Disney Unveils New Frontierland Concept Art, Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island Replaced with Cars-themed Land

Aug 12, 2024 in "Cars Land Magic Kingdom"

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Frontierland Concept Art Aerial View

Posted: Monday August 12, 2024 9:08am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has taken the wraps off its massive new Magic Kingdom development and revealed new concept art depicting the new Cars-themed area, and confirmed that Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America will be removed.

Frontierland Concept Art Aerial View

While confirming that Cars will be built directly in place of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America, no closing date has yet be announced, but Disney says, "Guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today."

Speaking about the new area, Disney says, "Soon, you'll be able to explore the uncharted territory of the great outdoors with an expansion in Frontierland themed around Pixar Animation Studios' "Cars." It's time to leave Radiator Springs and head west into exciting new locations. To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world's most iconic racers."

Overhead map showing how the new concept art relates to the current Frontierland. @Coaster Lover

Cars Concept Art

"We are thrilled to create this original Cars adventure and put our guests in the driver's seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland," shared Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. "Part of pioneering this new story includes tapping into the themes of exploration and adventure that inspire so many of us to keep propelling forward. Anytime we touch Magic Kingdom, we recognize the massive responsibility that exists to get it right and tell stories that connect with our guests."

Disney says the new area will bring you along for the ride with a brand-new thrilling rally race through the mountains, climbing trails, and dodging geysers, in addition to a second attraction geared towards fun for the whole family.

Cars Concept Art

Ahead of work revving into high gear next year, guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.

Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island, inspired by Mark Twain's classic tales, has been a beloved part of Magic Kingdom since its opening in 1973. It offers guests a chance to explore caves, trails, and forts reminiscent of the American frontier. The Liberty Square Riverboat, a nostalgic paddlewheeler that has been operating since 1973, takes guests on a scenic journey around the Rivers of America, offering views of Frontierland, Liberty Square.

Also announced at D23 this past weekend, guests will be able to venture Beyond Big Thunder Mountain into an all-new land dedicated to Disney Villains. Inspired by the wicked characters fans know and loathe, the multi-acre expansion will include two major attractions, plus dining and shopping. Together, these new additions to Magic Kingdom will represent the largest expansion in park history.

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FettFan50 minutes ago

Sacrificing long-term legacy for short-term gains. Might as well call him Bob Esau at this point.

JoeCamel2 hours ago

But with different motivations, I don't think there is any agenda beyond replacing non revenue generating space with revenue generating space. The boat and the lower island will be a loss but I did a keys tour in 2010? and brought up the small footprint they had to work with while we were in the utilidoor looking at a map of the MK and the guide pointed out the north end of the river...... This has been in the mix for many years

Fox&Hound3 hours ago

Even though it pains me, people have this wrong. It’s not “gee why can’t Disney build this cars ride somewhere else and save the rivers of America”. Disney wants to get rid of the rivers of America, and for whatever reason, settled on this IP to do it. It is Splash all over again.

Mr. Sullivan5 hours ago

You’re acting as if they’re ripping any and all reference to Americana out of every Disney park in the world. It’s one section of one land in one park. As of this moment in time, this idea isn’t carrying over anywhere else. It’s not that it’s offensive. That isn’t what is guiding this. Its that it isn’t really all that popular with modern audiences. They don’t really care about the wild west, the frontier, cowboys. All that started to fall out of fashion with the general public many years ago and has never rebounded. Some people still may be interested in it but it’s a small section of people. They rarely even teach about this period in school anymore its of such little interest to most. It just isn’t as intriguing as a tropical adventure, or the future (or retrofuturism) or fantasy and that’s why I don’t think its an accident that this is the land getting overhauled. I would bet serious money that guest feedback revealed Frontierland to be one of the park’s least popular areas because it’s core theme and concept is not of great interest to visitors anymore.

Chef idea Mickey`=5 hours ago

For some reason something over me is sensing the same even though with Disney done deal seems done deal but that is probably me comparing it to Splash Mountain which that was a reason to do.

Steamboat716 hours ago

I still have faith that they will rework this project to keep part of the river.

Starship8247 hours ago

I guess so. I forgot about her.

Brer Panther7 hours ago

Unless you count Pocahontas, I suppose?

DisneyHead1239 hours ago

Honestly I think the reasoning is that none of that area is IP. Classic non-IP rides may be allowed to stay if they’re popular, but anything that is there primarily for visual reasons has to be an ad for merch in the park stores.

Rhinocerous9 hours ago

To paraphrase a poignant Queen song... "If there's a (Walt) in the sky looking down what can he think of what we've done to the World that he created?"

Starship8249 hours ago

Because that's not why they're getting rid of the rivers of america. The RoA and TSI are going away because It's extremely valuable real estate in the most visited theme park on Earth, not because of some weird conspiracy theory that Disney hates America. If Disney really hated America so much, then why would they be building a ride, replacing the rivers of America based off of cars in the Pacific Northwest of America. This idea that Burbank and Bob Iger have a specific vendetta against the entire idea of America is just convoluted and stupid. Not to mention princess and the frog is the which replaced Splash Mountain is in America. In fact, princess Tiana is the first American princess that they made. The rivers of America are going away because they're not popular and they're very expensive to maintain. I don't agree with the decision. In fact, I want them to keep the rivers of America, but the idea that Burbank is getting rid of it because it's themed around America is just not true.

Cliff10 hours ago

Uggg....if canceling the "old-American history" theme can satisfy Burbank execs?...yeah, I guess I can be happy with Mater's Island Mudd Puddle re-theme. At least we vould keep this big water feature. Now,...for Liberty Square? How will Burbank try to cancel or re-theme that part? Uggg....I love classic "America" and I'd really hate to see it go away from WDW. I guees it's all just culturally or socially offensive by Burbank's standards in 2024. If there is a Heaven and Walt is there looking down at all of this, what would he think?