Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World has started visible exterior refurbishment work on The Haunted Mansion. Scaffolding and scrim cover part of the attraction’s facade. Landscaping has been removed in the work zone. Trees that once framed parts of The Haunted Mansion queue and the river basin have been removed. The refurbishment focuses on exterior restoration and modifications around the queue area.
The timing of the Haunted Mansion work has drawn attention because it coincides with other significant changes in and around Frontierland. The park area south and east of Liberty Square has been undergoing extensive redevelopment since summer 2025, when several classic elements permanently closed.
Empty Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom facing the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: That Park Place
READ: Dave Filoni Got Lucasfilm Position Because Genndy Tartakovsky Turned it Down
With the newest refurbishment underway, this leaves much of Magic Kingdom looking less than ideal. Refurbishments are a normal part of the park throughout the year. However, guests visiting now will frequently be taken out of the illusion with the extensive construction and refurbishment.
Details of the Haunted Mansion Refurbishment
Exterior work on The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom began in January 2026. This project is part of a broader series of construction changes in the park. Scaffolding and green scrim now cover the facade and sections of the outdoor queue, particularly near the attraction’s graveyard area. The work focuses on structural and surface elements rather than interior show updates, and the ride continues to operate while construction is ongoing.
The project has required the removal of shrubbery, trees, and other landscaping around the lawn and surrounding areas. About two‑thirds of the lawn that traditionally framed the mansion’s facade has been cleared. Only a narrow strip of plants remains along the queue entrance.
An industrial fan and construction walls in the queue for the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World: Photo Credit: That Park Place
Walt Disney Imagineering has filed multiple permits for this work. One permit covers the installation of set elements, which often supports theming or scenic updates. Other permits involve general construction and scaffolding that may accommodate changes to queue areas or outdoor spaces.
Frontierland Transformation and Closures
Several longstanding Magic Kingdom features closed permanently on July 6, 2025, to make way for new themed lands. These closures included Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Square Riverboat, and the Rivers of America waterway. The river was fully drained, and crews removed major structures on Tom Sawyer Island during late 2025 to prepare the site for future development.
Expansion work in this portion of the park focuses on two major projects. Piston Peak National Park, themed to the Cars franchise, is being built on the land formerly occupied by the river and island. Near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, construction has begun for a separate Villains Land expansion that will adjoin the Piston Peak area.
Concept art for Piston Peak, the new Cars Land coming to Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – Disney Parks
READ: Fable No Longer an Xbox Exclusive — PS5 and PC Release Confirmed With Male Protagonist Option
The move to replace some of Walt’s original ideas with a more recent franchise is questionable at best. Especially considering that out of the trio of movies, the first one only made much of a cultural splash. The second was widely considered a dud, and the third okay but forgettable.
Construction walls now extend from Liberty Square into Frontierland, enclosing much of what had been wooded scenery and water features. Aerial images show that the land has been leveled, railroad track segments removed, and heavy equipment positioned to prepare the site.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Other Refurbishments
Another central attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, has been closed since January 6, 2025, for a major refurbishment. The work includes track replacement and updates to ride elements. The ride is scheduled to reopen in 2026.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed behind construction walls in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: Follow The Bradleys’ Fun
Refurbishment work at Magic Kingdom extends beyond Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder. The park’s maintenance calendar shows projects for Cinderella Castle repainting, updates to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and work on Pete’s Silly Sideshow near Storybook Circus.
Park Experience and Visibility
Guests walking through Liberty Square and Frontierland can see extensive construction walls and cleared land where familiar sights once stood. However, the Disney parks decided now was the time to do even more refurbishment. Refurbishments that, temporary though they may be, take away from the immersion the parks are supposed to provide guests.
What do you think of all of Magic Kingdom’s construction and changes? Is the timing off for this Haunted Mansion refurbishment? Are some of the refurbishments off too? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
