Cars Rides Replacing Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World has announced that the Cars attractions coming to Magic Kingdom will replace the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, fully eliminating the waterway. This post shares details, concept art, and everything we know about the plan–plus commentary about why this is happening and the good, bad and ugly of this news.
To bring you up to speed, 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. Two of the highlights were exciting news about Monstropolis and the Monsters Inc. Doors Coaster as well as Villains Land in Magic Kingdom.
Alongside that, one of the biggest announcements involved a Cars reimagining of Frontierland. According to Walt Disney World, 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.
As part of a new update, Walt Disney World has now revealed that in order 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.
In case you didn’t quite grasp it the first time, this means that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will close. The Cars expansion is not going Beyond Big Thunder–at least, not in a material way–it’s filling in the Rivers of America and replacing the land that’s currently Tom Sawyer Island.
Here’s new concept art showing the new Cars section of Frontierland:
“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.
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.
Turning to commentary, the Parks Panel at D23 felt a little too good to be true. That there were a few important details purposefully withheld, like the location of Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or how Cars and Villains would fit into Magic Kingdom, that would’ve sapped some of the energy from the room.
When it came to the Cars and Villains Land announcements, I had already assumed that, in order to accommodate both expansions, some of the Rivers of America will be lost in the process. That was also true with prior concepts that had been floated for Beyond Big Thunder. It was never entirely a beyond the berm expansion.
As I wrote in the Cars commentary, my guess was that a lot of the Rivers of America would be consumed by the expansion based on the potential size and scale of these two areas, along with Josh D’Amaro and Imagineers using the word “reimagining” in addition to “expansion” to describe the project. That also explains why Imagineering has yet to file the permit, despite indicating it would happen soon back in April. Because once the cat is out of the bag, as it is now, sentiment is going to sour on this project to at least some degree.
It wouldn’t have bothered me at all if Tom Sawyer Island is becoming Tom Sawyer Peninsula and the Rivers of America is shortened. Eliminating the dead ends at Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would be hugely beneficial from a crowd flow perspective, especially with all the people these two new lands are going to draw.
However, that’s not what this is. There will be no more Rivers of America or Tom Sawyer Island. They’re goners.
It’s not exactly paving over paradise to put up a parking lot, but it’s kinda close. This will replace tranquil waters and a lush area that offered a lovely escape from the crowds and chaos of Magic Kingdom for almost the exact opposite of that. Loud cars racing around and attractions that will undoubtedly draw those huge crowds.
Disney is undoubtedly making this decision from a guest utilization perspective. These two Cars rides will be hugely popular, and effectively expand the capacity of Magic Kingdom in the same amount of space.
It’s no secret that the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island don’t have the hourly throughput numbers as most attractions in Magic Kingdom. Eliminating them reduces operational and maintenance expenses on attractions and areas that are underutilized and don’t offer as much operational ‘bang for buck’ to the company, so to speak.
Because of this, some fans will likely be entirely okay with this decision to eliminate the Rivers of America–as is their right. Even many longtime guests have probably never even been over to Tom Sawyer Island or done a lap on the Liberty Square Riverboat. Others probably have done so infrequently over the years, and will do these new Cars attractions more. This is necessarily true–hence the ‘underutilized capacity’ term.
From my perspective, this also at least partially misses the point. Theme parks are not just the sum of their ride rosters, to be raced around and checked off one by one. They are as much defined by the spaces in between; by the absence of attractions, too.
The Rivers of America, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island are incredible assets to Magic Kingdom not just for the guests who actively utilize these attractions. They offer serenity and delightful atmosphere even to guests who simply walk along the waterfront promenade, stopping for a moment to catch their breath and take in the view.
It’s impossible to quantify this. That’s precisely what worries me. Sometimes Disney’s decision-makers view the parks as figures on a spreadsheet, and from that perspective, it’s easy to overlook “underutilized” things that are incredibly important to the Disney theme park experience from a holistic perspective.
It’s the little moments we treasure just as much as a ride on Big Thunder, and it’s the little details or quiet moments that become indelible parts of our memories from visits to the parks over the years. These little things might seem superfluous on paper, especially when the alternative is expanding the park and growing capacity by thousands guests.
