At first glance, it looks like someone took a giant eraser to the tree line just west of the Magic Kingdom.
Recent aerial photos show that large portions of the forest have been cleared, and longtime fans are starting to ask questions. The area, once a quiet buffer of untouched green space behind the park, now looks like a construction site in progress—with dirt plots, construction markers, and newly placed barriers.
So what exactly is happening?
Disney hasn’t made a big public announcement about the project, but the signs are all there. Land surveys are complete, permits have been filed and approved, and construction equipment has started arriving. Behind-the-scenes work like this almost always points to something major. And this time, it’s linked to what could become the biggest expansion Magic Kingdom has seen in decades.
It’s Not a Ride—Yet
The land that’s being cleared won’t be home to an attraction anytime soon. Instead, Disney is setting up staging zones—commonly called “laydown yards”—which are essential for any large construction effort. These areas will hold construction equipment, materials, and trailers for project teams who will be working on the park’s next big additions.
Aerial photo of a recently built retention pond West of Magic Kingdom.
Area at right is part of what will be a construction staging area. pic.twitter.com/Msnlm5MDv0— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) August 3, 2025
What are they supporting? Two upcoming projects: a Cars-themed addition to Frontierland and a long-awaited Villains-themed land. Together, these new lands are replacing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, both of which are now officially closed. But before demolition can begin in the park itself, Disney needs to build the infrastructure to support that work—and that’s exactly what this forest clearing is about.
Why Disney Cleared the Trees
It’s always a little jarring to see a lush forest suddenly vanish. But in the context of a massive theme park expansion, it’s not unusual. The cleared plots are part of multiple gravel laydown yards that Disney is installing just west and northwest of the Magic Kingdom. These zones will become the backstage heart of the construction effort—housing everything from staging areas to crew trailers.
Some of these areas border the Walt Disney World Railroad, which is operating on a limited route. Other plots stretch along canals once used to support the Rivers of America. They’ll soon be filled with gravel, trailers, and machinery to support the heavy lifting ahead.
And it’s not just about laying down gravel. Some of these spaces could include retention ponds or drainage systems to manage Florida’s constant rain and prevent flooding around the site. This kind of groundwork is critical, especially when building so close to water and within such a tightly packed park.
A Sign of What’s Coming
Even though the general public might not see much happening from inside the park right now, this forest clearing is the domino that sets everything else in motion. With the closure of Tom Sawyer Island, the countdown has officially started. Demolition crews will likely move in soon to start draining the Rivers of America and removing the island’s aging infrastructure.
Once that’s done, construction can ramp up on the new themed lands. The Cars expansion is expected to take over the southern half of the old Rivers of America area. Villains Land, meanwhile, is likely planned for the northern half, though Disney hasn’t confirmed exact borders just yet.
The exciting part? This is shaping up to be Magic Kingdom’s biggest expansion since New Fantasyland. And with crowd levels as high as ever, it couldn’t come at a better time.
The Big Picture
The reality is, if Disney wants to build something this large, it has to start with the basics. That means removing trees, shaping the land, and putting support infrastructure in place long before guests ever see a single themed sign or attraction poster.
This newly cleared area might never be accessible to guests, but without it, the future of Magic Kingdom simply doesn’t happen. It’s the foundation—literally—for something much bigger.
So while it might look like a mess right now, and while fans may grumble about the loss of the rivers and the charm of Tom Sawyer Island, there’s a bigger story being written. And it’s one that could reshape the Magic Kingdom forever.
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