Disney World reveals closing date for Tom Sawyer Island, details on new Cars area

USA Today

03-06-2025

Disney World reveals closing date for Tom Sawyer Island, details on new Cars area
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Disney World, Disneyland to get new theme park lands and attractions
Disney announced new lands and attractions for its global theme parks at its 2024 D23 fan event, including "Monsters, Inc." and villains-themed areas.
It's time to say goodbye to an iconic piece of Walt Disney World.
On Tuesday, Disney Parks announced that Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America will close on July 7 to make way for a new "Cars"-inspired area unveiled at last August's D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
For decades, Tom Sawyer Island has offered guests a tranquil, tree-canopied respite from crowds and a cornucopia of caves and other places for kids to explore and stretch their legs. Many longtime fans have expressed sadness at their imminent loss, but newly shared details suggest similar experiences ahead.
Is Cars replacing Tom Sawyer Island?
Yes. The area is being reimagined as "Piston Peak National Park," part of Magic Kingdom's largest expansion to date.
"Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers," Disney Parks Blog posted Tuesday. "Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar 'Cars' universe."
It will be different from Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, which is set in Radiator Springs.
Disney said Imagineers will use a style of architecture developed by the Natural Park Service to blend structures into Rocky Mountain-inspired Piston Peak, and trees will serve as a natural border between an off-road rally attraction and the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square.
Can you go on Tom Sawyer Island?
Yes. Guests can take a raft to Tom Sawyer Island through its last day of operation at Magic Kingdom, July 6. That's also the last day of operation for Liberty Square Riverboat, which circles the island along the Florida park's Rivers of America.
Disneyland's Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will remain open. The California attraction was personally designed by Walt Disney and enhanced in 2007.
What's coming to Disney World in 2025: New nighttime parade, Disney Villains show and more
What's closing at Disney World in 2025?
Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close at Disney's Hollywood Studios on July 8 – just a day after Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and the Rivers of America. Guests have until July 7 to say farewell, but the Muppets will return eventually. Disney plans to reimagine Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith with a Muppets theme.
"It's Tough to be a Bug" closed at Disney's Animal Kingdom in March. It will be replaced with a new "Zootopia: Better Zoogether" show later this year.
Animal Kingdom's TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and shop Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures closed in January for the first phase of construction on a new Tropical Americas inspired land, which will eventually replace DinoLand U.S.A.