By viewing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island as underutilized real estate that’s expendable, Disney is missing the forest for the trees. Spaces like these are what help define our days in the parks, giving us little moments to pause and absorb the big attractions and experiences we’ve enjoyed. These things and places are what keep us coming back.
There’s a long term price to be paid for viewing the parks from the perspective that every square foot must be put to its most efficient use and have its capacity maximized. That’s too myopic of a view, and ignores the practical reality that guests form impressions based on the totality of their visit, with those little things or counterprogramming adding as much as the E-Tickets.
If everything is go-go-go, the guest experience as a whole can suffer. And that’s true even if the individual attractions replacing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island end up having higher guest satisfaction scores.
There are some things that are impossible to quantify–that guests just absorb, even without realizing it. If this sentiment sounds familiar, it’s exactly how we describe the value of atmospheric entertainment–the energy can be felt subliminally even if not consciously. It brightens the mood, even if unknowingly.
It’s the exact same idea with the Rivers of America.
There’s no guest satisfaction “metric” for how many guests per day walk along that waterfront promenade, pause for a deep breath, smile and take a photo. I mean, technically there is a metric–the ones wearing smart watches probably see their heart rate drop a little, but Disney’s survey team isn’t seeing that data. (Hopefully.)
It could be an indelible moment burned into their memory, or, more likely, a fleeting bit of happiness. But it still mattered. It was important to their day as a whole. Most critically, it was a much-needed reprieve from the often stressful nature of the world’s most popular theme park. This has long been my perspective on the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island–that they are invaluable assets that serve as counterprogramming to give guests an expand from the paved pathways and hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom.
I speak from experience. This waterfront promenade is one of my favorite places in all of Magic Kingdom, and we have so many memories of this waterfront walk late at night with a cool breeze coming off the Rivers of America, or early in the mornings as the sun flitters through the trees. It is one of those places in the park that allows us to slow down, take a deep breath, and soak up our surroundings. Maybe that makes me biased, and overly sensitive to losing the Rivers of America when the average guest reaction will be: “Who cares? Bring on Cars!”
I don’t think that will be the prevailing sentiment among Walt Disney World diehards. And I’d also like to think I’m a realist.
That’s precisely why I would’ve been okay with shortening the Rivers of America and potentially making it Tom Sawyer Peninsula, even if that meant major modifications or a permanent docking of the Liberty Belle. Because doing so also would’ve met guests where they were, removing a ‘barrier of entry’ for Tom Sawyer Island (so many guests never visit simply because the rafts over are a hassle) and allowing more kids to burn off some steam in that play area.
Meanwhile, the waterfront promenade and the ambiance it added still would’ve been there for guests to enjoy while walking past the main drag of Frontierland. It still would’ve accomplished the same goals from a guest decompression perspective. If anything, the Tom Sawyer area would’ve been appreciated by more people since it would’ve been easier to access. All while offering up space for expansion. A win-win compromise for all.
Obviously, that’s not what Walt Disney World has elected to do. So I cannot say I’m fully on board with this idea right now.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting I’ll dislike the Cars area or I’m suddenly anti-Villains Land at Magic Kingdom because of this. My feelings about the Cars attraction remain mixed (more on that in a future post since my 4:30 am commentary didn’t properly articulate it) and unequivocally positive about Villains Land in a vacuum. But I also think: not like this. They should’ve tried to thread the needle better, not sacrificing a serene section of the park that’s more of an asset than they likely realize.
I’m also not foreclosing the idea that I’ll change my mind. It’s impossible to ascertain atmosphere from concept art. Maybe the promenade that I love so much will be present in some form, or will have a spiritual successor. There do appear to be waterfalls and waterways, so perhaps those will provide a sense of serenity, natural beauty, and kinetic energy.
This Cars area all could be great in a totally different or even similar way. There are flashes of the Cars concept art that give me National Park vibes, and I like that (even if other flashes of it remind me of extreme sports). I’m willing to ‘wait and see’ and withhold full judgment. (What other option do I even have? It’s not like I can single-handedly stop this!)
