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
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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.
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened after a roughly 16-month refurbishment with an all-new track and refreshed trains.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Former arcade space reopened as McKim's Mile House, a Disney Vacation Club member lounge (Magic Kingdom's first DVC lounge), repurposing the building rather than restoring the attraction.
Frontierland Shootin' Arcade→McKim's Mile House DVC member lounge -
The attraction closed for a roughly 16-month 'mountaintop-to-cavern' refurbishment that included a full track replacement and scene work.
20249 changes
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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 -
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.
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The space was rethemed and reopened as Critter Co-Op, the main walk-up gift shop for Tiana's Bayou Adventure — a reskin that kept the familiar Briar Patch layout under new Princess and the Frog theming.
Briar Patch→Critter Co-OpTiana's Bayou Adventure opened June 28, 2024; Critter Co-Op opened June 30, 2024. A separate smaller shop, Tiana's Bayou General, serves the ride exit. -
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.
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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.
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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 -
Permanently closed after its final day of operation, ending a 52-plus-year run as one of Magic Kingdom's original opening-day attractions; the closure had been announced on June 13, 2024.
operating opening-day attraction→permanently closed -
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).
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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.
20233 changes
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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 -
Splash Mountain permanently closed at Magic Kingdom to be reimagined as Tiana's Bayou Adventure; final rides were January 22, 2023.
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Splashdown Photos closed permanently alongside Splash Mountain and was walled off for the Tiana's Bayou Adventure retheme.
operating→permanently closedSplash Mountain's final operating day was January 22, 2023; the space later reopened as Tiana's Bayou General when Tiana's Bayou Adventure opened June 28, 2024.
20221 change
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A portion of the Splashdown Photos gift shop was closed off behind scrims ahead of the Splash Mountain retheme.
BlogMickey (Oct 18, 2022) reported part of the shop behind scrims; the rest remained operational and no closure date had yet been announced.
20211 change
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Reopened after the pandemic closure and became free with park admission, dropping the longtime upcharge of $1 for 35 shots.
$1 for 35 shots→free with admission
20206 changes
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Remained shuttered after Magic Kingdom's July 2020 pandemic reopening; the shop's windows were covered with black plastic and merchandise was consolidated to the nearby Splashdown Photos shop.
Listed as 'temporarily unavailable' on Disney's site; it never returned to regular operation. Its practical last day of operation was the March 2020 pandemic closure. -
Disney announced the U.S. Splash Mountains would be rethemed around The Princess and the Frog, later named Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
Disney said development began in 2019, prior to that summer's petitions and protests. -
Ended definitively when Splash Mountain closed permanently for its Tiana's Bayou Adventure retheme; January 22, 2023 was the ride's final operating day, sealing the Briar Patch's roughly 30-year run.
The shop had already been dark since the March 2020 pandemic closure. Some outlets (Wikipedia, Inside the Magic) cite January 23, 2023 as the 'official closing date' — that was the first day closed; the last day guests could ride was January 22, 2023. -
Closed temporarily along with all Walt Disney World theme parks during the COVID-19 pandemic; remained shuttered for over a year.
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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.
20161 change
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The coaster closed for an extended track and ride-system refurbishment, reopening November 19, 2016.
20151 change
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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.
20131 change
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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.
20121 change
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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.
20112 changes
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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.
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Ride logs were retrofitted with lap bars, one shared bar per row of two to three riders.
no lap restraints→shared lap bars per rowWikipedia dates the retrofit to January 2011; AllEars to February 2011.
20091 change
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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.
20041 change
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Closed permanently after roughly fourteen months; the Diamond Horseshoe sat largely unused before reopening seasonally as a quick-service restaurant later in the decade.
Walt Dated World gives a last-performance date of September 4, 2004; the AllEars archive page carries a '10/04: This show is closed' note corroborating a late-2004 closure (not 2005).
20032 changes
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Opened as Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree in the Diamond Horseshoe, an interactive ~20-minute country line-dancing show hosted by cowgirl Sarah Jo with Goofy, Chip and Dale, and Woody, Jessie & Bullseye from Toy Story 2; the saloon's tables and food service were removed for floor dancing.
Diamond Horseshoe Revue (closed early Feb 2003)→Goofy's Country Dancin' JamboreeReplaced the food-and-variety Diamond Horseshoe Revue; guests danced the Electric Slide and Cotton-Eyed Joe. Walt Dated World gives the opening date verbatim as July 1, 2003. -
The Diamond Horseshoe Revue gave its final performance and permanently closed after more than 31 years; Goofy's Country Dancin' Jamboree opened in the venue that July and the building later became a seasonal restaurant.
20011 change
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Closed permanently after nearly 30 years; the loading dock near the Haunted Mansion was later repurposed for guest queueing/FastPass use and a retired keel boat remains as a static prop on Tom Sawyer Island.
19983 changes
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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.
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Former Mile Long Bar space reopened as part of the expanded, renamed Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café; the blue section of the facade marks the old bar.
Mile Long Bar + Pecos Bill Cafe→Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café -
Closed permanently and was absorbed into the neighboring Pecos Bill Cafe as part of a combined restaurant expansion.
standalone Mile Long Bar→merged into Pecos Bill
19971 change
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Slipped into sporadic, largely seasonal operation as heightened safety scrutiny followed the May 17, 1997 capsizing of Disneyland's Gullywhumper, an incident sources cite as contributing to the Magic Kingdom boats' decline.
daily operation→sporadic/seasonal runningThe capsizing occurred at Disneyland, not WDW; extinctDisney explicitly ties it to increased scrutiny and the eventual retirement of the WDW boats, while other sources dispute whether/when seasonal operation began (Wikipedia says the WDW boats ran continuously until closing).
