Disney News

Cars Attractions to Replace Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom, New Concept Art Released

Hi everyone!

The two new Pixar Cars attractions at the Magic Kingdom will replace the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. New concept art has been revealed by Disney after the end of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Between the Pixar Cars attractions and the new Disney Villains land, it represents what Disney says is the largest Magic Kingdom expansion in history.

Read below for more information from the Disney Parks Blog.

Disney Pixar Cars attractions to replace Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America

This past weekend at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed exciting new details about what’s coming to Walt Disney World. In addition to getting up close and personal with monsters and villains, 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.”

Video announcement for the two Cars attractions

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. 

Walt Disney World Cars Attraction coming to Magic Kingdom - concept art
Coming Coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a new area themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” will leave Radiator Springs and head to the wilderness with two new attractions including an off-road race.

“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.”

The new area will bring you along for the ride (pun intended) 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.

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.

Walt Disney World Cars Attraction coming to Magic Kingdom - concept art
Coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a new area themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” will leave Radiator Springs and head to the wilderness with two new attractions including an off-road race.

And cruising just around the bend, 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. Walt Disney Imagineering is pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.

Together, these new additions to Magic Kingdom will represent the largest expansion in park history.

But that’s not all happening at The Most Magical Place on Earth. During Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, Josh revealed additional attractions and enhancements coming soon to Disney World.

Sulley in Monsters Inc. Land - concept art
A new land themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Monsters, Inc.” is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Taking place after the events of the film, Monstropolis need humans’ laughter to power the city. Guests can even ride on a door like Mike and Sully in the iconic scene from the film with Disney’s first-ever suspended coaster.

Monsters, Inc. Land – It’s laughter they’re after when a new space dedicated to Sulley, Mike, and all the other scarers jokesters arrive at Hollywood Studios.

Reimagined Test Track presented by Chevrolet – Racing into EPCOT in 2025, the attraction will open celebrating the past, present, and future of automation.

Tropical Americas — Get ready to explore a new corner of Disney’s Animal Kingdom when two new attractions open, themed around Indiana Jones and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”

Zootopia: Better Zoogether — Join Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde next winter in a new show at the Tree of Life Theater.

New Nighttime Parade – Coming in 2025 to Main Street, U.S.A., Magic Kingdom will premiere a brand new nighttime spectacular!

New Missions coming to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run — Blast off with Mando and Grogu when a new adventure featuring this duo arrives in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Two New Lounge Spaces — Coming in 2025, a new Pirates Lounge and Spaceship Earth lounge will open in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, respectively.