D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event brought us HUGE Disney parks news!
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom was one Disney park that got a lot of attention on August 10th during the Horizons — Disney Experiences Showcase. We learned that a new nighttime parade, Villains Land, and Cars Land will all be coming to Magic Kingdom soon! The parade, Disney Starlight, will debut in summer in 2025 and preliminary work on Villains Land has already begun. Disney shared that work on Cars Land will start early in 2025, and now we have spotted the first permit that might mean the very early processes will soon begin!
On August 12th, Disney announced that the new Cars Land will be headed to Frontierland taking over the area that is currently the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. This will likely mean that something is going to have to happen to all that water that is currently flowing around the island in the park.
Tom Sawyer Island
We recently found a permit that could be the very early process to solving this water problem. Permit number 48-00714-P is a permit for 407 Basin Stormwater Modifications. The summary of the project states, “Construction of a stormwater management master treatment facility to provide stormwater quality treatment for improvements within Canal L407/L407A and L405 Basins within the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.”
The project site is just east of Magic Kingdom. Here’s a map so you can see exactly where work will begin for this huge undertaking.
Permit number 48-00714-P
The orange boxed area is where this permit is for. Here’s a close up.
Permit number 48-00714-P
It essentially sounds like they will need to build a treatment facility for stormwater that will be drained from the area. Further down the permit under Environmental Impacts, it states, “The project has 7.3 acres of surface water impacts to Rivers of America.” So it’s likely that this permit is for the early processes of Cars Land.
Permit number 48-00714-P
The permit is dated as received on August 12th, 2024 and has a 30-day deadline of September 11th, 2024. The engineering consultant for the project is Singhofen & Associates of Orlando. At this point, this permit is only for the area east of Magic Kingdom and not for Rivers of America, however, it may be the beginning steps to turn Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island into Cars Land.
Tom Sawyer Island
The new Cars Land will have two new rides, a fast-paced race through the mountains, around bends, and through mud holes, along with a family-friendly racing ride. It’s time to say “Ka-Chow!”
Cars is coming to Magic Kingdom! ©Disney
We’ll be watching for more details as all the new projects begin around the Disney World parks. Keep following DFB for the latest Disney news!
Disney World Is Building a NEW Villains Land and We Have QUESTIONS
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I wonder if this same type of permit was issued when they drained the Rivers of America not too long ago to perform maintenance on the track of the Riverboat? That was interesting seeing the basin drained . . . .
How about a 5th gate with newer Disney content such as Cars. New or expanding the territory of existing parks would be much better for managing overcrowding than keeping the same foot print size.
This is the only announcement from d23 that has made me really sad. That water feature is so iconic, and it’s a terrible shame to replace it with an IP that doesn’t even really fit with Frontierland. There was barely any applause when it was announced. I wish Disney would rethink this project.
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot!!
There is nothing to celebrate at this news. I hate calling it a “transformation” when it is destroying such an iconic and integral part of Magic Kingdom. It is not just water that they will be draining away!
I agree with Mark. This is awful news, one more reason why Disneyland is way better than WDW. And WDW actually has the room to expand- doesn’t anyone in Disney get it?
Really sad about this
Didnt like Tom Sawyer island that much but it was part of what I liked about magic kingdom because it was iconic of the american society
And I will miss the liberty bell
I’m sad to learn that this jewel of the Magic Kingdom park will be eliminated. The waterway with the paddle boat was iconic, peaceful and tied into the old time feel of Walt’s boyhood Main Street. The rides surrounding this waterway can take you to other more boisterous places but you can always regroup around this calm space afterwards. Such a shame that Disney just sees it as unused real estate. The island attraction could have been updated to be more exciting without totally replacing it and Cars Land could have gone elsewhere.
Hey guys. It sounds wrong to call this “Cars Land”. Disney certainly doesn’t refer to the new cars attractions in Frontierland as a new land. It comes across as being on the same level as the Villians Land. It’s just two attractions replacing two other, nostalgia filled, attractions.
That beautiful picture that you posted above will be gone. It will be concrete. This is disgusting what they are doing to the Magic Kingdom. And they know it, that’s why they didn’t show the artwork at D23. Are you folks not outraged?
Most people rarely go to Tom Sawyer Island or on the Liberty Bell. While there’s a certain nostalgia for them, they will still have them at Disneyland, and Disney is replacing them with new rides that will appeal to the general public. Disney Imagineers are masters of creating ambience. From the concept art there will smaller bodies of water and fauna to create a DIFFERENT beautiful picture in the future. Don’t knock what you haven’t seen.
They should remove Walt from Walt Disney world because this is not his dream. It’s his worst nightmare.
Very interesting the glee with which you share this news, and also the pictures of a lovely and scenic area that will be gone. Not everyone shares that same glee. So disappointed.
