More permanent closures are looming in Disney World.

So far, the first closure phase of DinoLand U.S.A., has already taken place in January of this year. In March, It’s Tough to Be Bug! will close its doors to be re-themed to a Zootopia show opening this Winter. Starting in May and going into June, Muppets Courtyard will undergo a phased permanent closure.

While a closing date has yet to be announced, multiple attractions in Magic Kingdom will have to close to make way for the new Cars expansion. 

In August of 2024, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it was revealed that a new Cars area would be coming to Magic Kingdom. Many assumed that this new area would lie “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” along with the newly announced Villains Land. Well, one day later, Disney revealed that Cars would actually be taking over part of Frontierland, and the concept art left people shocked. 

In order to accommodate this new expansion, which will include two rides, multiple parts of Frontierland will be permanently closed. Disney has yet to announce when these closures will start, but they did say that construction on the new project will begin in 2025. Here is everything that is expected to close this year to accommodate Cars in Frontierland. 

The Rivers of America

Based on the concept art, parts if not all of The Rivers of America will be drained and paved over, adding more land for the expansion. While taking away the water will drastically change the look of Frontierland as a whole, it does make the most sense. It would be a logistical and crowd nightmare trying to transport people to a new area of the park that is going to be popular when it first opens. 

The Liberty Square Riverboat

The Liberty Square Riverboat is a staple of both Liberty Square and Frontierland and is absolutely stunning at night when it is all lit up. Unfortunately, the boat sails in the Rivers of America, and since the water is being drained, there will be nowhere for the boat to sail, which means it will permanently close.

Tom Sawyer Island Rafts

It is not only the riverboat that sails in the rivers of America, but the Tom Sawyer Island rafts do, too. These rafts are used to transport people back and forth from the mainland of Frontierland all the way to Tom Sawyer Island. Since the river is being paved over, those wanting to visit the Cars expansion will simply be able to walk rather than take a raft over. 

Filling in the Rivers of America and closing the raft transportation opens up more walking paths between Liberty Square and Frontierland, as the concept art shows a potential walkway near Haunted Mansion over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. 

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island is a hidden gem of the Magic Kingdom. There are hidden caves, fun bridges, a fort, and scenic views. The entire island will close to make way for the new expansion, and as we mentioned, since the water is being drained and paved over, there will be more land in addition to the land that is currently allocated to Tom Sawyer Island. 

Aunt Polly’s

Now we know that Aunt Polly’s has not been open in years, but this quick service location will officially close for good when Tom Sawyer Island closes. When it was in operation full-time or seasonally, it was a great place to grab a bite to eat and escape the crowds in the Magic Kingdom. Until Tom Sawyer Island officially closes, you can grab a Coke out of the vending machine near Aunt Polly’s for about $8.

While these looming permanent closures can be sad, there is so much to look forward to in the future! To stay up to date on all the latest Disney news, stay tuned with us here at the Disney Food Blog!

All the NEW Rides and Attractions at Disney World in 2025 and Beyond

What are your thoughts about these closures? Let us know in the comments!

The post Everything That Has to Permanently Close to Make Way for the ‘Cars’ Expansion in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.