If you’ve been to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World recently, you might have noticed that the Rivers of America has been drained for some time.
Tom Sawyer Island Pre-Construction
Currently Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat are listed on the refurb calendar through Feb. 28. And today, we did see active construction on the island while we were at Magic Kingdom!
Both Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat closed at the beginning of October, 2020 for a lengthy refurbishment. We’re not entirely sure of all that the construction entails, but there are signs of progress! Today, we spotted quite a few cars and workers on Rivers of America.
Tom Sawyer Island Construction
We spotted construction workers near the windmill on the island and the docking area for the boats that transport guests across the river. Normally guests don’t get to see all of the hard work being put into refurbishments. Disney tends hides it all behind a construction wall so it’s cool to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making Disney attractions.
Tom Sawyer Island Windmill Construction
Along with the active work, scaffolding that once surrounded Harper’s Mill is now gone! The mill got a makeover with a red paint job. Though, it looks like they painted right over the name of Harper’s Mill that was written boldly on the side of the building.
Harper’s Mill
While you’re staring out at the empty river, you can still get a glimpse of the Explorer Map and it doesn’t look like there are any significant changes. Maybe Tom Sawyers Island just needed some TLC?
Tom Sawyer Island Map
For now, onlookers enjoy a view of a drained Rivers of America filled with trucks with the hopes of making it back onto the island soon for more adventures! We’ll continue keeping an eye on the progress and let you know about any updates!
Here are 11 Disney Projects that were DELAYED in 2020!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2020 Edition of the Guide!
Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
What do you think of the refurbishment? Let us know in the comments!
The post PHOTOS: Harper’s Mill and Rivers of America Construction Update first appeared on the disney food blog.