For now, though, I’m a bit shell-shocked by the decision to fully eliminate the Rivers of America, and worried about how that could irreparably damage the feel of Magic Kingdom. I really hope Disney is not making this decision lightly, is focused on more than just increasing capacity, and is giving Imagineers the resources to do this right.
If we’re losing this area of the park, it had better be worth it. The marquee Cars attraction needs to be as good as Radiator Springs Racers, the themed design of the area must be superlative and in keeping of the rugged spirit of Frontierland, and the new area must have great kinetic energy and atmosphere.
They cannot deliver two overly-short attractions, a sea of concrete and some trees, along with a concept that feels at-odds with Frontierland. This has gotta be strong. They have to make the skeptics (like me) concede we were wrong about ever questioning the wisdom of replacing the Rivers of America. And I absolutely will do that if they’re able to deliver. I would love nothing more than to eat crow. I’ve gotten used to the taste over the years.
Finally, instead of being singularly fixated on increasing capacity, I wish Walt Disney World would endeavor to eliminate stress. When it comes to this, there are the usual suspects–screen time, lines, ride breakdowns, etc. But another one is offering up lovely places to decompress that bring smiles to the faces of guests.
Some of those decision-makers should go inside one of the massive Magic Kingdom quick-service restaurants during the middle of the day and count all of the people not eating anything. Just sitting there with their heads on the tables or attempting to ‘rest and recharge’ in about the most chaotic environment possible. (Nothing says ‘recharging’ quite like the midday rush at Pinocchio Village Haus!)
I’m not kidding. One important goal should be getting these people out of the loud and unpleasant restaurants and into actual serene spaces that offer nice ambiance and actually will allow them to mentally refuel for a brief bit. Walt Disney World needs to understand that Magic Kingdom is a world-class theme park, and those two words have meanings beyond just the fanciest and most modern rides. There should be a concerted effort to not just keeping it a “park” but enhancing that angle. It may not be captured on guest satisfaction surveys, but it’s as big a part of what separates Disney from an average amusement park as the envelope-pushing attractions.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What is your reaction to this announcement that Walt Disney World is replacing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island with Cars rides? Do you think the two all-new Cars rides coming to Magic Kingdom are “worth it”? Do you agree or disagree with our sentiment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I am seriously disappointed by this news. I have been on Tom Sawyer’s Island many times, and always ride the riverboat. I’m surprised by the people (albeit a minority here) that seem to consider it wasted space. It’s a space for both children and adults to use their imagination, as well as a place for children to run and adults to rest. I am saddened by this.
On a 2023 corporate trip to WDW, I visited Tom Sawyer Island, but didn’t bother with the riverboat. The island reminded me of the Disney Skyway they had when I was a kid, in that it didn’t seem distinctly “Disney” in any notable way. No character scavenger hunts, no obvious Easter Eggs I noticed, just a pretend fort, nice plants, and one or two fun little tunnels. There’s lot of places which have that sort of chill adventure experience. Those legacy items like plant walkways or petting zoos or generic skyways remind me more of a State Park or a State Fair than they do of Disney World. And I bet using a lot of square footage that kind of Shaker “simple gifts” style throwback vibe bothers the current leadership in Anaheim. They want me and my family to be excited little mouse ear wearing consumers on the move, it seems. TBD whether my growing family comes to prefer visiting actual State Parks and State Fairs vs making repeated pilgrimages to WDW.
If only WDW had enough land to add rides and expand the parks…oh wait. It’s becoming even more clear that both Bobs simply do not get Disney. I often thought that a bridge should be built to Tom Sawyer Island connecting the Big Thunder dead end to Liberty Square (at the expense of the River Boat) but never would advocate filling in the river and demolishing that beautiful and well themed island. This is a terrible idea and I hope this goes the way of the Main Street Theater, Brazil, the Mary Poppins Ride, Harmonious, Starcruiser, etc. I really wish they would quit “reimagining” and start expanding. This stinks.
