In addition to sharing a closing date for Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, Walt Disney World has shared some new details about the Cars-themed expansion of Frontierland. The new area will be referred to as Piston Peak National Park. Here’s the announcement!
Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom
Cars from around the country are fueling up to be the wildest racer in the “wheelderness.” Of course, we know that fans are curious to see how the exciting new backdrop for the big rally race will fit into the waters, landscapes, and storytelling at Magic Kingdom.
Today, we are excited to share that Piston Peak National Park will continue the sweeping storytelling tradition that has crossed Liberty Square and Frontierland since opening day.
Westward Ho! Crossing into New Frontiers at Magic Kingdom
Since the early days of Magic Kingdom, adventurous guests have traveled across space and time as they pass from Liberty Square to Frontierland. Starting with architectural influences from upstate New York and colonial America in Liberty Square, before traveling to a bear-y fun concert in the North Woods, a stop by New Orleans at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and ending in the Arizona bluffs at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
At the heart of all these stories are heroic characters with a belief in themselves that helped forge a path to their dreams. To continue this journey in great American storytelling, Piston Peak National Park will be part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom.
Welcome to Piston Peak National Park
Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers. While fictional, Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the history and iconic sights of the American Frontier and its national parks.
Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar “Cars” universe. To make sure these buildings fit naturally within the surrounding majestic landscapes, Imagineers are using a style of architecture called “Parkitecture,” which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment.
From the outside, trees will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally.
This carsland attraction is the worst idea location spot. It’s going to contradict with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. While I am for a carsland ride. I think that replacing Rivers of America and the showboat is going to be the biggest money pit and won’t fit with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and frontier land and will look cramped. They should have relocated carsland to Hollywood studios. I wanted the Pixar short cars toon radiator springs 500 1/2 ride experience with Stanley the model t car along with cool pool of tranquility, taillight caverns and enchanted forest is the ATV ride I would rather have. If this atv cars ride is going to be barebones like autopia or speedway USA, I may as well go on an ATV ride in Utah desert. Also are they even going to build thunder hollow bumper cars ride based on cars 3, because if not I’m going to be very disappointed. This carsland may end up being a bigger flop than Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride. I don’t know what Disney imagineers are thinking. I feel they’re out of touch with what Disney guests want. I may as well go to Disneyland and ride the cars ride radiator springs instead.
The destruction of Walt’s vision for Disney World is very sad. Car Land should go in Hollywood Studios. The same with Villains Land. There is plenty of room in the parking lots there for expansion. But, the first mistake was replacing the beloved Splash Mountain with Tiana’s Adventure. She could have had a much better location.
If the Imagineers had any vision at all, they could shorten, but still retain Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer’s Island. However, instead of the northern loop, create a northern tributary and eastern tributary above Sawyer’s Island. The Northern tributary leads to Journey to the Center of the Earth with 20,000 Leagues while the Eastern tributary behind Haunted Mansion leading to Tiana’s, Tangled and Frozen attractions all behnd Beauty and the Beast’s castle and The Little Mermaid.
You have the land. On the northern tributary create Port Discovery as an adventurers destination with Time Racers, the Spark Gap Coaster and Fortress Explorations sitting at the foot of Journey’s volanco and cove.