Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America closing July 7; ‘Cars’ rides coming to Magic Kingdom
Two attractions themed to Pixar’s “Cars” will replace Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom. Those classic Magic Kingdom attractions will close permanently on July 7, 2025, as shared with Attractions Magazine by Disney.
Last updated June 3, 2025; original version published Aug. 12, 2024.
The basics: ‘Cars’ coming to Magic Kingdom
Kachow! Guests at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World will encounter new frontiers when two “Cars” attractions open in the Orlando park’s Frontierland, replacing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America.
Artwork courtesy of Disney
Artwork courtesy of Disney
Disney announced the “Cars” attractions for Magic Kingdom during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event on Aug. 10, 2024.
On June 3, 2025, Disney announced the official closing date of July 7, 2025 for Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Belle Riverboat; meaning the final operating day for those attractions is July 6, 2025.
Additionally, beginning July 7, the Walt Disney World Railroad route will only provide service between its Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland stations. Once the “Cars” construction project is complete in several years, the railroad will continue its full-circle tour around Magic Kingdom.
Two new ‘Cars’ rides
The “Cars” replacement of Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom will comprise two rides:
One attraction will invite you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains. Take on wild terrain as you race across the landscape climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers, and — Mater’s favorite — splashing through mudholes.
But what about smaller racers? The second attraction will be geared toward them and will be fun for the whole family.
Chris Beatty, portfolio executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, August 2024
Lightning McQueen and Mater will appear as Audio-Animatronics figures in the finale of the thrill attraction.
Aesthetically, the new area is inspired by the real-life Rocky Mountains. Imagineers also found inspiration in established Disney locales such as Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (at Walt Disney World), Camp Woodchuck (at Tokyo Disneyland), Grizzly Peak (at Disney California Adventure) and Piston Peak (from the 2014 film “Planes: Fire & Rescue”). In fact, though Disney is not directly building the exact location from the “Planes” spin-off, the setting at Magic Kingdom will borrow the Piston Peak name from that movie.
Also borrowed from Disney history: Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore, a newly created car version of Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore, an obscure character who pokes after Humphrey the Bear in a handful of vintage Disney cartoons. Woodlore will appear as an Audio-Animatronics figure in the queue for Frontierland’s “Cars” thrill ride.
So, is Disney building Cars Land in Florida?
No. The “Cars” attractions coming to Magic Kingdom will not be the same as what currently exists in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. Whereas Cars Land depicts Radiator Springs — complete with Radiator Springs Racers, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters — the new Magic Kingdom project will depict the new frontiers outside of Radiator Springs’ town lines.
We’ll allow Mater and Josh D’Amaro (chairman of Disney Experiences) to explain further in this video from D23 2024:
When are Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America closing?
Tom Sawyer Island and its surrounding Rivers of America (along with the Liberty Belle Riverboat gliding along the river) will permanently close on July 7, 2025, at Magic Kingdom as Disney prepares to build the new “Cars” attractions. The last operating day for Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Belle Riverboat is July 6.
Tom Sawyer Island — with its wooded pathways, winding caves, and semi-hidden play structures meant to be discovered rather than planned for — embodies the youthful spirit of its titular character from Mark Twain’s books. The island itself has been in place since Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, though it was not accessible to guests until 1973.
The Liberty Belle Riverboat likewise opened in 1973, initially called the Richard F. Irvine Riverboat in honor of a Disney executive. The slow-moving paddle wheeler glides along a hidden track around Tom Sawyer Island. In 2009, the boat was utilized as a mobile stage for the temporary “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!” production.
“Part of pioneering this new story includes tapping into the themes of exploration and adventure that inspire so many of us to keep propelling forward,” said Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World portfolio executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, in 2024. “Anytime we touch Magic Kingdom, we recognize the massive responsibility that exists to get it right and tell stories that connect with our guests.”
Tom Sawyer Island also exists at Disneyland in California, with no plans of closing there. The west coast version of the attraction features a permanent “Pirates of the Caribbean” overlay on top of the Tom Sawyer theming, along with its own circling riverboat plus the Sailing Ship Columbia. The island also serves double duty as the stage for Disneyland’s version of “Fantasmic!”
When are the ‘Cars’ rides opening at Magic Kingdom?
Disney has not revealed an opening timeframe for the “Cars” rides at Magic Kingdom.
Where will the new ‘Cars’ rides will fit within Magic Kingdom?
Using the concept art and aerial photography by bioreconstruct, we can get an idea of how Disney might situate the “Cars” attractions within Frontierland in contrast to what we’re used to with Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. In the photo below from 2019, Fantasyland and Haunted Mansion are at left; Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are at center; and the undeveloped future home of Villains Land is at the bottom.
Now let’s compare this to Disney’s concept artwork for the “Cars” rides coming to Magic Kingdom.
In the images below, at left are Country Bear Musical Jamboree and Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn & Café. It seems this existing thoroughfare of Frontierland will remain in tact, with newly planted trees and a water feature separating it from the “Cars” attractions.
A new pathway will connect Liberty Square to the park’s new “Cars” attractions. The new pathway from Liberty Square will begin near what is currently the dock for Liberty Belle Riverboat, continue past Haunted Mansion, and travel toward the promenade near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. A jutting pathway from that point will assumedly lead to Villains Land.
The “Cars” rides will open at Magic Kingdom in addition to Villains Land, which Disney also announced at D23 2024. Disney will build Villains Land “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” in an area of currently undeveloped land. Villains Land will contain two unannounced attractions. Together, the “Cars” attractions and Villains Land represent Magic Kingdom’s largest construction project since the park opened in 1971.
Frontierland and its surrounding area has been a busy part of the park lately. In summer 2024, the land welcomed both Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (the log flume replacement of Splash Mountain themed to “The Princess and the Frog”) and the revamped Country Bear Musical Jamboree (now with Disney songs) to its roster of attractions.
‘Cars’ in Disney theme parks
The “Cars” project at Magic Kingdom is far from Imagineering’s first experience with the Pixar franchise. Disney has built many “Cars” attractions over the years. Most significant among them is Cars Land, which opened in 2012 as the anchor of a multi-year transformation of Disney California Adventure. The signature attraction of Cars Land is Radiator Springs Racers.
In 2019, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. Throughout the small-scale show, McQueen taught audience members how to be a real racer. The show closed in 2024, replaced by “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” in 2025.
Walt Disney World also offers “Cars”-themed suites as part of its Art of Animation Resort, complete with a mini-Radiator Springs of its own.
Lightning McQueen formerly appeared in the now-defunct “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The show closed in 2016 to make way for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Walt Disney Studios Park (soon to be renamed Disney Adventure World) at Disneyland Paris features Cars Road Trip, a revamp of what was formerly that park’s Backlot Tour attraction with Catastrophe Canyon.
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What a terrible choice… Cars doesn’t match there at all. Such a shame to ruin the most natural part of the park. Just give the island an update, they can even put IP into it. But now they are just making a mess. Epic mistake…