The new “Cars”-based attractions announced for Magic Kingdom will replace Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America, Disney revealed Monday.
“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,” Disney said in blog post.
Tom Sawyer Island is a walk through attraction featuring structures and props inspired by the Mark Twain characters and stories. Rivers of America, which includes the Liberty Belle riverboat, surrounds the island.
The new reimagined area for “Cars” will be part of an expansion of Frontierland, and it will include two rides—an off-road race rally and a family-friendly attraction geared toward younger children.
Disney also released new concept art of the reimagined area, which shows structures for the new rides as well as a walkway connecting to the Haunted Mansion area. Permits for the project will be filed this week, according to Disney. Work is expected to kick into “high gear next year.”
“We are thrilled to created this original Cars adventure and put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland,” said Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World portfolio executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, in the post.
Disney also revealed that the villains-themed land in development will be built in an area known as “beyond Big Thunder.” This land will include two major attractions, dining and shopping.
At its D23 fan event over the weekend, Disney announced several attractions and experiences for Disney World, including a new nighttime parade for Magic Kingdom, a Monsters, Inc.”-themed land for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones” attractions to replace Dinoland at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and a “Mandalorian”-inspired mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
