The landscape of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is transforming at a breakneck pace. For decades, Frontierland has served as the soulful, rustic heart of the theme park, offering guests a nostalgic journey through the American West. But as of August 2026, the pioneer spirit of this beloved land is undergoing a massive, high-octane overhaul. The transition from the classic frontier into the upcoming Cars-themed expansion is becoming more physically apparent by the day.Credit: DisneyFollowing the permanent closure of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, construction crews have been working diligently behind the scenes. Now, those efforts are spilling out into the guest pathways. In a major update that is radically altering how visitors navigate the park, Walt Disney World has significantly expanded its construction walls, effectively shutting down a massive portion of the iconic Frontierland boardwalk.Paired with the recent, rapid demolition of classic snack kiosks, Magic Kingdom is making it abundantly clear: the road to Piston Peak National Park is officially under construction. Here is everything you need to know about the latest boardwalk closures, the changing face of Frontierland, and what this means for your next Disney vacation.The Boardwalk Shutdown: A Navigational ShiftFor generations of Magic Kingdom guests, the wooden boardwalk hugging the edge of the Rivers of America was more than just a thematic touch—it was a vital artery for crowd flow. The boardwalk historically served as a peaceful, shaded shortcut that allowed visitors to bypass the chaotic main thoroughfare of Frontierland, especially during the daily runs of the Festival of Fantasy parade.Credit: Michael Gray, FlickrAs of August 10, 2026, however, that beloved waterside stroll is largely a thing of the past. Construction walls in Frontierland have officially shifted, severely cutting off access to the pathway. While about half of the boardwalk had already been closed to the public since early July, this newest expansion of the barricades is far more substantial.The towering brown construction walls now completely block off the stretch of the boardwalk that leads from the area in front of the Country Bear Musical Jamboree all the way down to the borders of Liberty Square. This means guests can no longer easily use the riverside deck to transition between the two lands.Credit: DisneyCurrently, only a very small, highly restricted portion of the boardwalk remains open to foot traffic. Visitors are only permitted to walk the short section of the wooden path nestled between the Country Bear Musical Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This remaining sliver of the boardwalk sits directly behind the site where the Westward Ho refreshment kiosk once stood.Westward Ho: A Landmark ErasedThe expansion of the boardwalk construction walls comes immediately on the heels of another major Frontierland development. Just days prior, Walt Disney World crews completed the total demolition of Westward Ho, the popular grab-and-go snack stand that had been a staple of the area for years.Credit: Inside the MagicLess than two months after serving its last frozen lemonade and corn dog nuggets, the rustic wooden kiosk was completely demolished by Buena Vista Construction Company. The structure’s signature shingled roof, themed facade, and serving windows were completely wiped from the map.Interestingly, while the building itself is gone, Disney’s construction teams opted to preserve the large, mature shade tree that stood directly beside the former snack stand. Because the Westward Ho structure has been completely eradicated, guests walking along the remaining open section of the boardwalk are now treated to a surprisingly unobstructed view right over the construction walls, looking straight toward the towering red-rock peaks of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.Credit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrThe demolition of Westward Ho, along with the previous removal of the nearby Big Al’s merchandise kiosk, serves a highly specific logistical purpose. By removing these physical structures from the promenade, Disney is clearing the necessary real estate to push their active construction zones further into the guest pathways, widening the footprint for the heavy machinery required to build an entirely new land.Navigating the Labyrinth: What Guests Should ExpectWith the majority of the boardwalk now closed and multiple kiosks erased, Frontierland feels far less like a sleepy western town and much more like an active industrial work zone. The expansion of these construction walls will significantly impact crowd flows through the area in the foreseeable future.