Tom Sawyer Island & Rivers of America are Being Reimagined

This past weekend at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed exciting new details about what’s coming to Walt Disney World. In addition to getting up close and personal with monsters and villains, soon you’ll be able to explore the uncharted territory of the great outdoors with an expansion in Frontierland themed around Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars.”

It’s time to leave Radiator Springs and head west into exciting new locations. To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.

“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,” shared Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “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. Anytime we touch Magic Kingdom, we recognize the massive responsibility that exists to get it right and tell stories that connect with our guests.”

The new area will bring you along for the ride (pun intended) with a brand-new thrilling rally race through the mountains, climbing trails, and dodging geysers, in addition to a second attraction geared towards fun for the whole family.

Ahead of work revving into high gear next year, guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.

And cruising just around the bend, guests will be able to venture Beyond Big Thunder Mountain into an all-new land dedicated to Disney Villains. Inspired by the wicked characters fans know and loathe, the multi-acre expansion will include two major attractions, plus dining and shopping. Walt Disney Imagineering is pushing creative boundaries to dark and mysterious levels to bring this new, first-of-its-kind land to life.

Together, these new additions to Magic Kingdom will represent the largest expansion in park history.

But that’s not all happening at The Most Magical Place on Earth. During Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, Josh revealed additional attractions and enhancements coming soon to Disney World.

Monsters, Inc. Land – It’s laughter they’re after when a new space dedicated to Sulley, Mike, and all the other scarers jokesters arrive at Hollywood Studios.

Reimagined Test Track presented by Chevrolet – Racing into EPCOT in 2025, the attraction will open celebrating the past, present, and future of automation.

Tropical Americas — Get ready to explore a new corner of Disney’s Animal Kingdom when two new attractions open, themed around Indiana Jones and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”

New Nighttime Parade – Coming in 2025 to Main Street, U.S.A., Magic Kingdom will premiere a brand new nighttime spectacular!

Two New Lounge Spaces — Coming in 2025, a new Pirates Lounge and Spaceship Earth lounge will open in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, respectively.