At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney announced two new “Cars” attractions and a Disney Villains land coming to Magic Kingdom in the near future. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro did not state exactly where the new areas would be, only that the “Cars” rides would be in Frontierland. The announcements seem to be the final iteration of the “Beyond Big Thunder” concept introduced two years ago but reports suggest they won’t be “Beyond Big Thunder” so much as “On the Rivers of America” — meaning the permanent closure of the rivers, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island.
Tom Sawyer Island & Liberty Square Riverboat Closing Permanently
The “Cars” attractions will be part of a reimagined area in Frontierland, with one ride sending guests on a race through the mountains, indicating it will need a substantial footprint. The Disney Villains land will require even more space, with two major attractions, shopping, and dining.
The most “free” space available in Magic Kingdom is where Rivers of America, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island are currently located between Frontierland and Liberty Square. We don’t know yet exactly how the “Cars” rides and Villains land will fit into this space, but construction on the former is scheduled to begin next year.
Multiple sources have indicated that these spaces will permanently close to make way for the new lands.
The first Liberty Square Riverboat, the Admiral Joe Fowler, entered service on the Rivers of America the day after Magic Kingdom opened, on October 2, 1971. The current riverboat, the Liberty Belle, entered service as the Richard F. Irvine on May 20, 1973, the same day Tom Sawyer Island opened to the public. The Admiral Joe Fowler was destroyed in a dry dock accident in 1980 but the Richard F. Irvine has continued running. It was renamed the Liberty Belle in 1996.
D’Amaro made clear that the rides and lands announced during the D23 Disney Experiences Showcase were in active development — not “blue sky” concepts that may or may not happen. Check out every Disney Parks announcement from the showcase.
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