Aerial photos from @bioreconstruct on X reveal the newest progress on the land set to become Piston Peak National Park. Although we cannot confirm, the new construction hints at possible ride layout or early foundational work for the off-road attraction coming to Frontierland in Magic Kingdom
Aerial Piston Peak Photos
The photo above shows an aerial look at the development of the future Piston Peak National Park ride. The newly added concrete forms are at a lower elevation compared to Big Thunder Mountain above, so it is likely that this section of the ride will be hidden by landscaping later on. While it is most likely too early to speculate what these forms are for, it is possible that the new concrete forms could point to possible ride layout as compared to the fun map below.
The classic Disney “fun map” was revealed for the Cars-themed Frontierland expansion coming to Magic Kingdom last year. The map is a type of idealized art that shows an approximation of the layout and theming, but it shouldn’t be expected to work like a regular navigational map or to present every aspect true-to-life. However, laying out a rough outline of the concrete forms shows that the foundation could be for the ride or mechanics that will lay underneath the ride.
Our first look at the framing came with the last aerial update of Piston Peak, in which we speculated that the work could have been the beginning stages of ride construction. From those angles, it was clear the part of this framing moves up and down with the terrain which makes sense as the attraction has a new type of ride vehicle meant to recreate an off-roading experience. Imagineers took an off-roading research trip to Arizona and then commissioned a dirt track to race on.
It is also possible the this structure could be used as a retaining wall since it is so close to the bridge that begins just across from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and leads to the typical area of Big Thunder Mountain’s entrance which is currently behind walls.
The possible building layout was revealed in a document filed by Disney with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Piston Peak National Park will take up most of the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island footprint as part of the existing Frontierland. Disney Villains Land will be to the north of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Haunted Mansion in an area currently backstage.
In the Cars area is a semi-circle-shaped building and two smaller buildings. This space will also have two attractions. The “off-road” rally race ride will be mostly outdoors, but the semi-circle building is likely part of it. If that is the case, the current concrete forms would correlate with the filing.
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