31-07-2025
Fans slam Disney World for 'tearing apart' Magic Kingdom as beloved landmark undergoes shocking transformation
Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is in the middle of a big transformation, and one of its most nostalgic areas is at the center of it.
This week, guests witnessed the visible draining of Rivers of America - marking the beginning of a permanent change to a section of the park that has been largely untouched for decades.
What was once a pretty quiet corner of Liberty Square and Frontierland is now becoming a construction zone - and some fans are not happy about it.
The Rivers of America, along with the Liberty Square Riverboat ride and Tom Sawyer Island, are being retired to make room for a new Cars-themed land.
This immersive area will introduce two new attractions: a high-speed off-road rally ride designed and a family-friendly indoor adventure set in a rustic lodge.
The company explained that the new area will be called Piston Peak National Park and described it as an 'awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers.'
But the exciting addition also mean the loss of some of Magic Kingdom's most iconic and tranquil experiences.
The Liberty Belle Riverboat was one of the park's original opening-day attractions, and Tom Sawyer Island offered families a quiet escape from the crowds and screen-based attractions.
Disney World's Magic Kingdom has begun draining the Rivers of America, a quiet corner that previously housed serene rides, to make way for the new Cars-themed land
As pictured of the drainage were shared on social media, one seen here, many Disney fans shared their outrage
Currently, construction walls are in place and phased demolition has begun.
The full build-out is expected to take a few years, with an estimated opening window around 2028.
The project will require a complete overhaul of the area's infrastructure, including new plumbing and the removal of the river system that once gave the area its charm.
The changing view from Liberty Square - absent of riverboat reflections and quiet waters and replaced with construction walls - signals the end of an era for some visitors.
Many avid Disney fans were left unsettled by the start of the construction, and took to social media to share their heartbreak.
'Just plain wrong,' one fan wrote in response to pictures of the Rivers of America being drained.
'Nature being wiped out by industrial ugh it's just like real life whyyyyy,' another added.
'This probably shouldn't be making me as sad as it is, right?' someone else asked.
The company explained that the new area will be called Piston Peak National Park and described it as an 'awe-inspiring wilderness filled with mountains and breathtaking waterfalls'
'I hate Disney now. Used to be my favorite place. Haven't been in years. No plan to ever go back,' a fourth tweet read.
The new Cars land is only one of the many changes coming to Disney.
There's also an area inspired by the Disney villains in the works at Magic Kingdom.
In addition, an Encanto river ride, an Indiana Jones attraction, and a Zootopia show are all set to come to Animal Kingdom in the upcoming years.
Over in Hollywood Studios, a new Monsters Inc. land will replace Muppets Courtyard, and it's set to have a suspended rollercoaster that will put riders 'right in the middle of the monster action.'
But the all the new stuff has meant that a slew of beloved rides and areas have been forced to close. In addition to the River of Americas, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Square Riverboat ride, the Dinosaur ride, and Muppet*Vision 3D are all closing or have already closed, leaving many die-hard Disney fans outraged.
All the updates comes as Universal Studios' executives continues to tease expansions to its brand new theme park Epic Universe, which opened in May 2025.