The Liberty Bell is going away too??? Does no one care about U.S. history? Disney, please, try to rework your plans.
Firstly, I’m a traditionalist with the parks and have been visiting WDW since the 1970s. I believe in respecting the past and in exercising extreme caution with original attractions. However, I’m also smart enough to realize that probably less then 0.1% of guests raft over and visit Tom Sawyer Island or take a ride on the Rivers of America. Everyone screaming about this announcement needs to fairly ask themselves how often in the last 10 years that they’ve visited the island. I’ve been visiting WDW annually for nearly 50 years and I’m confident in saying that I’ve visited the island once in the past 20 years.
The island is an operating expense and requires cast members and maintenance. There is no business in the world whether an entertainment venue or a retailer who isn’t going to pull the plug on something that the public has no interest in. Disney isn’t going to keep something in place for ambiance when it is prime real estate and allows for expansion without going outside the railroad, which comes with an entirely different set of challenges. Society caused this change, not Disney. How many kids actually even know the story of Tom Sawyer? How many people under then age of 40 could quickly answer the question as to who authored the book? I recall the fun as a child in exploring the caves. Kids today are different. The thrill of the island is no longer enough.
Everyone yells for new investment and bolder attractions, yet has a canary if anything existing is touched. Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer island will still exist at Walt’s park in Anaheim. I will greatly miss the ambiance and peace that the water brings in that area of the park with Liberty Square and Frontierland not feeling the same, but let’s be honest everyone, few if any of you actually visit Tom Sawyer Island.
I actually don’t like the idea of any expansion related to the Magic Kingdom simply because capacity is increased, yet the hub cannot handle any more volume for parades and fireworks. Expansion means those events become an even worse experience. I would prefer to focus on the areas being ignored for improvement like Stitch’s abandoned space in Tomorrowland and the Tomorrowland Speedway. I think everyone would be thrilled to see a complete reimagining of the speedway area because the theme never fit well in Tomorrowland and the sound and smell of 4-cycle Briggs & Stratton engines are anything but tomorrow. I don’t think anyone would miss the Laugh Floor or Buzz Lightyear much so it seems that a big chunk of Tomorrowland being reimagined would have been a much more popular route to go.
This is terrible news. Cars in the middle of the Haunted Mansion, Liberty Tree Tavern, the Liberty Tree itself, and other older style architecture. It’s a nice respite to walk along the boardwalk and look at the island and water, with the steamboat and HM in the distance.
Why not revamp the Speedway with something, I don’t know, maybe futuristic, instead of those smelly cars? And have that track be the segue to the new Cars land, and connect it with Toontown Fair? That makes a lot more sense to me.
In Epcot, they are expanding green space. In Magic Kingdom, they are taking it away.
Has a closing date for Tom Sawyer Island and the Riverboat been announced yet? I’m really hoping for one last chance to experience both when I’m there in October. And I’m really disappointed that anyone at Disney actually believes this is a good idea. It’s also further proof that they don’t actually care what those of us who love Disney parks think or feel.
I’m disgusted with Disney ruining everything they touch
Disappointing news at best.
Disney replacing the Rivers of America with a new attraction on pavement would be like NYC paving over Central Park for new skyscrapers. Only NYC is not that dumb.
When do we get something NEW rather than reskinning areas. Disney does everything on the cheap these days. Plus removing the water and replacing it with concrete rocks and walk ways will just make everything hotter. Will we be able to here the haunted mansion music and talk over the car noise? Why are we making out door dependent rides in Florida. Disney doesn’t think things out. Tiana’s is a disaster. Sell off DVC points fast.
Do better Disney…. Not good
I know that somewhere Walt Disney is as sad as this old Mousketeer who was 10 when the Disneyland show premiered and Walt told us about the Disneyland Park construction and, weekly, led us into the exciting world of its FOUR “lands”–Fantasy Land, Adventure Land, Tomorrow Land and….and…AND…
FRONTIER LAND.
ALL THOSE ACRES to build on, FRONTIERLAND must be destroyed!
Think I’ll go to the four-year-park-folly in Epcot and sit next to Walt and weep. And bemoan the Pass I will probably give up next spring when I’m renewable.
It’s time for Tom Sawyer Island and River to America to go they don’t have anything to do on the island anyway no attentions you just walk around a island for nothing I mean don’t get me wrong the shade is a very nice thing on their but I want more attentions.
I agree with the majority above. I see there are already petitions on change.org if you want to sign !
Todd, you’re right. Who goes to the Grand Canyon anymore. It would make a great place for high density condos.
It’s simple. First remove Frontierland.
As soon as us Original Mousekeeteers finish passing away, Classic Disney will be eradicated.
And several generations of us will join Walt, Roy and the family as we roll in our graves.