A classic Disney “fun map” has been revealed for the Cars-themed Frontierland expansion coming to Magic Kingdom. The map is a type of idealized art that shows an approximation of the layout and theming, but it shouldn’t be expected to work like a regular navigational map or to present every aspect true-to-life.
The “fun map” concept dates back to the 1950s at Disneyland, with every Disney castle-park around the world having been represented in this form at one point or another. Sometimes these have been a free gift for guests, and at other times they could be purchased as souvenirs.
Frontierland Expansion Fun Map
As always, since this project is in the early stages of development, aspects of the depiction are subject to change.
The new area takes guests to Piston Peak National Park. The name is a reference to the park in “Planes: Fire and Rescue,” but the similarities end there. Guests should not expect to see other references to the “Planes” movie here. The above image also features a new, original character to the Cars franchise, which pays tribute to a classic Disney animated personality.
The map illustrates how Piston Peak will fit into Frontierland by embracing the wilderness aesthetic of the Rocky Mountains. The newer developments to Frontierland, such as the reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, have set the course for its future. According to Imagineering, Frontierland is about “chasing your dreams in the American Wilderness and writing your own folktale.”
Above is an approximation of the Fun Map as overlayed on an aerial view of Frontierland. This is not an official image; it’s for illustrative purposes only.
Furthermore, to fit into Magic Kingdom as a whole, the land leans into the look of classic Disney wilderness animation. It was inspired by cartoons like “Mickey’s Trailer” as well as existing theme park lands like Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure and Camp Woodchuck at Tokyo Disneyland.
A Closer Look at Piston Peak
Imagineering is embracing the National Park aesthetic down to the iconic trapezoidal sign. Just beyond the entrance is a small cabin-style building with a circular corral attached. The log cabins in the land will have wider paths and lower windows than a normal log cabin, demonstrating that they were built to accommodate cars instead of people.
This may be the location for the second, family-friendly attraction, but specifics about that ride are unconfirmed at this time. The area has several bodies of water.
Beyond that is a larger A-frame structure with a flag outside. The visitor lodge is part of the queue for the Rally Race ride, where guests will board cars and compete. Another part of the queue will feature a Ranger Room where guests will meet an original character designed just for this attraction.
When designing Piston Peak, Imagineers wanted to make the franchise fit the land instead of making the land fit the franchise, similarly to how they approached Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When brainstorming what the Cars universe would look like in an area like the Rocky Mountains, they decided the best fit was an off-road rally known as “the fastest lap in the West.”
In the upper left quadrant of the map, we can see the familiar facades of Frontierland in the background, including Frontier Trading Post, the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Like it does now, a river divides Piston Peak from the Frontierland street.
Where the river seems to flow from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, it travels down into Piston Peak National Park. There are a couple of waterfalls in the area, and there appears to be a water wheel.
Guests will be able to experience the geyser field from the nearby town of Tumbleweed for the first time. As guests journey away from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the architecture will gradually become “Car-chitecture,” and some of the geysers may appear tire-esque. A larger geyser, “The Old Tankful,” will erupt periodically.
The National Park’s namesake, the Piston Peaks, sit atop a snow-covered mountain from which a grand waterfall descends. The Rally Race path seems to pass through a tunnel under the mountain.
Disney has stated that none of the profoundly “Cars” features of the land will intrude on the sightlines from the Magic Kingdom’s hub, nor the main thoroughfare of Liberty Square. They have also claimed they will mitigate sound so that you can’t hear the rumble of engines from any setting where it would be inappropriate, story-wise.
Stay tuned for more details as development continues on Piston Peak, the addition of Cars to Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom.
To accommodate this project, the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat will close forever in July, while the Frontierland Railroad Station will close temporarily, setting the Walt Disney World Railroad into shuttle mode operations for the next few years.
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