Westward Ho Refreshments served its final day on June 21, 2026 and permanently closed, with its webpage removed on June 22, 2026, to make way for the Piston Peak National Park (Cars-themed) expansion reshaping Frontierland.
Everything that changed here
across the land, newest first- 2026
- 2026
Big Al's permanently closed on May 11, 2026, failing to reopen with the rest of Frontierland as the area was cleared for Piston Peak (Cars) construction, with the sign removed and the kiosk prepped for demolition.
- 2026
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened after a roughly 16-month refurbishment with an all-new track and refreshed trains.
- 2026
A reimagined Rainbow Caverns scene debuted with more than 2,000 bats, phosphorescent pools, and shimmering iridescent stalactites and stalagmites that shift from glowing color to an ominous red.
- 2026
Refreshed Audio-Animatronics, refurbished figures (a revamped Tumbleweed Town), and new gold props were added across the mountain, capped by a new 'Mother Lode' gold finale.
- 2026
The minimum height requirement was lowered to 38 inches following the refurbishment.
40 in→38 in - 2025
Breakfast offerings and Tiana's Bayou Adventure items (Hot Honey Chicken, Tiana's Famous Beignets) were added to the regular menu after previously being limited-time.
- 2025
After roughly five years closed, Prairie Outpost reopened on June 30, 2025, rethemed from a candy shop into a hat store carrying wide-brimmed hats, fedoras, and customizable headwear supplied by vendor Chapel Hats.
- 2025
The attraction closed for a roughly 16-month 'mountaintop-to-cavern' refurbishment that included a full track replacement and scene work.
- 2024
Menu prices rose, with Sweet-and-Spicy Beignets increasing from $6.99 to $7.29 and bottled water from $3.75 to $4.00.
- 2024
Reopened as the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, a full retheme: the bears now perform reinterpreted classic Disney songs in country styles (bluegrass, Americana, rockabilly) with a new score arranged and produced by Mac McAnally, a new Nashville voice cast, and new film and sets; the existing A-100 figures were rebuilt from the ground up with new components and 'compliance' for more natural motion. Soft openings began July 10.
Country Bear Jamboree→Country Bear Musical Jamboree - 2024
Critter Co-Op opened in Frontierland (soft opening June 29, 2024) as the main gift shop for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, rethemed from the former Briar Patch shop and themed as the performance hall for the Bayou Community Band.
- 2024
Coinciding with the opening of the adjacent Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the menu was overhauled with New Orleans/Cajun-inspired items including Tiana's Famous Beignets, Hot Honey Chicken with Sweet Potato Fries, and Shrimp Gumbo.
- 2024
Tiana's Bayou General opened June 28, 2024 in Frontierland as the exit gift shop for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, taking over the former Splashdown Photos location from Splash Mountain and stocking the ride's merchandise collection of apparel, toys, and plush.
- 2024
Tiana's Bayou Adventure opened as a full retheme of Splash Mountain, reusing the existing flume and drop while reworking the queue, scenes, audio-animatronics, music, and story around The Princess and the Frog.
Splash Mountain→Tiana's Bayou Adventure - 2024
Disney revealed the shop's name on April 12, 2024 as one of two new Tiana's Bayou Adventure retail spaces, alongside Critter Co-Op (a retheme of the former Briar Patch gift shop).
- 2024
The original Country Bear Jamboree closed after 52 years to be reimagined; its final operating day was January 26, 2024, with closure taking effect January 27.
- 2024
On its final operating day the Henry and Liver Lips McGrowl animatronics broke down mid-show; the attraction could not be restarted and closed for the night without a true final performance.
- 2023
A November 2023 menu update replaced black beans with pinto beans across all Pecos Bill menu items.
- 2023
Splash Mountain took its final plunge and closed permanently at Magic Kingdom to be rebuilt as Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
Splash Mountain→Tiana's Bayou Adventure - 2021
Changedat Big Al's
A new Big Al's sign was installed on the Frontierland merchandise kiosk in March 2021.
- 2020
Refurbishmentat Prairie Outpost
Prairie Outpost, by then a candy shop selling confections like candy apples and Mickey Rice Krispy Treats, closed in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 shutdown and remained shuttered when Magic Kingdom reopened in July 2020.
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The popular self-serve toppings/fixin's bar (salsa, pico de gallo, cheese, peppers, corn, etc.) was removed during the 2020 pandemic closure and never returned to the menu.
- 2016
The coaster closed for an extended track and ride-system refurbishment, reopening November 19, 2016.
- 2015
Changedat Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café
In October 2015 the menu was overhauled from burgers to Tex-Mex fare (rice bowls, burritos, fajita platters) alongside a revamped self-serve toppings/fixin's bar.
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An interactive queue debuted with hands-on mining gags: plunger-detonated blasting-cap 'explosions' visible out on the mountain, spinning-wheel zoetrope animations, mine-shaft peep-scope scenes, and an air-blast Autocanary.
- 2012
Reopened from a roughly two-month refurbishment (closed Aug. 21, 2012): every bear received new skin, fur, and costumes, the songs 'Pretty Little Devilish Mary' and 'Fractured Folk Song' were cut, and other numbers and dialogue were trimmed, shortening the show by about 4-5 minutes.
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Newat Westward Ho
The current Westward Ho Refreshments opened in fall 2011 as an Old West covered-wagon-themed quick-service snack stand on the pathway between Adventureland and Frontierland, serving corn dogs, chips, and beverages.
- 2009
Golden Oak Outpost opened as a Frontierland quick-service counter, taking over the location of the former McDonald's-partnered Frontierland Fry Cart, which had closed in December 2007 after Disney ended its McDonald's tie-in.
- 1998
Changedat Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café
After closing January 5, 1998, the cafe was remodeled and enlarged—absorbing the neighboring Mile Long Bar—and reopened in May 1998 renamed Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe.
- 1991
Prairie Outpost & Supply opened in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, replacing the former Bearly Country shop and selling Southwest-themed decorative gifts and clothing.
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Changedat Big Al's
The kiosk was reconcepted into Big Al's in 1989, a Frontierland merchandise stand themed as Country Bear character Big Al's cabin turned gift shop, selling coonskin caps, cowboy hats, bubble wands, and other western souvenirs.
- 1986
Changedat Country Bear Musical Jamboree
The Country Bear Vacation Hoedown replaced the original show as the year-round program at Magic Kingdom, a complete new revue of songs and costumes that ran until the 1971 show was reinstated in February 1992.
Country Bear Jamboree→Country Bear Vacation Hoedown - 1980
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in Frontierland, a runaway mine-train roller coaster themed to the Monument Valley-inspired peaks of the Big Thunder gold rush.
- 1971
Zone Updateat Westward Ho
The Westward Ho name first belonged to a small Frontierland gift shop next to the Country Bear Jamboree that operated from December 1971 until 1973.
- 1971
The counter-service restaurant opened with Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971 as Pecos Bill Cafe in Frontierland.
- 1971
Country Bear Jamboree opened as an opening-day Magic Kingdom attraction, an original Audio-Animatronic musical revue staged in Frontierland's Grizzly Hall.
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Newat Big Al's
The structure that later became Big Al's opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971 as a Frontierland ticket booth, then served as a wood-carving station before its retail conversion.