On Wednesday, Walt Disney World Resort highlighted some of the immersive features planned for Piston Peak National Park, the Cars (2006) area coming to Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom.
At D23 Expo 2024, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced plans to bring the world of Cars to Magic Kingdom Park. Concept art revealed that Tom Sawyer Island and much of the Rivers of America would disappear to make way for the Pixar-inspired attractions. Notably, Disney promised that the two new attractions would differ from those in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park.
Since the announcement, Walt Disney Imagineering has been hard at work preparing permits for construction in Frontierland. A few weeks ago, Walt Disney World Resort announced that the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island would officially close on July 7, 2025, to make way for the Cars rides.
On June 3, Disney shared a first look at the Cars area called Piston Peak National Park. Walt Disney Imagineers looked at Rocky Mountain National Park when designing the fictional area, which is named after a location in Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014), a Cars spinoff film.
The more family-friendly Cars attraction will introduce a new park ranger character, Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore. The ride queue will invite guests into the visitor lodge area. Meanwhile, the more thrilling drag race-style attraction will send riders winding through the scenic parts of Piston Peak.
Weeks after sharing so much new information about Piston Peak National Park, Walt Disney World Resort is highlighting some of the immersive details that make up the Frontierland area. On June 18, @DrewDisneyDude on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared a list of features that Imagineers meticulously crafted for the Magic Kingdom Park overhaul:
Walt Disney World highlights the key features of Piston Peak National Park, the Cars-themed area coming to Magic Kingdom:
• Towering trees
• Snowcapped mountains
• Breathtaking waterfalls
• Roaring rivers
• Impressive geysers
• Action-packed attractions for all ages
Walt Disney World highlights the key features of Piston Peak National Park, the Cars-themed area coming to Magic Kingdom:
• Towering trees
• Snowcapped mountains
• Breathtaking waterfalls
• Roaring rivers
• Impressive geysers
• Action-packed attractions for all ages pic.twitter.com/GgmkbtTB7S— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) June 18, 2025
Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced an opening date for Piston Peak in Frontierland or the Disney Villains land currently under construction in the area “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”
Do you have a favorite memory from Tom Sawyer Island or the Liberty Square Riverboat? Share it with Disney Dining in the comments!
