Disney World is about to undergo some SERIOUS change. Okay, technically, it has been undergoing change for quite some time already.
But, over in Magic Kingdom, those changes might be coming sooner than we originally thought. On July 7th, Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Belle Riverboat, and the Rivers of America will be closing forever to make way for a new Cars-themed area. To make that happen, the Walt Disney World Railroad will also have to undergo some changes.
An iconic part of Magic Kingdom will officially be closed beginning on July 7th, 2025. Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America, and the Liberty Belle Riverboat will all have their last day of operation on July 6th — so get in your last adventures while you still can. As part of these changes, the Walt Disney World Railroad will still remain operational during the construction — but with a few updates.
Rest in Peace
While construction on Frontierland continues, the Walt Disney World Railroad station in this land will be closed — but the train will still be available to take guests between the Main Street, U.S.A., and Fantasyland stations. It will operate in “shuttle mode” starting on July 7th. Instead of making the full loop around the park, the train will go back and forth between the two stations.
Walt Disney World Railroad Train
But, Disney will be swapping some of the benches on the trains around so that they face both ways instead of just one — that way, folks have an option of sitting backwards or forwards on their ride. Hopefully, this will help any folks who are prone to motion sickness when riding backward!
Train!
So, what’s coming to this Cars-themed area — Piston Peak? Guests can look forward to two NEW Cars attractions! Get ready to race through the mountains on wild terrain along mountain trails as you dodge geysers and splash through mud holes. We also know that there will be new food and beverage options, new characters, and a whole lot more.
Cars Area Concept Art ©Disney
Please also be aware that Frontierland’s Big Thunder Mountain closed on January 6th, 2025, and won’t reopen until 2026. The ride will return, however, and will even do so with “with a little bit of new magic,” accordingly to Disney. This closure may also be intended to accommodate construction on Villains Land, another major expansion that is in the works for Magic Kingdom.
©Disney
We can’t WAIT to learn more about the new Cars area coming to Magic Kingdom. Piston Peak will certainly add something new to this iconic park! We’ll be on the lookout for more updates on this new area, so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more.
EVERYTHING We Know About Cars Area Coming to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
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The poor WDW railroad seems like it’s closed more than open during recent years due to construction. It just seemed like there was excitement with it reopening when Tron was completed, but here we go again. I realize it’s unavoidable, but it will be nice to get beyond these projects so the train can stop being impacted.
I’m glad they’re not shutting it down completely. The RR is one of our favorite relaxation spots in MK!
We were in the MK last week. I use an ECV, and, in the past, there was a car just behind the tender that would accommodate my ECV when we wanted to take it along, and not return to the same station.
Last week, we tried to board in Fantasyland with a Frontierland destination and were told they no longer took ECVs on that special car. It was a disappointment.