Walt Disney Imagineering Adds More Trailers at STOL Port for Magic Kingdom Expansion

31 days ago in "Magic Kingdom"

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Walt Disney Imagineering Trailer Compound at STOL Port Site

Posted: Tuesday February 18, 2025 7:07am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a Notice of Commencement this week for "temporary construction trailers for site and facility improvement" at the former STOL Port site near Magic Kingdom. The permit lists an expiration date of March 31, 2027.

Walt Disney Imagineering Trailer Compound at STOL Port Site

STOL Port, once an airstrip for short takeoff and landing aircraft, has long served as a staging area for Imagineering's major Walt Disney World projects. The site has been expanded over the years, including during the development of New Fantasyland and TRON Lightcycle Run. The latest expansion is in preparation for two large-scale additions coming to Magic Kingdom—Cars Land and Villains Land, which were announced as part of Disney's future expansion plans.

Wide view of the new Frontierland, with two Cars-themed attractions replacing Tom Sawyer Island

The STOL Port expansion is part of a broader increase in Imagineering's on-site presence at Walt Disney World. In addition to these new trailers, Disney has recently repurposed the former Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser facility as project office space for the development of a Monsters Inc. Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, Imagineering has also added new trailer space to support the Tropical Americas expansion, which will replace Dinoland U.S.A.

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Agent H9 hours ago

I don’t know.

mickEblu9 hours ago

Cheapos. Why do they need to close it so early?

Agent H9 hours ago

We don’t really get nighttime rides on the riverboat.

Centauri Space Station9 hours ago

It’s still nice just not what DLs version is imo. Removing the peoplemover is what i’d consider crossing the line and DL removed theirs 30 years ago

mickEblu9 hours ago

The canoes and Columbia are icing on the cake but the cake is there at MK. And as a Magic Key I’ll trade you Fantasmic for night time rides on the Mark Twain. Especially a dragonless Fantasmic.

Bocabear9 hours ago

But it was not always like that....you can't remove all entertainment, close all river traffic except the riverboat and then say "Look! no one is hanging out in Liberty Square, and no one is using the river so we should tear it out." They created a lot of this perceived issue themselves.

mickEblu9 hours ago

By Jazz I was only thinking of the music coming through the speakers when I wrote that post but yes the live music is a great bonus but its usually up by POTC’s exit (bootstrappers) or at Tiana’s Palace (jazz band). I don’t really associate them with that stroll along the river on the west side of the park. Fantasmic being on the ROA didn’t even cross my mind as it personally has nothing to do with my affinity for the ROA. I was only referring to the atmosphere that the river/ island/ steamboat create. And MK has all 3. So because the MK version has one less boat and no canoes and doesn’t host a night show (that clogs up that entire side of the park at night) it’s THAT much less valuable than Disneyland?

Orange is the new Red9 hours ago

And that’s the reality of Disney Worlds ROA.

Centauri Space Station10 hours ago

Sadly we don’t have any of that, it’s just liberty square with no live entertainment, only view of the river is when you walk by it, no great relaxing areas like Cafe Orleans or Tianas. We only have 1 boat, no canoes so very little variety and of course no night show on the river either. Removing the peoplemover for me would be my worst case at WDW myself.

lazyboy97o13 hours ago

This is a great example of the problem, not understanding the actual process. Except for the stuff they very clearly identified as Blue Sky, projects are announced when they are approved. Approval is further out than something like a year before construction. Construction sometimes even starts a year before design is finished.

Disstevefan114 hours ago

Yes, this could go down in history as the worst change in WDW history. The worst theme park change in the history of the Disney company is Rocket Rods. It not only failed, but it also destroyed Disneyland's people mover track AND, Disneyland's destroyed people mover track must remain there for all to see; to remind all of the worst mistake in the company's history. IF the Cars attraction in MK fails, it will take the crown for the company's worst mistake, as it will have destroyed a beautifully themed area with direct links to Walt Disney AND ALSO, take out the three attractions that was destroyed to build it.

mickEblu14 hours ago

This has to be the worst change in the history of Walt Disney World right? Can’t think of one thing they could do at Disneyland that would impact me more negatively than losing the ROA. That includes removing the castle, POTC and Mansion. The West side of the park is by far the best side of the park. For me that IS Disneyland. And the ROA is the centerpiece of that whole area. Even as young kid - it was the west side of the park that made me the happiest. Not Fantasyland. Walking along the ROA on a sunny day hearing the jazz music from New Orleans Square play. That was/ is the heart and soul of Disneyland to me. I suppose that is why this is upsetting so many people. What you’re really talking about is ripping the heart and soul right out of the park.