updated September 2026
Magic Kingdom is in the middle of one of the biggest transformations in its history and now, we’re getting to watch that transformation happen right before our eyes.
The changes began with a difficult goodbye. On July 7, 2025, Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Belle Riverboat, and the Rivers of America permanently closed to make way for a massive expansion of Frontierland.
At the time, it was hard to imagine this familiar corner of Magic Kingdom looking completely different. Today, the construction walls tell a very different story.
What was once the Rivers of America is becoming Piston Peak National Park, a new wilderness-inspired area bringing the world of Disney and Pixar’s Cars into Magic Kingdom. And with construction well underway, we’re beginning to get a much better idea of what this new area will look—and feel—like.
I’ve been keeping an eye on the progress during our visits to Walt Disney World, and we’ve captured some of that construction along the way. I’ll be sharing those videos throughout this post so you can see the transformation for yourself.
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Saying Goodbye to the Rivers of America
Before we look ahead, it’s worth remembering what was here.
For decades, guests could escape the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom with a ride aboard the Liberty Belle Riverboat or an adventure across Tom Sawyer Island. The Rivers of America provided something that is increasingly rare in a theme park: space to slow down.
The Liberty Belle’s gentle journey around the river offered beautiful views of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Its familiar horn became part of the soundtrack of Magic Kingdom.
Tom Sawyer Island was different. There were no major attractions or elaborate queues—just trails, caves, bridges, and places to explore at your own pace.
That’s what made this area special.
It wasn’t necessarily about the attraction itself. It was about the atmosphere, the scenery, and having a little room to wander.
I think that’s why the closure felt so significant to so many Disney fans.
But now, we’re getting a much clearer picture of what Disney is building in its place.
Piston Peak National Park Is Taking Shape
The new area, officially named Piston Peak National Park, will expand Frontierland into a rugged wilderness inspired by America’s national parks and the Rocky Mountain region.
Disney describes the area as featuring towering trees, snowcapped mountains, waterfalls, rivers, geysers, trails, a visitor lodge, and a Ranger HQ—all incorporated into the world of Disney and Pixar’s Cars.
One of the things I’m particularly interested in is how Disney is using the landscape itself to connect this new area with the existing lands around it.
The architecture will use a style known as “Parkitecture,” inspired by the National Park Service approach of creating structures that work naturally with their surroundings. Disney says the goal is for the buildings to blend into the wilderness rather than simply sitting on top of it.
And when you look at the construction from inside Magic Kingdom, you can already start to see the scale of what’s happening.
Watch the Piston Peak Construction
We’ve been capturing the construction progress during our Walt Disney World visits, and I’ll be adding those videos here as the project continues.
Two New Cars Attractions Are Coming to Magic Kingdom
When Disney first announced the Frontierland expansion, we knew a major Cars-themed rally attraction was coming. At D23 2026, we learned much more—including the name and details of that attraction and the addition of a second Cars experience.
Cars Ridge Run Rally
Cars Ridge Run Rally will be the major racing attraction in Piston Peak.
Instead of simply placing guests inside a traditional ride vehicle, Disney says this experience is designed to make guests feel like they’re actually driving an off-road vehicle. The attraction will take racers through rugged terrain, including mountain trails, snowy peaks, geysers, mud flats, and other wilderness environments.
The course will climb toward the snowy summit of Piston Peak before sending racers back down the mountain. Along the way, Lightning McQueen and Mater will provide commentary from the sidelines.
Disney has also revealed that the ride will use a new vehicle system designed to react to the terrain, allowing riders to feel the bumps, drops, and rocks along the course.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along
And there’s another attraction coming to Piston Peak.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along will bring the Cars 3 character Miss Fritter to the new land for a demolition-derby-style experience.
Disney describes Miss Fritter as a giant school-bus-sized Audio-Animatronic who will host the action as guests join her “wildest demolition derby yet.”
This second attraction also gives the new land an experience designed for guests who may not be ready—or interested—in the more intense Cars Ridge Run Rally.
How Piston Peak Will Connect to Frontierland
One of the things I find most interesting about this project isn’t simply the addition of Cars. It’s how Disney is connecting the new area to the story and landscape already surrounding it.
Piston Peak will sit within the larger Frontierland story, connecting the wilderness of the new area with Liberty Square, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Disney has specifically described the new landscape as continuing the storytelling tradition that moves guests westward through these different environments.
Disney has also said that Big Thunder Mountain will eventually become part of the expanded land, creating even more continuity across this section of Magic Kingdom.
And from what we’re able to see during visits, the scale of the project is becoming much easier to appreciate as construction progresses.
This Is More Than a New Attraction
It’s easy to focus on the Cars attractions because, let’s face it, that’s what most of us want to know about!
But Piston Peak is actually a much larger project.
Disney describes it as the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, and the land itself is intended to be part of the experience—not simply the space surrounding two rides.
That’s why I’ll be paying just as much attention to the mountains, waterways, trails, architecture, and overall environment as I will to the attractions.
After all, one of the things that made the Rivers of America special was the atmosphere.
Now we’re getting to see how Disney intends to create an entirely different kind of atmosphere in its place.
Watching the Magic Kingdom Expansion Take Shape
There’s something fascinating about visiting Magic Kingdom while a project this large is under construction.
You can see the walls and the equipment. You can watch the landscape change from one visit to the next.
And then you see the concept art and models Disney has shared and try to imagine how dramatically different this area will look when Piston Peak National Park is finished.
At D23 2026, Disney shared a massive model of Piston Peak that offered the clearest look yet at the new land—including the second attraction and the larger wilderness setting surrounding it.
For Disney fans, this is one of those rare opportunities to watch a new land go from an idea on paper to an actual place.
And we’re going to keep watching.
What I’d Love to Know…
I’ll be updating this post as we learn more and as construction progresses.
Because while I’ll always miss the Rivers of America, I’m also genuinely curious to see what Disney does with this new space.
Will Piston Peak have the same sense of atmosphere and exploration that made the old area special?
How immersive will the wilderness setting feel once the trees, mountains, waterfalls, geysers, and buildings are all in place?
And, of course…
How wild is Cars Ridge Run Rally actually going to be?
We’ll have to wait and see.
For now, I’m enjoying watching the transformation—and I’ll keep bringing you along for the ride.
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation, this is one of those projects worth keeping on your radar. Magic Kingdom is changing, and there’s a lot more on the horizon.
Continue Planning Your Walt Disney World Vacation
Planning your Disney vacation goes well beyond deciding where to eat breakfast! Continue exploring these helpful guides before your trip:
- Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
- Disney Dining Guide
- Guide to Disney Resort Hotels
- Beginner’s Guide to Lightning Lanes
- Disney Transportation Guide
- Best Disney World Snacks
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