Disney Unveils New Frontierland Concept Art, Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island Replaced with Cars-themed Land

Aug 12, 2024 in "Cars Land Magic Kingdom"

Gallery / 3 Photos
Frontierland Concept Art Aerial View

Posted: Monday August 12, 2024 9:08am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has taken the wraps off its massive new Magic Kingdom development and revealed new concept art depicting the new Cars-themed area, and confirmed that Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America will be removed.

Frontierland Concept Art Aerial View

While confirming that Cars will be built directly in place of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America, no closing date has yet be announced, but Disney says, "Guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today."

Speaking about the new area, Disney says, "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." 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."

Overhead map showing how the new concept art relates to the current Frontierland. @Coaster Lover

Cars Concept Art

"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."

Disney says the new area will bring you along for the ride 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.

Cars Concept Art

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.

Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island, inspired by Mark Twain's classic tales, has been a beloved part of Magic Kingdom since its opening in 1973. It offers guests a chance to explore caves, trails, and forts reminiscent of the American frontier. The Liberty Square Riverboat, a nostalgic paddlewheeler that has been operating since 1973, takes guests on a scenic journey around the Rivers of America, offering views of Frontierland, Liberty Square.

Also announced at D23 this past weekend, 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. Together, these new additions to Magic Kingdom will represent the largest expansion in park history.

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aladdin200713 hours ago

Agree, but worried with the path they have been on in projects. My hope is the complaints have not been ignored and better attempts to tie together will be made, they sure didn't try with tiana. So now its a mess on top of a mess. Still concerned how all this is going to look and sound from the Haunted Mansion. I really hope that initial rushed one piece of concept art has been retooled and redesigned or something, its all been hush hush with no updates.

TrainsOfDisney15 hours ago

Agreed. I’m hoping this is addressed with the cars attraction and not made worse. I think the artwork we’ve seen was somewhat rushed (with no details on the 2nd attraction that seems likely) - that’s why I still have a sliver of hope for the riverboat. Even without the riverboat I hope they attempt to tie this all together somehow and not just plop some rocks down and say “look more stuff!”

Bocabear17 hours ago

Well with Cars area and Big Thunder as the only piece of Frontierland, Tiana makes literally no sense in it's current location either...they have added nothing to support that you are now in Louisiana...considering you just went by some old Western buildings...The Splash red clay rockwork blended a little better with the red rocks of Big Thunder... It is all just becoming a thematic mess...

lazyboy97o1 day ago

But judging having it sit in a puddle would be pathetic.

TrainsOfDisney1 day ago

Nothing is preventing the design to allow for the Liberty Belle to be docked somewhere. If that’s a desire - it can certainly happen. We don’t know what the Tianas facing side will look like - it needs to blend into the New Orleans theme - which would include water.

Agent H1 day ago

I see what you mean.

James Alucobond1 day ago

All you're doing is making physical space for it by axing things. For it to make visual sense, you'd need to fundamentally redesign some elements. In your example, if you blew up the junior attraction, you could certainly put a puddle in its place for the Liberty Belle to sit in, but it'd still be nonsensically hemmed in by the planned landbridge to the north that connects Big Thunder to the Villains pathway.

Agent H1 day ago

Question. Would there be room if they axed the second attraction and the rumored store?

James Alucobond1 day ago

I think we know enough about the space constraints from the existing art to say that it would be very difficult to slot in the Liberty Belle anywhere along the existing inner circle. I don't think the Imagineers can fix that unless they decide to drastically reduce the footprint of Cars. That said, if the laydown yards outside the tracks do eventually get developed, either into an extension of Villains or an additional entrance for a hypothetical adjacent hotel, you could perhaps dock the boat elsewhere in the section of the waterway that will be retained. I'm not sure if they'd hold onto it on the off chance that they'd use it for something so far off, though.

TheMaxRebo1 day ago

I believe I read that part of the scale with Anaheim was that you can't see the castle until in the park and then to draw you down main St And for Florida they wanted it much bigger so you could see it from outside when approaching the park/on the monorail/etc to draw you into the park as a whole.

TheMaxRebo1 day ago

If they can come up with a plan that makes sense /looks good I would be all for it Also could work to have it docked at Port Orleans Riverside and use it for a restaurant or something

TrainsOfDisney1 day ago

We disagree. :) Either trees matter or they don’t. It’s silly to think they don’t - as they were part of the original design and then intentionally changed. I personally think the original design was better (it certainly felt better in the Florida sun!) but I can also see the benefits of being able to pack in crowds for nighttime shows.

eddie1041 day ago

It’s not. Each park was designed a specific way and Anaheim and Paris are two totally different parks. The approach here is a much grander reveal in my opinion because of the forced perspective. It has nothing to with some missing trees.

TrainsOfDisney1 day ago

2 things - the scale of Cinderella castle is way off in my opinion - which is made worse by the tree massacare of the early 2000’s. Anaheim and Paris get the scale and design much better. But back to the riverboat…. I trust that imagineers are talented enough to design something that would work for the riverboats scale. Since the “River” has always been much more narrow than the actual Mississippi- they can make it work if needed. But it will likely get scrapped according to insiders - so best case it goes into private hands.