Walt Disney World is officially in the fast lane toward the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom's history. At the massive D23 fan event, Disney finally pulled back the curtain on the highly anticipated Cars-themed expansion coming to Frontierland.
Officially titled Piston Peak National Park, this immersive new land will invite guests to leave Radiator Springs behind and venture into the rugged, beautiful “wheelderness.” With brand-new concept art, ride names, and construction already underway, here is everything you need to know about the next era of Magic Kingdom!
Designing the “Wheelderness”
A major question surrounding the initial announcement was how a world of talking cars would fit into Frontierland's rustic, historic aesthetic. The answer lies in the grand tradition of the great American outdoors.
Taking its name from the fictional park in the animated film Planes: Fire & Rescue, Piston Peak National Park draws heavy visual inspiration from iconic real-world locations like the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. Walt Disney Imagineers are utilizing “Parkitecture”—a rustic design style originally created by the National Park Service. However, since this land is built by cars and for cars, guests will notice clever “car-ified” details, including widened entrances, lower windows for vehicular sightlines, and wagon wheels built directly into the structures.
In a fantastic display of park synergy, the geothermal activity from the neighboring Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch right into Piston Peak, culminating in the land’s signature erupting geyser, playfully named “Old Tankfull.”
Two Thrilling New Attractions
The true highlight of the D23 presentation was the official reveal of the two brand-new rides coming to Piston Peak National Park.
Cars Ridge Run Rally The land’s headlining E-ticket attraction is the exhilarating Cars Ridge Run Rally. Disney invites guests on a high-speed off-road quest to find the “wildest racer in the wheelderness.”
- The Route: Racers will embark on a steep, rugged climb up the mountain trails, eventually reaching a frosty, snow-covered summit.
- The Descent: After braving the icy peaks, vehicles will plunge downward through a thrilling, stomach-dropping camelback descent.
- The Finale: For the grand finale, racers will weave through an active geyser field, circle the erupting “Old Tankfull,” and sprint to the finish line where Lightning McQueen and Mater are covering the action live for the Racing Sports Network.
Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along: For families with younger guests, the land will also feature Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along. This highly entertaining flat ride is themed entirely around Miss Fritter, the fearsome, undefeated demolition derby queen from Cars 3. Guests will enter her “wildest demolition derby yet,” hosted by a massive, school-bus-sized Miss Fritter animatronic!
Paving the Way for the Future
To bring this unprecedented expansion to life, the landscape of the Magic Kingdom is already changing. The iconic Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are already permanently closed to the public. Construction crews have moved in to begin clearing the way for Piston Peak's towering mountains.
While it is bittersweet to say goodbye to these opening-day classics, they are paving the way for a spectacular future. Between the off-road thrills of Piston Peak National Park and the delightfully twisted Disney Villains land being developed just beyond Big Thunder Mountain, Magic Kingdom is gearing up for a truly unforgettable new chapter.
Buckle up, because the “wheelderness” awaits!
