Now Reading: Cars Land at Disney World: Piston Peak National Park Explained
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Cars Land at Disney World: Piston Peak National Park Explained
Cars Land at Disney World: Piston Peak National Park Explained
Disney World is getting a Cars land, and it is not a copy of the one in California. It is called Piston Peak National Park, it sits in Frontierland, and Disney says it is part of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom’s history.
What it replaced
Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat. All three are permanently closed and already gone.
That is worth saying plainly because a lot of visitors still arrive expecting them. If those were on your list, they are not coming back.
The theme
An American national park, rendered in the heavy timber and stone “Parkitecture” style you would recognise from Yellowstone or Yosemite lodges. It is a deliberate bridge between Frontierland’s existing look and a Cars land, which is a harder join than it sounds.
The two rides
Cars Ridge Run Rally
An off-road racing attraction. The detail Disney led with is that the vehicles have tyres and suspension that physically react to the terrain rather than following a fixed track motion.
The route climbs the mountain, runs through a geyser field with water effects, then finishes with a sprint past Lightning McQueen and Mater.
Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along
A demolition derby, built around a school-bus-sized Audio-Animatronic of Miss Fritter. Miss Fritter is the school bus from Cars 3, and at that scale she is likely to be the visual centrepiece of the land.
This reads as the family-friendly half of the pair, though no height requirements have been announced for either ride.
What is not confirmed
- No opening date. Construction is active but Disney has not committed to a year publicly.
- No height requirements.
- No dining or shopping detail.
What it means for a trip now
Frontierland is a building site and will be for years. Expect construction walls, rerouted walkways and more noise than that part of the park used to have.
The Frontierland train station is also closed. The Walt Disney World Railroad itself is closed for refurbishment from 28 September 2026 and due back in November 2026, according to Disney, and when it reopens it runs only between Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland. Right now the whole railroad is closed for refurbishment from 28 September 2026 and due back in November 2026, according to Disney.
Magic Kingdom is getting Villains Land as well, so this is two major builds in one park at once.
See the Magic Kingdom guide for planning around it, and the D23 2026 round-up for the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Disney World getting a Cars Land?
Yes. It is called Piston Peak National Park and it is going into Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, on the site of the former Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat. Disney says it is part of the largest expansion in the park’s history.
What rides are in Piston Peak National Park?
Two were confirmed at D23 2026. Cars Ridge Run Rally is an off-road racing attraction whose vehicles have tyres and suspension that physically react to the terrain. Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along is a demolition derby featuring a school-bus-sized Audio-Animatronic of Miss Fritter.
When does Cars Land open at Disney World?
No opening date has been announced. Construction is active in Frontierland but Disney has not publicly committed to a year.
What happened to Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island?
Both are permanently closed, along with the Liberty Square Riverboat, to make room for Piston Peak National Park. They are already gone and are not returning.
Is Piston Peak the same as Cars Land in California?
No. Disney California Adventure has a separate Cars Land themed on Radiator Springs. Piston Peak National Park is a different concept, themed on an American national park, with its own attractions.
