A couple of years ago, standing at the edge of Frontierland meant looking out over calm water, a paddlewheeler drifting past, and the wooded shores of Tom Sawyer Island. That view is long gone, and a new permit shows that something is finally starting to fill the space.
WDWMAGIC first reported the filing. Disney submitted a permit dated Thursday, October 15, for set-element installation at Piston Peak National Park, the Cars-inspired land rising where the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat once operated. It is among the most dramatic physical changes in Magic Kingdom’s 55-year history.
A Quieter Corner, Remembered
Those three waterfront experiences closed permanently on July 7, 2025, more than a year ago now. The river had been there since the park opened in 1971, and Tom Sawyer Island arrived two years later in 1973. Not every fan has made peace with the change. Some were happy to see new attractions on the way, while others felt the park lost a place to slow down and catch their breath.
Why This Permit Matters
For a land that will lean so heavily on its setting, set elements are a big deal. Disney’s vision includes mountain ranges, thick forests, and other details borrowed from national parks, and much of it will depend on sculpted rockwork and themed structures.
The permit shouldn’t be over-read, though. It does not say which elements are going in, does not confirm where either ride stands, and does not hint at when the land might open. What it does tell us is that the project appears to be moving past the demolition, utility changes, and reshaping of the river and island that took up most of the past year.
What Disney Has Promised
At D23 earlier this year, Disney shared a model showing how Piston Peak will fit into Frontierland. Expect snow-capped peaks, towering trees, waterfalls, rivers, and geysers, all set in the world of Cars. Buildings like a visitor lodge and Ranger HQ will follow “Parkitecture,” the rustic style seen at National Park Service structures. Trees and rugged terrain will screen the land from the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square.
The Rides
Cars Ridge Run Rally is the headliner. It’s an off-road race through snowy summits, steep descents, and geyser fields, in vehicles built to respond to the landscape. An original character, Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore, anchors the story.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along stars the demolition derby champion from 2017’s Cars 3. Disney says a giant Audio-Animatronics figure roughly the size of a school bus will host this derby-themed ride. Neither attraction has an opening date yet.
Looking Ahead
Piston Peak is only half the story, with Disney calling this the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. Villains Land, planned beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, will bring two major attractions plus dining and shopping. That adds up to four new rides between the two projects.
Visitors this fall will still see construction walls around the old waterfront, and there is no opening timeline. But with set-element work getting started, the first recognizable bits of Piston Peak’s scenery may not be far away.
How do you feel about this Magic Kingdom overhaul? Let us know in the comments down below!