I know that this will not be a popular opinion, but I am fine with Tom Sawyer Island being replaced. I went there for the first time with my two elementary age kids this summer. The experience was fine, but I was expecting more from everyone’s descriptions of it. I think the biggest issue is not feeling super comfortable with having my kids run off on their own in enclosed spaces were I can’t see/hear them. Dumbo and the Boneyard worked much better for this. So the options were to run around with them or to sit on a bench to relax and hope they were okay. My husband and I did a combination of the two, but it wasn’t the relaxing experience that I would have hoped for.
this is what made it great. having a place to let your kids roam, have some independence, and let them explore on their own. i grew up with my parents packing a lunch and eating at the picnic tables. now we do this with our kids. I will be so sad when this closes and families lose this gift.
I’ve had great moments in that little covered pavilion with the rocking chairs while one or both kids nap in the stroller. Last time I was there, there was another parent doing the same and offering the adults chocolate as we all relaxed and enjoyed a quiet break. I’m bummed but I’ll try to withhold too much judgment!!
The only thing that gives me a slight bit of hope they might pull this off in the right way is the set-up of Frontierland at Disneyland Paris. Granted they still have the river and riverboat, which is a huge part of this, but the execution of BTM as the focal there is absolutely gorgeous. And despite it being a thrill ride, it somehow maintains that peaceful vibe. There are many differences here, including the fact that the queue will not be on the mainland and there will be no island at all, so it’s doubtful this will be possible to replicate that same atmosphere? But that is my absolute favorite iteration of Frontierland, so if I’m the off chance WDW makes that their guiding point, this could work out better than we imagine.
Maybe they think the type of guest who lingers at the Rivers of America is an “unfavorable attendance mix” in the immortal words of Bob Chapek. Maybe they think no one sees the Rivers of America anyway, like the characters in Wall-E, who are so glued to their devices they don’t even realize they are at a swimming pool. They are killing the golden goose and they don’t seem to know or care. RIP Tom Sawyer Island – the last of the Truffula Trees.
This area, Liberty Square/Frontierland is my favorite area of the park. Often it’s the only area I visit on some trips–for the very reason that it’s not a concrete jungle (looking at you, Fantasyland!) Of all the not so great decisions Disney has made recently, this particular one makes me physically ill. I’m just really stunned that someone could look around the Rivers of America and think “yeah, let’s bulldoze this.”
This is such a bad take on Disney’s part and I hope it gets cancelled. Water and a nature are so important to mitigate crowds, noise, heat, etc in a place like Magic Kingdom. Not to mention it’s such an iconic part of the park. Tearing it down would be like bulldozing Cinderella’s Castle. We’re not local and have only made 1 trip to DW as a family so far (with another planned) but we cherish the memories made there. I have great memories of playing on Tom Sawyer’s island with my children and it’s the kind of space I would have LOVED as a kid. Really hoping this is one of the projects that never get off the ground. Replacing an iconic space like that that does so much heavy lifting in the park and has been there for generations of fans with a lame IP ride (sorry, I guess I’m the only one that doesn’t like Cars Land or the rides in Disneyland) is just icky.
Totally agree with your commentary Tom. Magic Kingdom, of all parks, needs more places to relax and be calm. Removing this is completely missing the point. They need to reconsider how they accomplish this expansion, while retaining some form of Rivers of America.
I just hope they don’t make the same mistake as new fantasy land. I hate the placement of 7DMT.
Perhaps they’ll replace Tomorrowland Speedway with something more serene then? Maybe they could put a little water/trees over there?
I’m excited for all the new changes, including the Cars ride, but you make great points about giving up something we didn’t know we needed. Calm spaces are definitely helpful to guest enjoyment!
I agree with Tom re to save part of the island. In addition, one aspect of Tom Sawyer Island is that you tell the story you control what and where you go your imagination and freedom to just run and explore. This action is very similar to the new Poly tower. A huge monster of a hotel next to a village and almost on top of the Grand. I love Cars land in CA so I will reserve judgement but it is a little concerning.
