The theme park that started it all in Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, is changing in big ways. With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening on June 28, 2024, fans cannot help but wonder what is next for the flagship park. After all, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro hinted at some pretty exciting projects for what could possibly be found beyond the current perimeter of the park.
The good news is that we already know a lot about what’s coming to Magic Kingdom. Many of these brand-new offerings are in the midst of opening (or will soon be open!). Other projects are likely several years away from completion, so rest assured, there’s still plenty to look forward to!
Now Open: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The flagship event of 2024 at Walt Disney World is the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The ride, which takes the place of Splash Mountain in Frontierland, marks the end of a four-year journey since the project was first announced.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure adds dozens of new Audio-Animatronics to Disney’s arsenal, telling a new story of Princess Tiana after the events of the film The Princess and the Frog. It has all of the same dips and drops you remember from Splash Mountain, but with hugely upgraded technology.
The ride also serves as a “love letter to New Orleans,” with musical and cultural influences found throughout the attraction. The ride officially opened to guests on June 28, 2024.
If you’re looking to experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, there are two ways you can do so as of this writing. If you wish to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you can to join the Virtual Queue at 7:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m., or you can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and the ride will be included as one of the available Lightning Lanes to book.
READ MORE ABOUT TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE
Now Open: Country Bear Musical Jamboree
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure wasn’t the only new attraction to open in Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2024. Grizzly Hall reopened its doors to a newly redesigned Country Bear Musical Jamboree, officially opening to guests on July 17, 2024.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree features the same cast of singing bears, this time with new outfits and a new setlist. The new show will feature Disney songs with a country twist.
READ MORE ABOUT THE OPENING DATE OF COUNTRY BEAR MUSICAL JAMBOREE
Coming Soon: New Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge
The changes keep a-coming to Frontierland. The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade will soon close permanently to make way for a new lounge space for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members. As of this writing, we do not have an exact timeline for when the DVC Lounge will open. Construction will begin “later this year,” so it is not happening immediately.
We do know, per theme park journalist Scott Gustin, that the final day of operation for the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was on Sunday, June 23. The lounge will fully replace the shooting arcade, so be sure to get your final rounds in if you have an upcoming vacation. This will be the third DVC Lounge available in Walt Disney World, in addition to the ones in the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT and at Top of the World Lounge — A Villain’s Lair at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
READ ABOUT THE BEST DISNEY WORLD RESORT HOTELS FOR AN ADULTS-ONLY VACATION
2025: Nighttime Parades Finally Returning to Magic Kingdom
At long last, Magic Kingdom is getting back its nighttime parade. It was announced at the Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event that “Disney Starlight” is the name of the new nighttime parade. The parade will debut in the summer of 2025.
It has been quite a while since Magic Kingdom had a nighttime parade. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the crowd flow during the evening hours. If you’re planning a 2025 Disney World vacation, you will definitely want to be aware of the potential change this could bring in terms of crowd control in Magic Kingdom.
2025: Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Tavern
Let’s close things out on something else that we know for sure is on its way to Magic Kingdom…we just don’t know when exactly! This one has got me very excited — a lounge themed after Pirates of the Caribbean is coming to Adventureland!
The lounge was one of the projects announced during Destination D23. What we know so far is that it will be a “first-of-its-kind experience,” extending the story of the attraction. And it will feature the return of the Barker Bird, a.k.a. Peg-Leg Pete, a fan-favorite Audio Animatronic from the early years of the ride.
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it was announced that the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern would open in 2025, though no specific date was shared.
READ MORE ABOUT WHAT IS ON ITS WAY TO WALT DISNEY WORLD AND BEYOND.
Extended Closure in 2025: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
If you’re planning a 2025 Walt Disney World vacation, you’ll want to know of one major attraction that will be closed for the entirety of the calendar year and beyond: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The fan-favorite roller coaster will start its extended closure on January 6, 2025, and will remain closed into 2026 (a reopening date has not been announced). When the ride reopens sometime in 2026, it will feature “new enhancements.”
Work Begins in 2025: ‘Cars’ Franchise Coming to Reimagined Section of Frontierland
Some big changes are on the way to Magic Kingdom — bigger than perhaps anyone initially anticipated! It was announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in 2024 that Pixar’s Cars would be on its way to a reimagined area in Frontierland. This new area would feature two new attractions.
Where this reimagined section is located came as a shock to many. In a press release sent by Disney, “To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.” That’s right, Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will close permanently and the river will be filled to make space for this new area.
The press release continues, “Ahead of work revving into high gear next year, guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.” Construction on this new area will begin sometime in 2025, and a completion date has not been announced. I would anticipate this will take several years to build, so expect construction walls in and around Frontierland starting in 2025 and lasting for at least three or four years (that’s just an educated guess.)
SEE THE TIMELINE FOR ALL OF THE MAJOR CHANGES ON THE WAY TO DISNEY WORLD, DISNEYLAND, AND DISNEY CRUISE LINE.
Timeline TBD: Villains Land Coming Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
At Destination D23 in 2023, D’Amaro hinted at learning what exists “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” This sounds like a new land (possibly multiple lands) being built on the other side of Frontierland, but no exact announcement of what’s coming has happened…yet. But rest assured; with permits officially filed, something is in the works. Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World site portfolio executive, stated, “It’s probably the largest expansion ever at Magic Kingdom,” per CNN.
At the Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it was announced that a villains themed land is in fact coming to Magic Kingdom! Remember a few seconds ago when we discussed Big Thunder’s extended closure? It’s possible some of the work being done is setting the stage for this villain’s land to come to life.
Not many details were given at the time this land was announced, nor was a timeline given for when this land might be complete. Because things are still a little vague, I would expect this land to be several years away. Think 2029 or 2030 for a realistic timeframe. For now, it’s thrilling that we’re finally getting a villains land at Disney World!
READ MORE ABOUT DISNEY’S $60 BILLION INVESTMENT IN ITS PARKS AND EXPERIENCES.
