Disney Confirms Cars Expansion as Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island Close
The move marks a clear shift toward film‑based environments that will repurpose central park waterways and change Frontierland’s longtime non‑IP identity.
Overview
- Disney confirmed Saturday that it will build a Cars‑themed expansion on the footprint formerly occupied by the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island and has permanently closed the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat.
- The announcement follows earlier, confirmed rethemes in Frontierland, including the replacement of Splash Mountain with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and a 2024 reworking of Country Bear Jamboree that added songs from Disney films.
- Frontierland’s most durable element, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, closed for an extensive refurbishment in early 2025 and has been updated while remaining in place as the land’s anchor.
- Disney has also removed smaller, long‑running fixtures such as Big Al’s kiosk and Westward Ho Refreshments, reducing the land’s original atmospheric details that once supported non‑IP storytelling.
- The pattern of permanent closures and new franchise construction signals a parks strategy to prioritize recognizable IP for branding and guest draw, a change that fans say alters Frontierland’s character and that could shift guest flows, merchandise, and future development across Magic Kingdom.