Magic Kingdom Construction Photos: New Views Across the Former Rivers of America
I don’t get to post Walt Disney World construction updates nearly as often as I’d like. If I lived closer, I’d probably spend my mornings snapping photos of ride testing and concrete auger pilings. But until that happens, I’ll keep dedicating chunks of my vacations to lingering near construction walls, hoping to catch something worth reporting.
Did that happen last week? Probably not. But I did walk away with a few photos that show just how wild the current construction sightlines are at Magic Kingdom.
Quick caveat before the photos: not many people seemed interested in what was going on behind those construction walls. My 200mm lens did the heavy lifting here, making the tractors look far closer than they actually were.
I first noticed Magic Kingdom’s unique scenery from the pedestrian bridge near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Frontierland’s highest point let me look over the walls into what used to be Rivers of America. Those barricades will need to be a lot taller if Disney wants to hide Piston Peak once it starts going vertical.
From that vantage point, piles of Tom Sawyer Island debris and several excavators were hard to miss. It also offered some unexpectedly good views of the Haunted Mansion.
Turning toward Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, we saw several excavators digging in the former Rivers of America.
We were also treated to new views of the Haunted Mansion thanks to the demolition of Tom Sawyer Island. Disney added construction walls along the ride’s standby line to keep guests from peeking into the work zone. Unfortunately, they also prevent any sort of airflow in the outdoor queue. I didn’t think the lack of a breeze would be a problem in late November, but on an 80-degree afternoon, it was stifling.
Excavators could also be seen while walking from Frontierland to Liberty Square. Again, lens compression makes the heavy machinery appear much closer than it actually was.
As usual, Disney decorated the construction walls with themed posters.
Our favorite construction photos came from the Festival of Fantasy Parade. We had just finished the Jingle Cruise and were heading toward McKim’s Mile House when I noticed Maleficent Dragon making her way down the route. I always enjoy photographing that beauty, but this time I got an unexpected second subject: a bright yellow excavator working behind her. As usual, no one paid the construction any mind (except me).
Rivers of America was undeniably more scenic than a maze of construction walls and Komatsu excavators. But I enjoyed the kinetic energy running through Magic Kingdom last week. Hopefully, that same momentum is there when Piston Peak opens.
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