Cars Area at Magic Kingdom (Everything We Know About The Frontierland Expansion)

The super popular Cars franchise will soon be making its way into Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. While it won’t be a full Cars Land like what you can find at Disney’s California Adventure, there will still be 2 brand-new attractions for guests to enjoy.

In this post, we’ll keep track of everything we know about this project. From permits to construction to opening day, we’ll gather the details so we can *all* follow the progress as we watch the transformation take place!

Here’s everything we know so far about the Cars Area and Frontierland Expansion at Magic Kingdom:

What we know so far

Disney put on one heck of a show at the 2024 D23 Expo, and they definitely far exceeded our expectations. In particular, the announcements from the Parks and Experiences Panel blew us away – including the surprising news that Disney was bringing not one but two Cars-themed attractions to Magic Kingdom.

One of the proposed attractions is a more thrilling rally race through the mountains, but Disney knows how near and dear to the hearts of little ones Cars is, so they are committed to ensuring the second attraction will be suitable for the whole family.

Where are the Cars attractions going at Magic Kingdom?

So, just where are these new attractions going to go at Magic Kingdom? Well, Disney has confirmed that the attractions will be going smack-dab where the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are located.

Now, take a deep breath because we know that it can be tough when big changes like this happen. We feel it, too.

Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat have been cherished parts of Magic Kingdom since the park’s early days, both offering guests a nostalgic journey through America’s frontier history.

However, with the exciting announcement at the 2024 D23 Expo, these beloved attractions are set to undergo a significant transformation to make way for a thrilling new Cars-themed expansion. “We are thrilled to create this original Cars adventure and put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland,” said Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Rivers of America will be drained and filled in and both it and Tom Sawyer Island will be reimagined as rugged terrains for a high-speed rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.

So, even though we’re definitely sad to see these quaint nods to days gone by removed, we understand why it’s happening: they occupy a large chunk of space, but they just aren’t ever busy. At all.

Compare that to the spaces around the other 2 attractions back in that corner.

The area around Big Thunder Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is often super crowded with multiple bottlenecks, making it extremely difficult to navigate (especially if you have a stroller or ECV). Plus, the pathways all dead-end at Big Thunder Mountain, which is terrible for traffic flow.

Cars Area Map

Disney has put out some concept art that gives us a good idea as to how things will look:

Current View:

Here’s how things look currently. We’ve identified the major attractions to help you get oriented.

Concept Art:

The concept art shows that, in addition to the new attractions, a new walkway will be added that appears to connect from back by Big Thunder Mountain to an area near Haunted Mansion, creating a second way to access that part of Frontierland—something that is definitely needed.

So while it can be difficult to see such dramatic changes, we’re more than willing to be okay with it if it means a better overall experience for guests.

Opening Date

We don’t have any official opening date yet for these new attractions, but if we had to speculate we’d say because of the construction necessary to make this all happen, it will definitely be at least a few years.

Plus, don’t forget that “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” we’ll also be getting an entirely new Villains-themed land, too.

That means we’ll likely be living with a lot of construction at the back of the park around Frontierland for a while.

And yes, this all really IS happening and Disney has confirmed that construction will kick off in early 2025.

Attractions

The expansion of Frontierland will include two “Cars”-themed attractions designed to bring the spirit of the American West into Frontierland.

Here’s what we know so far:

Rally race style attraction (Name TBD)

The first attraction announced will be a rally race through rugged mountain terrain, where guests will navigate wild landscapes, climb trails, and dodge geysers.

We know the most so far about this attraction, with Disney releasing 3 pieces of art:

The rock work is very reminiscent of the rocks around Big Thunder, and we’d expect nothing less than Disney Imagineering seamlessly integrating this addition into the area:

Family-friendly ride (Name TBD)

We know very little about the second attraction, aside that it will be designed for younger guests and offer fun for the whole family. Like you, we’re anxious to hear more!

Cars at Magic Kingdom (Frontierland Expansion) Updates

Want to see the timeline for when everything we know so far has happened? Here’s a look back at all the news related to bringing Cars to Magic Kingdom:

August 12, 2024 – Cars Area Location Revealed

While there was a lot of speculation where the new Cars Area would be located, Disney shut that down right away by kicking off the week after the D23 Expo with the big location reveal…and we have to say we were a little bit shocked, even though it does seem to make perfect sense. Drum roll…..

The new Cars area will be located where Tom Sawyer’s Island and the Rivers of America are currently located.

Definitely a big change!

August 10, 2024 – Cars Area Project Announced at the D23 Expo

At the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced a new area inspired by the Pixar film “Cars” coming to a reimagined section of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. The project will include two “Cars”-themed attractions designed to bring the spirit of the American West into Frontierland.

“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,” D’Amaro stated during the event.