19951 change
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Reservations were dropped for walk-in seating and the show was reworked into a Saloon Revue and Medicine Show format with counter-service food; the production was later shortened from about an hour to roughly 30 minutes.
reserved table-service Jamboree→walk-in counter-service revue
19941 change
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Permanently closed; cited low attendance and logistical/staffing challenges amid the post-Euro Disney budget cuts. Never reopened or replaced.
D23 and WaltDatedWorld list 1993 as the last operating season; Wikipedia and ExtinctDisney date the closure to 1994. The stretch of the Rivers of America it plied was itself drained and closed in 2025 for the Piston Peak (Cars) expansion.
19931 change
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Splashdown Photos opened at the exit of Splash Mountain in Frontierland as the ride's on-ride photo pickup and gift shop.
Opened about eight months after Splash Mountain itself (October 2, 1992). Themed as a period photographer's studio: a Br'er Bear/Mr. Bluebird period-camera marquee, a darkroom stocked with camera equipment, tripods, photographic paper, trays and processing chemicals, and a framer's workshop.
19921 change
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Splash Mountain opened in Frontierland, a Song of the South-themed log flume with a ~50-foot drop and over 100 Audio-Animatronics.
Soft openings began July 17, 1992; official dedication October 2, 1992.
19914 changes
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Opened as a large, elaborately themed gift shop at the exit of Splash Mountain in Frontierland, replacing the earlier, simpler 1986 'Brier Patch' craft store (which was removed). Its roof was twined with branches and vines with hanging lanterns casting a low glow.
D23 dates this store to Dec. 16, 1991; the Splash Mountain flume itself opened October 2, 1992. An earlier 'Brier Patch' selling wooden crafts and baskets had operated in Frontierland since 1986. -
Closed under the Tricornered Hat Shoppe name; the shop reopened the next day as Trail Creek Hat Shop, a rename of the same retail space.
Tricornered Hat Shoppe→Trail Creek Hat ShopRenamed/reskinned July 29, 1991. The successor was later renamed again to Trail Creek Traders. Closing date rests on a single secondary source (waltdatedworld.com). -
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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Bearly Country closed permanently and the space was rethemed into Prairie Outpost & Supply.
Bearly Country→Prairie Outpost & Supply
19891 change
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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.
19862 changes
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Show was overhauled and renamed the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree, moving reservations off-site to Hospitality House on Main Street and revamping the cast (Sam the Bartender, Miss Lily and dancers) with table service.
Diamond Horseshoe Revue→Diamond Horseshoe 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
19851 change
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Bearly Country opened in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a Country Bear-themed shop selling plush bears, country crafts, and clothing in former Country Bear Jamboree queue space.
19841 change
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Renamed from Frontierland Shootin' Gallery to Frontierland Shootin' Arcade following a renovation.
Frontierland Shootin' Gallery→Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
19821 change
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Converted the gallery's lead-pellet rifles to infrared light rifles to eliminate the nightly cost of repainting shot-up targets (roughly 2,000 gallons of paint a year).
lead-pellet rifles→infrared light riflesWikipedia dates the conversion to summer 1982; Yesterland and BlogMickey instead attribute the infrared change to the September 24, 1984 renovation. Dated 1982 per Wikipedia with medium confidence.
19802 changes
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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.
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Del Monte became listed as the show's sponsor in the early 1980s; guests took first-come reservations on the saloon porch and were served sandwiches, chips, pie, and drinks during the revue.
unsponsored→Del Monte-sponsored
197110 changes
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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.
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The counter-service restaurant opened with Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971 as Pecos Bill Cafe in Frontierland.
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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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Opened on Magic Kingdom's first day in Frontierland; a C-ticket, guest-paddled 35-foot canoe that circled the Rivers of America (counter-clockwise), crewed by two coonskin-capped cast members.
Boarding dock sat north of the Tom Sawyer Island raft launch; the canoes had no track or motor and were powered entirely by riders. -
Opened with Magic Kingdom on the park's first day as the Frontierland Shootin' Gallery, a walk-up shooting gallery themed to an 1850s Boot Hill/Tombstone scene (jail, hotel, bank, assay office, livery stable and a cemetery); games used lead-pellet rifles.
no attraction→Frontierland Shootin' Gallery (opening-day attraction) -
Opened with Magic Kingdom on the park's first day as a Rivers of America attraction, sending two free-floating keel boats — Gullywhumper and Bertha Mae — on a leisurely loop around Tom Sawyer Island.
B-ticket attraction themed to Disney's 1955 Davy Crockett TV episodes; boats were motorized and free-floating rather than track-guided. -
Diamond Horseshoe Revue opened as an opening-day Magic Kingdom attraction in Frontierland, an Old West saloon stage show with Slue Foot Sue, dancing girls, comedians, and singers modeled on Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue.
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Opened with Magic Kingdom in Frontierland as a snack-and-beverage stand near Country Bear Jamboree, using an illusion of mirrors to make the counter appear a mile long.
Served light fare and cool, non-alcoholic drinks. -
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.
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Opened as the Tricornered Hat Shoppe, a small Frontierland hat shop between the Frontierland stockade and the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon, selling Western hats, feathered hatbands, and leather goods.
Opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971. The 1971 year is per waltdatedworld.com; location and merchandise corroborated by wdwradio.com and allears.net (neither of which states the opening year). Year-only precision.
That's every change on the record in Frontierland since 1971.
The spotters in our Discord catch the next one first — and the record only grows when someone notices.