David KrisoIt’s time to turn back the clock; not back to the time when steamboats ruled the Mississippi River, but when Walt Disney World first opened. It all began in 1971. Walt Disney World has been at the heart of Walt Disney’s legacy. Not just Walt’s legacy, but it too was to be the legacy of Walt’s older brother Roy Disney. Roy saw Walt’s dream though. Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom has been the crowning jewel of the park. With legendary attractions including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Country Bear Jamboree, and Splash Mountain (opened in 1992), the park was destined for greatness. Fast-forwarding to August 2024, plans were announced that the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America, and the riverboat Liberty Belle were to be replaced by a new Cars themed land. It seemed as if the magic was lost. Mixed reactions poured in. Some were angered. Some were saddened. Some felt in between. Now, Disney fans won’t have to feel either way. The newly unveiled plans have been announced. It’s time to ‘jumpstart’ the magic.
Who doesn’t like Frontierland? Who doesn’t like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the ‘wildest ride in the wilderness’? Who doesn’t like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain)? Who doesn’t like singing bears on stage at the Country Bear Jamboree? By the way, it’s a new show! If anyone hasn’t seen it, it’s a good one. Of course, the Haunted Mansion ‘lies’ opposite Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Everyone’s ‘dying’ to visit that place! The two attractions which guests are not ready to say good-bye to are the riverboat Liberty Belle and the Rivers of America. Yes, Tom Sawyer Island seemed like a tired attraction. It might be. The story of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and Becky Thatcher lives in the hearts of all readers young and old. It’ll be tough to see it go. Looking to the future, Walt Disney Imagineering has made some revisions to the plans to make the new Cars themed land fit in with the surrounding flavors of Frontierland. In the creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering, it’s all about making concepts blend together and stories fitting together. The storytelling has to blend in perfectly. Disney fans have to look closely at the superimposed rendering above, and see it for themselves.
What’s going to make the new Piston Peak National Park so special, in comparison to Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America? Of course, there will be more mountains constructed. Frontierland can never have too many mountains. Disney can never have too many mountains in its entire theme park history. The butte at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad once was Florida’s highest mountain. Now, Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has taken over the title. What will be the Piston Peak National Park mountain peaks’ claim to fame? Who knows! Disney likes to keep Disney fans of all ages and walks of life guessing. At Walt Disney Imagineering, anything is possible. At Walt Disney Imagineering, anything ‘will’ be possible.
As curious Disney fans continue to gaze at the layout of the new Piston Peak National Park, some known attractions are shown. The long-awaited Cars rally race attraction can be seen. The attraction could have replaced the Tomorrowland Raceway, but it looks just as good replacing Tom Sawyer Island. What about the Rivers of America? That’s going away, yes? Looking at the waterway on the left end of the rendering, it seems as if the waterway doesn’t go anywhere. It all of a sudden, stops. Is there something missing? If one looks a bit closer, the Liberty Belle dock has been saved. So, if the Liberty Belle dock has been saved, what does that mean? Is the Liberty Belle being re-themed to fit the flavor of Piston Peak National Park? What’s to doubt about it? One can see the amount of space to the far right end of Piston Peak National Park and nearest to the Haunted Mansion. Something has to be going there. It’s fair to believe that something magical is soon to appear. Much is yet to be unveiled. Until then, the anticipation continues to grow. At Walt Disney Imagineering, its talented team is doing more than turning heads. They’re turning ‘ears’, too.
Good-bye 1971, hello 2025! Disney has announced a new era in the history of Walt Disney World. A newly themed land is soon to take shape. A newly kindled legacy is soon to take form. The landscape at Frontierland in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is soon to be transformed. As understood, it won’t be changed for the worse. Why would Disney change things for the worse? Why would it? New, imaginative, and exciting are what Disney and Walt Disney Imagineering are all about.
Memories inspire us to move forward. Tom Sawyer Island will never be forgotten. Indeed, Tom Sawyer Island was a fun and adventurous part of Frontierland for all families. It was a place just to get lost in wilderness for a short while. From there, guests have enjoyed watching the mine trains at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad race down and around its sharp bends, curves, and caverns. Tom Sawyer Island was where many family memories were made. The Rivers of America and Liberty Belle will be missed, but something is yet to be unveiled. Riding the Liberty Belle riverboat was an experience like no other. It was like a boat ride back in time. The whole picture is yet to be uncovered. What will the new Cars rally race attraction be like? Will it be a fierce competitor to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? That’s to be discovered soon enough. The memories of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Belle will be cherished forever. With much seen and said, Piston Peak National Park is more than just a new themed land in the Magic Kingdom’s massive expansion. It’s Disney using its ‘thinking ears’. It’s Disney ‘digging a little deeper’. It’s magic jumpstarted. Most of all-it’s anticipating what’s ‘just around the riverbend’.
