Well, friends…even though Lightning McQueen is leaving Hollywood Studios, you’ll see him in a Disney World park again.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
You see, the Cars are coming to Magic Kingdom! The park will start to prepare for the recently announced Cars expansion SOON, with work slated to begin in early 2025. And we’re chatting about exactly where those Cars will be parking themselves in Magic Kingdom.
The Cars are coming to Frontierland! They’re leaving Radiator Springs to explore the West and head into new frontiers. When making the announcement about this new Magic Kingdom area, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared that “The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city.”
If you’ve previously explored Frontierland, then you’ll know it as home to major attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the recently reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
You may have even grabbed some vittles from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café or moseyed on over to Westward Ho to grab some bacon on a stick (because… BACON)! Yeah… there’s already a lot going on in Frontierland. And so it’s been decided that some room needs to be made for the TWO new Cars attractions that will make up this expansion.
Disney did not wait too long after making the initial announcement on August 10th, 2024 to reveal exactly where the new Cars attractions will be going. On August 12th, 2024, Disney confirmed that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into this brand-new area coming to the park. Disney wrote that this placement will “put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland.”
The Rivers of America
In looking at the current Magic Kingdom map and based on Disney’s announcement and the concept art, the red line in the image below indicates where we expect the new Cars area to be.
Map of where the new Cars area will be
Construction on this new area in Frontierland will begin early in 2025. That is also when the existing Liberty Square Riverboat (which sails down the Rivers of America) and Tom Sawyer Island will close to accommodate construction.
Upon completion, guests can look forward to two NEW Cars rides! Get ready to race through the mountains on wild terrain along mountain trails as you dodge geysers and splash through mud holes in a major new attraction.
Cars Area Concept Art ©Disney
Disney shared that the second ride will be geared toward “smaller racers” and will be fun for the whole family!
©Disney
While we’re on the topic of Frontierland… did you know that Disney is also expanding Magic Kingdom BEYOND Big Thunder Mountain?? In August 2024, Disney also officially announced that Magic Kingdom is expanding the theme park with a brand new Villains Land! TWO major attractions, along with new dining and shopping experiences will be presented “on an incredibly twisted grand scale,” according to Disney.
Explore everything coming to Villains Land HERE!
And that’s just one of many more HUGE projects that Disney has recently announced. You can learn about ALL of the major changes coming to Disney parks in our DFB YouTube video…
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I keep having to remind every Disney site that the MK ALREADY HAS A CAR RIDE ATTRACTION- THE SPEEDWAY, which has been in operation in Tomorrowland since 1971, under different names, starting with the Grand Prix Raceway. Also, the Rivers of America is the heart of Frontierland! Removing it, along with three Liberty Belle and TSI, would kill this Land! Besides, the proposed ride violates it’s theming. Also, THERE WERE NO AUTOMOBILES IN THE WILD WEST! For all these reasons, the CARS project belongs in TOMORROWLAND, NOT FRONTIERLAND! The Speedway is in need of a major renovation. For instance, it’s noisy, stinky gas engines need to be replaced. The Cars overlay is just what this 53 year old attraction needs. WDI would need to adjust the concept, so it fits into the large footprint the Speedway covers.