As you can imagine, the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event dropped some massive Disney parks news and left us shook!

I mean, we were all “ready” and waiting for the Horizons — Disney Experiences Showcase on August 10th, but truthfully, we weren’t ready. But instead of recapping everything that went down, we want to focus on Magic Kingdom right now as it got a LOT of announcements. We found out about projects like the new nighttime parade, Villains Land, and even Cars Land and they’re all coming to Magic Kingdom sooner than you think! Speaking of the Cars Land, once we found out about where it would be located, you could say that Disney fans are quite divided on the HUGE Frontierland overhaul that’s a coming!

So, just to catch us all up to speed, Disney did officially announce where the brand-news Cars land will be located in Magic Kingdom.

Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America and will be transformed into this brand-new land coming to the park. That means that Cars land will be located in Frontierland and that makes sense as Disney will, and I quote, “put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland.” We tried to figure out the exact location by zooming into current Magic Kingdom map and comparing it to the concept art released by Disney. We circled with a red line where we expect the new Cars area to be.

As further confirmation, there is this one building near the bottom of the concept art that looks a lot like the current Liberty Square Riverboat building.

Moving right along, the new Cars Land in Magic Kingdom will include have two Cars attractions. The first one will have us racing through the mountains and along wild terrains, all while trying to dodge geysers and splashing through mud holes.

And the second attraction will be more family-friendly (more appropriate for our smaller racers).

So, as we were saying, all these announcements have DEFINITELY sparked some emotions in Disney fans and left many divided. For example, DFB reader @masenmotivates shared, “Turning Tomorrowland Speedway into a Cars themed space makes a lot more sense to me.”

@dradisney shared the same sentiments and expanded them with, “So many problems. First: Cars theme doesn’t fit at Frontierland TIMELINE. Second: With so many land available, why not beyond Thunder Mountain? Third: why not place the cars rally at tomorrow land, where tomorrow land speed way is? Don’t tell me we will get a new brand rally attraction but speedway will still remain on TOMORROW land? Tomorrow land wasn’t suppose to bring the freshness of tomorrow? Why place race cars in a time where there were horses, wagons and nostalgia? Where is the Magic Kingdom that doesn’t mix storylines and has an underground tunnel made initially to don’t mess with the immersion? Why not place this in Hollywood Studios?”

@vincent_devecchis agreed with, “This is gonna ruin a thematic cohesion of the land. You’re gonna walk out of haunted mansion and boom there’s gonna be talking cars plus the river area kind of cools down the park. If it’s just cement it’s gonna get super hot.” I’m sure that is something that Disney will have to consider as that river does naturally help cool down that side of the park.

Then @letsplayschool shared, “Super sad about what’s being replaced and taken away. Excited for the new – just wish it wasn’t taking away such classics…. ”. That’s always the unfortunate thing about projects like this — something old tends to give way for something new.

Lastly, we have @anthonynunzioviscuse who shared, “This is horrible. Walt not only enjoyed but intended for areas of the park to be passive enjoyment. He loved the west. He loved the stories of America. Tom Sawyer island is a much needed “respite” from the crowds and stimulation of the works themselves. It’s a quiet reflection and place to spend some family time. It’s also a huge piece of living history in the Magic Kingdom. That matters. It isn’t just an add on to the Disney World experience, it IS Disney world. On a personal note, my wife and I said our vows in a cavern of Tom Sawyer island and it means so much to us to be able to take our children to a beautiful, nature filled nostalgic area that I myself grew up visiting with my father. I’m so sad about this.”

We do know that the construction on this new land is to begin in early 2025, so if you would like to take one more trip on The Rivers of America or explore all the goodness of Tom Sawyer Island one last time, the clock is ticking!

We’ll be watching for more details as this new project begins at Magic Kingdom and all the other new projects around the Disney World parks. Keep following DFB for all the latest Disney news!

NEWS: Disney Files First Permit for Tom Sawyer Island Cars Land Transformation at Magic Kingdom

What are your thoughts on the new Cars Land in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!

The post “So Many Problems.” Disney Fans Are DIVIDED On Magic Kingdom’s HUGE Frontierland Overhaul first appeared on the disney food blog.