I totally agree. We’re always looking for “decompression” spots. Can’t say I didn’t see it coming though. Some goodwill might be regained however, if they would continue to offer rides on the riverboat, say around Bay Lake? With perhaps reimagining the original Discovery Island to an escape spot? Too many relaxation points, vestiges of original concepts and non e-ticket experiences are discarded altogether as non-essential. If Reflections lakeside lodge does end up happening, we’d really have a pretty (improved) view of the riverboat going by and a refurbished island…
By now, people have to know that the suits do not consider nostalgia in decision making. It is the money. And two cars attractions will bring in more spending than keeping Tom Sawyer island. For myself and my family, over 50 years and maybe been on the boat leas than 5 times.
My heart sank when I read this post. I was wondering this weekend how this would work. I love the idea of putting this in Tomorrow land but theming would be a challenge. That Speedway is also nostalgic but is very dated.
have loved the water, steamship and island since I was a kid. We always use the boardwalk down by the water as our navigation path and as a relaxing point. We haven’t done the boat ride in a few years but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying the sights and sounds (and waving to folks). Tom’s points on the “theme park” are spot on. I can’t imagine Magic Kingdom without these.
What if NYC decided to pave over Central Park and build even more skyscrapers. That would never happen, as they have more sense than to get of such a beautiful and historic area of their city. Even though it would mean more tax revenue for the city.
As a more than 50 year visitor to WDW, I am heartbroken by this news. The River and Tom Sawyer Island are Magic Kingdom’s soft spots in the hard pavement of that theme park. I always loved strolling by that river and seeing its beautiful steamboat. This is so sad.
Wholeheartedly agree with Tom and appreciate his perspective on peaceful and serene spaces. Disney is over stimulating and these spaces help to offer a visual and physical rest.
Tom Sawyer’s Island has been special place for our family. The kids would get off the Pirate’s ride, having seen a grand adventure, and then go have one themselves on Tom Sawyer’s island. We would bring lunch and let them enjoy the freedom. Children need time to physically reenact things, explore uninhibited and feel their imaginations soar. Too much of Disney is now screen based and passive.
This news just makes me sad and not excited about taking our grandkids someday. We also have the disposable income to continue to afford Disney, which seems to be pricing out young families. But they are bulldozing our nostalgia.
For those that are upset, I would like to ask you 2 things…..
1) When was the last time you took the boat ride
2) How many times have you been on Tow Sawyer Island?
If I had to guess, theres very few guests who have done either more than once and even less who have done it recently
Every single visit. It’s a core park element and contributes some of the best ambiance. I’m so sad that people no longer hear that iconic steam whistle or be able to explore Injun Joe’s cave.
I think your questions missed the point a bit – it’s not JUST about the throughput of people who have been to Tom Sawyers Island and/or ridden the Liberty Belle. It’s also about the thousands of people that walk along the waterfront and stop, pause, and recharge. It’s having an oasis of “natural” landscape in view. It’s hearing the toot of the liberty belle all across Frontierland as it leaves the dock.
Most frustratingly, Disneyland (which has way less room) managed to keep their river when expanding for Galaxy’s Edge. In fact, they shortened it by a third – and improved the entire river experience in the process.
I wish Disney World would take a step back and consider that approach.
I ride the riverboat on most trips (going 2-3 times per year). Even when I don’t get the chance to ride the attraction, just hearing the steam whistle and the distant narration makes my heart sing. The average guest runs from attraction to attraction. Those who love Disneyworld and themed environments on a different level, savor these elements. It’s a tremendous loss.
I live in NYC and I’ve been to Disney World 4 times since 2016. I’ve never been on the boat and over to Tom Sawyer’s Island.
But I don’t like this one bit. It’s the idea and feel of the area that can’t be defined by numbers. Knowing it’s there or even just walking by it and seeing the water…
If they completely go through with this, I’m with Tom in that I hope there is at least some decent sized water feature that will break it up a little.
WOuldn’t it make more sense to replace the Tomorrowland Speedway with the new Cars attractions? Noisy cars for noisy Cars, and not impacting Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Or would there not be enough space?