Rumor: Beloved Disneyland Attraction Coming to ‘Beyond Big Thunder’ at Magic Kingdom

Disney insider Scott Gustin reported last week that the Walt Disney Company is in the process of filing permits to begin work on expanding the Magic Kingdom. The water permits will be filed “in the coming weeks” for a project that Disney Imagineering calls “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain.”

Related: Disney FINALLY Moving Forward With Magic Kingdom Expansion

This project first emerged last September at the D23 Expo. Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Josh D’Amaro and Disney’s Chief Creative Officer and Co-lead of Walt Disney Imagineering Bruce Vaughn teased what they called the “largest Magic Kingdom expansion” ever.

Once the project was announced and appeared to be moving forward, Disney fans began to openly wonder about what the expansion would hold. The immediate hope went to a villain’s land for the Magic Kingdom.

Last year, Imagineer Chris Beatty told Entertainment Weekly at the opening of Tron: Lightcycle/Run that Disney took note of the applause that a possible Villains Land received at last year’s D23 and that they were working on something that fans would enjoy.

A new rumor is dashing those hopes. But fear not, Disney fans will be happy with what is potentially coming to the Magic Kingdom expansion.

According to a new report, a modified version of the Radiator Springs Racers from Disney’s California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort will be coming to the Walt Disney World Resort. The Radiator Springs Racers will be part of the Magic Kingdom expansion in the area beyond the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The addition of the California Adventure ride makes sense, given the location in the park. The ride has the same southwest look that fits Frontierland and Big Thunder Mountain.

At Disneyland, Radiator Springs Racers is located in Cars Land and has been a fan-favorite since it opened in 2012. There has been no indication if an entire Cars Land is coming to the Magic Kingdom or if it will just be the Radiator Springs Racers attraction.

.@WaltDisneyWorld – RUMOUR: Modified Version of Radiator Springs Racers Coming to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom https://t.co/uuT2GPUT4J#WaltDisneyWorldResort #WaltDisneyWorld #WDW #MagicKingdom #DisTwitter pic.twitter.com/giL2eDE2kP

— Orlando Theme Park Zone (@OTPZ_TP) April 9, 2024

With D’Amaro and Disney CEO Bob Iger promising guests the “largest” expansion in the Magic Kingdom’s history, there has to be more to come than this one ride, and there has to be something new for Disney fans. Bringing Radiator Springs Racers to the Magic Kingdom means that this is the second Disneyland attraction coming to Walt Disney World, joining Indiana Jones Adventures, which will replace Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

So, we will see what else D’Amaro and Iger have planned for the Walt Disney World Resort and what new attractions they have in mind for Disney fans.

What do you think of Radiator Springs Racers coming to Disney World? Let us know in the comments.