Rivers of America Will Be Removed to Make Way For New Expansion at Magic Kingdom (2024)

During the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we finally got the first set of details about the upcoming Magic Kingdom expansion. Big changes are coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World with the addition of a new Villains themed land and two new Disney Pixar Cars attractions.

When the panel first announced the Cars rides, it was only vaguely stated that this new Disney Pixar Car themed area would be a part of a “reimagining of Frontierland.”

Now we know exactly where these new Car themed rides are going in Magic Kingdom and what Disney is removing to make space for this is quite a shock!

Disney Removing Rivers of America for Cars Rides

In a shocking move, Disney has announced that they will be removing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to make way for the new Cars area coming to Magic Kingdom. According to Disney Parks Blog, this area will be “transformed into vast and rugged terrains” as guests race through the “mountains, climbing trails, and dodging geysers” on the racing Car attraction which will likely model a similar ride system to Radiator Springs Racers and Test Track.

Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, elaborated on this decision, “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.”

So why didn’t Disney reveal this little detail during the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23? Because this news will be negative for many park guests and Disney avoids any negative announcements during those large panels at D23.

This is not going to be a popular decision amongst Disney fans because of the deep rooted nostalgia and history of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat. Disney understands there will be significant backlash to this at first but they likely feel confident that guests will forgive and forget once the new land debuts. If that assumption is true then Disney knows they have to put all their effort into this transformation.

At the very least, they should take inspiration from the way Disneyland intentionally blended Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge into the park with the use of detailed rock work that separates that space from the classic areas of the park. You won’t see more than rock work of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, for example, which helps keep the immersion intact.

I hope that Disney uses that same attention to detail when incorporating Cars into Frontierland. We shouldn’t be able to see visuals of Disney Cars from Haunted Mansion or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. They will also have to make an effort to maintain the current river area or river front. I am very interested to see how they handle such a large change!

READ MORE-Disney Confirms Long Awaited Villains Land and Some of What’s Coming

Two Brand New Cars Attractions Coming to Frontierland

Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are being replaced to make room for two new Disney Cars land that will incorporate The American West. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared that “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.”

One attraction will be a thrill ride as guests race through the mountains through wild terrain across a landscape of mountain trails, geysers, and mudholes. The second attraction is built especially for smaller guests and is meant for the whole family.

Disney shared that guests will have “plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today” before construction begins in early 2025.

READ MORE- Two Pixar Cars Rides Coming to Disney World in Magic Kingdom

A correction was made on August 12, 2024: An earlier version of this article misidentified the Magic Kingdom riverboat as the Mark Twain Riverboat. That attraction is located in Disneyland. The attraction is called the Liberty Square Riverboat in Walt Disney World.

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