construction in the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island footprint at Magic Kingdom. At D23 in August 2026, Disney revealed both attraction names, Cars Ridge Run Rally and Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along, along with a 19-by-19-foot scale model of the full land on display at the Imagineering Horizons pavilion. A tower crane was installed on site in late July 2026, signaling the transition toward significant vertical construction.
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.
The former Rivers of America basin is fully cleared, with heavy equipment reshaping a large swath of land that now stretches from the Haunted Mansion area across toward Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Bulk earthwork is underway as crews level the site, marking a clear transition from demolition into active site preparation for the new land.
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.
Demolition of Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island is well advanced, with much of the fort structure reduced to debris piles and construction equipment positioned around the former site. The surrounding land shows significant clearing work progressing as part of the broader site transformation for Piston Peak National Park.
Villains Land is in active site preparation in the northwest corner of Magic Kingdom, with the most recent aerial documentation from July 18, 2026 showing continued sand grading and earth movement across the footprint. At D23 on August 15, 2026, Disney confirmed both headline attractions by name, revealed the land's backstory in full, and compared the scale of the project to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
Aerial photos of the combined construction site show that drainage pipes previously visible being installed in the Piston Peak area are now fully buried under graded fill, with sand and earth continuing to be moved and shaped throughout both projects. On the Villains Land side, dirt continues to be graded and infrastructure materials remain staged across the footprint. A separate aerial view to the west of Magic Kingdom documents a water management project with two new lakes under excavation, connected by a tunnel, providing sand supply for both Villains Land and Piston Peak.
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 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.
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.
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.