It’s safe to say that starting in 2025, Magic Kingdom is about to look VERY different.
Magic Kingdom
“The Most Magical Place on Earth” has a lot planned for 2025. Long refurbishments, massive (and we mean MASSIVE) construction, and new entertainment have been announced for Disney World. Let’s go over these changes and see just how much the future of Magic Kingdom will be impacted!
While Disney World will constantly be changing, there are five huge, game-changing announcements that will alter what Magic Kingdom looks like in 2025 and beyond.
Cars Expansion
At last year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney announced that Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland will be getting a massive makeover.
Piston Peak ©Disney
A new area called Piston Peak, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Cars franchise, is coming to Frontierland and will feature Western frontier theming. According to Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, “The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city.”
Coming Coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a new area themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” will leave Radiator Springs and head to the wilderness with two new attractions including an off-road race.
The expanded area will include two new Cars attractions but will require the removal of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, which officially closed in July 2025.
Rivers of America drained
As part of these changes, the Frontierland Walt Disney World Railroad station closed on July 7th along with the Rivers of America, but the train is still taking guests between the Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland stations in “shuttle mode.”
Dear Disney: Please Don’t Fumble the Cars Land Mega Expansion
Disney Starlight
A new nighttime parade debuted in Magic Kingdom this year to tons of fanfare!
Disney Starlight
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away performs down Main Street, U.S.A., and is hosted by the Blue Fairy, who uses her magic to bring “a star-kissed constellation of Disney dreams” to life.
Blue Fairy
A spiritual successor to the “Main Street Electrical Parade,” Disney Starlight uses modern tech to light up the night.
Disney Starlight
The show features characters from many Walt Disney Animation Studios films like Encanto, Frozen, and Peter Pan. It officially debuted on July 20th.
Solving The Number One PROBLEM With Disney’s NEW Nighttime Parade at Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment
Not everything that is closing in Magic Kingdom will be gone for good, as is the case with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s year-long refurbishment.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
This long refurbishment is leading to some big changes, such as new lighting and effects, including “spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling).” The exterior of the ride will also be changed to help it fit into the new Piston Peak Cars expansion that’s also coming to Frontierland.
©Disney
Closing the Big Thunder Mountain also makes life easier for all the construction happening BEHIND the ride, as Disney World begins construction on the new Villains Land.
©Walt Disney Imagineering
Big Thunder Mountain closed on January 6th, 2025, and will reopen sometime in 2026.
What a YEARLONG CLOSURE Means for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disney World
Villains Land Construction
We mentioned that a Villains Land is coming to Magic Kingdom, but the official timeline has yet to be announced.
Villains Land Concept Art
©Disney
The land will feature two major attractions, new dining experiences, and shopping locations presented “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.” It will be situated beyond Big Thunder Mountain, which gives credence to the idea that construction could start as early as 2025 while Big Thunder Mountain is closed.
Per Disney, “Walt Disney Imagineering is pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.” We can’t wait to see the new land — and all of its characters — come to life!
Take a DEEP DIVE into the Villains Land concept art HERE.
Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern
Finally, the Pirates of the Caribbean lore expanded in Magic Kingdom in 2025!
The Beak and Barrel
Located in Adventureland, The Beak and Barrel is a “first-of-its-kind experience” that extends the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. The tavern welcomes pirates “of all ages” where they can “gather to tell their tales” and chow down on a variety of food and beverage options. This Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is also home to some “magical surprises,” as well as the Barker Bird (also known as Peg Leg Pete)!
The Beak and Barrel
Magic Kingdom’s first-ever alcohol-serving lounge opened in August, and reservations are now open!
FULL REVIEW of The Beak and Barrel in Magic Kingdom
BONUS: Castle Makeover
At Destination D23 in Disney World at the end of August 2025, it was revealed that Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom is being repainted back to its old (and popular) gray and blue color scheme!
©Disney
The colors changed during the 50th anniversary to include pink, but Disney is finally reverting back to the original colors. According to Disney, “Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is getting a new color palette, inspired by the classic and original look of the castle. The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold, aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture.” A timeline of this project has not yet been announced.
NEWS: Disney World Announces Cinderella Castle Will Be Repainted To Its Old Gray and Blue Color Scheme!
Are you excited about these Magic Kingdom changes? Let us know, and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney World news, tips, reviews, and more!
17 MAJOR Changes Coming to Disney World in 2025
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Most of those changes aren’t going to affect Disney in a meaningful way till maybe 2027 or later. They are announcing closures and future expansions yet they are still raising prices with less rides available and longer wait times. We’re going to try to make our February trip as good as it can be nonetheless.
Quite the nothing burger if you ask me.
Sure is a shame about Rivers of America and the great paddle wheeler. Walt would have loved that boat. Walt who, you ask. That’s a story for another day……..
Maybe 2025 is a year not to go to Disney with all these closures I hope the railroad doesn’t shut down again
Not looking forward to 25 or 26.
And for Pete’s sake, find a way to restore the Frontierland Walt Disney World Railroad station. Whatever it takes, it must happen.
I am looking forward to visiting Magic Kingdom in 2026 and enjoying/exploring all the new features.