New details on Magic Kingdom Cars-themed expansion unveiled

Disney has revealed some new details about the Cars-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom.

Today, Disney has announced that the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat will close effective July 7, with the last day of operation on July 6, to make way for this new land.

The new area will be called Piston Peak National Park. The new land will draw inspiration from the Rocky Mountain area and the grandeur of American national parks, promising an awe-inspiring wilderness complete with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers, and impressive geysers.

“At the heart of all these stories are heroic characters with a belief in themselves that helped forge a path to their dreams,” read a statement from Disney. “To continue this journey in great American storytelling, Piston Peak National Park will be part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom.”

Within Piston Peak, guests will have the opportunity to explore a detailed visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, and various trails, all meticulously designed within the beloved Disney and Pixar “Cars” universe. To ensure the structures blend authentically with the majestic natural landscapes, Imagineers are employing “Parkitecture,” an architectural style developed by the National Park Service specifically to harmonize with the natural environment.

The land’s design will incorporate natural barriers, utilizing trees to create a seamless transition between the off-road rally area and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall, and even the famed geysers from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are slated to stretch into the trails of the new off-road rally.

According to previously released information, 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, according to Disney. 

“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,” Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering has previously said. “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.”

For this new Cars attraction a new type of ride vehicle will need to be created. “No one builds these in a factory because it has to do so much more than just carrying you from one place to another. We have to create a car that conveys a feeling when you ride in it,” Hungden said.

The Imagineering team took a trip to the Arizona desert to experience driving a real off-road vehicle and see what it was like navigating the rocky terrain. These are all things Lightning McQueen and Mater haven’t experienced before, like racing over rocky terrain, ascending to mountain peaks, and dodging around geysers.

To create the look of the cars, Pixar stepped in to create new car personalities for this attraction. Each vehicle in the ride will have its own name and number, just like a real race.