Since the announcement that the Rivers of America would be demolished to add a “Cars” expansion to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, many fans have expressed concern over losing the park’s biggest body of water. New details and art for the expansion have been revealed, showing it has been designed with water & “natural” beauty in mind.
‘Cars’ Expansion River & Water Features
Imagineering intentionally chose a landscape that featured rivers, waterfalls, and more as their new setting. They settled on the Rocky Mountains as influence for Piston Peak National Park, the area that will be home to the upcoming Cars attractions. Imagineers took a research trip to Rocky Mountain National Park for inspiration.
Piston Peak National Park is a name taken from “Planes: Fire & Rescue” (a film connected to the Cars franchise via the now-defunct Planes series) but the new area won’t contain any overt references to the “Cars” spin-off. In “Planes,” Piston Peak is based on Yosemite and Yellowstone.
While the Rivers of America will be no more, the art for the new land shows a new river path, several waterfalls, and geysers. The design is meant to add more lush landscapes and high mountains to Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland.
Geysers with rainbow pools help connect the expansion visually to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Guests will be able to walk directly from The Haunted Mansion to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad via a northern pathway, at one point traveling through a geyser field.
Along the ride path for the off-road rally race attraction, the Old Tankful geyser erupts throughout the day and guests will race around it.
Water was included in initial concept art, teasing the inclusion of a river and water features. The “Cars” area will include a new off-road rally ride and a family fun attraction.
In addition to National Parks, Imagineers took inspiration from previous theme park projects such as Camp Woodchuck at Tokyo Disneyland, the original Disneyland attraction Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland (which Big Thunder Mountain Railroad replaced), and Grizzly Peak Airfield in Disney California Adventure. The wilderness will have an animated style to mesh with the Magic Kingdom. Imagineers said it’s “parkitecture meets car-itecture.”
Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Square Riverboat will close permanently in July, while the Frontierland Railroad Station will temporarily shutter, forcing the Walt Disney World Railroad into shuttle operation for the next few years.
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