I attended the D23 Experiences Showcase last weekend. It was a pretty epic event that released an absolutely insane amount of information about what’s next at Disney World and what’s new at the Disneyland Resort. But when it comes to theme parks, there’s often bad news along with good news, and now the penny has dropped. The new Cars attractions planned for Magic Kingdom will mean the end of some of the park’s oldest attractions.
New attractions at Disney World often, but not always, mean that older attractions are replaced. Disney Experiences does not, of course, announce The Part of the major public events because it could lead to a dissatisfied audience. Today Disney confirmed that two attractions based on Pixar’s Cars The franchise will replace the area of Frontierland that currently houses the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
The rivers of America and Tom Sayer Island are being replaced, and that is sad
The Disney parks have always been about evoking a sense of nostalgia for an earlier time in America, even if it never really existed in the form portrayed. Today, 50 years later, Disney World itself is a place of nostalgia, so it’s always hard when classic attractions are lost.
The Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom has been around since 1971, and Tom Sawyer Island is almost as old. While the original riverboat that plied the river has been replaced, the area has otherwise remained largely unchanged during that time. Children who played on the island have grown up and had children who have played on the island.
But starting next year, the waterway and island will be transformed into what Disney calls a “vast and rugged terrain.” The area will include two attractions: a thrilling rally race through the mountains, and a less strenuous car ride for younger guests.
There was always a chance that Frontierland would actually be expanded in some way and that these new attractions wouldn’t require any major changes to the existing land. We’re getting a new Villains land right next to Frontierland, which is a completely new expansion where nothing is lost.
It is certainly sad to lose these classic attractions, and the change will completely change the look and feel of Frontierland, and I am not convinced that will be a good thing. It will also take away the most significant water feature in the entire Magic Kingdom, and that is a tragedy. The riverboat is an iconic part of the land, and losing it is a shame. Mixing the “Wild West” feel of the existing land with something Cars-Being theme-oriented doesn’t feel like it could work either.
The new Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom can still be amazing
Although I am a little sad about the end of something classic, I can’t help but be a little excited about the future. I’m not the biggest Cars fan or anything, but I’m always excited for new attractions and new lands. Just because Frontierland is going to be radically different doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad.
We just saw the Country Bear Jamboree undergo a major renovation and it was received positively for the most part. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure also recently opened and people are loving it. New doesn’t mean the end.
The concept art, as seen above, looks pretty impressive on its own. While we should all have learned by now not to take concept art at face value, Frontierland certainly looks incredible given expectations. As with all things, I’m cautiously optimistic that while we’re losing something great, we might gain something equally great; or maybe, if we’re really lucky, even greater.
Construction is set to begin next year, but exactly when and how it will be done is still unclear. That means fans have at least the next few months, and possibly longer, to enjoy the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island one more time before they say goodbye.
