Disney Gains Extension for Cars-Themed Land Permit Review Until January 2025

Dec 09, 2024 in "Cars Land Magic Kingdom"

Gallery / 3 Photos
Cars Concept Art

Posted: Monday December 9, 2024 9:25am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has approved Disney's request for an extension to submit additional information regarding the permit application for the new Cars-themed area at Magic Kingdom. The new deadline for Disney to provide the requested revisions and clarifications is January 9, 2025.

Cars Land Permits

This extension comes after the SFWMD returned Disney's initial permit application in September 2024, citing the need for further details about the proposed modifications to the stormwater management system behind Tom Sawyer Island and Big Thunder Mountain. The permit is critical for ensuring proper water flow and environmental protection during the redevelopment of the area into a Cars-themed land.

The SFWMD granted the extension following Disney's request for more time to address questions about wetland impacts, stormwater management, and mitigation measures for local wildlife.

The additional information Disney must submit includes:

Detailed maps of current wetland conditions and impacted areas.
Clarifications on mitigation plans for wetland disturbances.
Plans to minimize environmental effects on listed wildlife species.

Disney is expected to use the additional time to finalize these details and ensure the application aligns with state and local environmental regulations.

Cars Project Background

At Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro, with the help of Tow Mater via video call, announced that a new area inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios film "Cars" will be coming to a reimagined section of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. "The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city," Josh told the crowd.

Cars Concept Art

In this Cars adventure, guests will be able to experience two new "Cars"-themed attractions. One attraction will invite you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains. Take on wild terrain as you race across the landscape climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and — Mater's favorite — splashing through mudholes.

Cars Concept Art

The second attraction will be geared towards smaller guests and will be fun for the whole family. Work on this new space in Frontierland will begin in early 2025.

"As we develop the next generation of Disney Experiences, we're always looking for new ways to tell the stories people love," D'Amaro said. "We're thrilling Cars fans by building on this incredibly successful franchise and creating the next chapter in this story."

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UNCgolf6 minutes ago

It's very bad, but at least the plan is to replace it with something else focused on a natural environment (at least to an extent... Cars isn't exactly the best option). To be comparable to Zootopia at Animal Kingdom, at least IMO, they'd need to fill in Rivers of America and then replace it with something like Avengers Campus. Also, just to be clear, I think filling in the ROA and replacing it with a Cars attraction is an absolutely terrible idea. I'm not supportive of the move whatsoever -- it's solely that if I was forced to pick between one or the other, I'd choose this over Zootopia at DAK.

Agent H15 minutes ago

this would be worse

LittleBuford21 minutes ago

As someone who doesn’t go to Animal Kingdom, I won’t comment on the comparisons being made here, but it’s difficult for me to imagine a decision more detrimental to any of the parks than the filling in of the Rivers of America. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

Agent H37 minutes ago

That’s understandable I loved dinoland and I hope maybe under future leadership they come back around to dinosaurs for one of the expansion pads anyway we should probably get back on topic Tom bricker said they might be retheming pecos bill to cars too what does everyone think of that?

JackCH40 minutes ago

I wouldn't say that. It fits fine. The loss of dinosaurs is sad I agree, but with a "Tropical Americas Land" I am totally fine with having a Mayan temple being used as the premise to an Indy attraction. Doesn't feel much different from how DisneySea does its "ports" and everyone feels that is very well themed. But, alas, we have "veered away" from Cars.

Agent H43 minutes ago

The ip of the lion king wouldn’t be found in Africa either the ip doesn’t exist in universe Indiana jones is an actual person in this context presumably this will end up being a story like expedition Everest

James Alucobond44 minutes ago

What? Even one of the main films (Crystal Skull) centers on a Mesoamerican artifact that sees him travel to Peru and explore the grave of a conquistador. Perhaps slightly more Inca-focused than Maya, but next door nonetheless.

Incomudro45 minutes ago

I'm sure it will be very well done. It actually looks like the ride is superior to Dinosaur. But it is always going to annoy me that Dinosaurs were removed from the park. I'd have liked them making Dinosaur better and putting the Indian Jones ride in Hollywood Studios next to - Indiana Jones. Two wins.

Incomudro49 minutes ago

EE exists because Mt. Everest is located in India. It's part of one of the countries represented. It's a real location, and the Yeti is real part of the culture. Indiana Jones has nothing to do with animals and the IP of Indy would not be found in Mayan culture. Again, they are hammering a square peg into a round hole to make it fit.

McMickeyWorld1 hour ago

I really don’t see much difference between Indy and Beastly Kingdom. I know BK is often compared to Pandora, but I feel like it’s actually more similar to Indy. BK used fantasy to represent Greek mythological creatures, while Indy will represent Mayan mythological beings. And to be honest, I’d much rather see a real culture represented than aliens from a Hollywood movie. In the end, what really matters is how well they develop it. I think the queue will be the strongest part, just like with Everest.

Agent H3 hours ago

I guarantee when Indiana jones opens it will be like avatar all over again people complained when they first heard of it but It will be fine when it opens

Grantwil934 hours ago

And a Mayan temple with a creature based based on Mayan mythology doesn't represent central America, it's animals(yeti isn't a real animal either), and it's people? Im not sure i follow how it's a different concept other than Indy being there vs us just going to the temple by ourselves (which is what we do in everest)

Incomudro6 hours ago

Expedition Everest fits as part of India. The country, it's animals and its people. They are forcing Indy to work because "Old crumbly buildings and stuff." I agree that visually it's a fit.

Brer Panther7 hours ago

Don't worry, apparently Disney is making plans to do that (specifically by replacing Animation Courtyard). Which makes putting it in Animal Kingdom even more pointless.