Original Frontierland Erasure Continues at Disney World With New Update

Disney World’s Cars-themed transformation of Frontierland has reached another documented milestone, with a new permit filed for the installation of set elements at the future Piston Peak National Park.

The filing, dated Thursday, October 15, and first reported by WDWMAGIC, signals work on the themed scenery that will ultimately define the area. Piston Peak is rising on land once occupied by the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat, making it one of the most significant physical changes in Magic Kingdom’s 55-year history.

What the New Filing Shows

The permit identifies set-element installation as its scope, a meaningful category for a land that will rely so heavily on its surroundings. Disney’s plans call for mountain ranges, dense forest, and other national park-inspired features, much of which will depend on sculpted rockwork and themed structures.

Still, the paperwork only goes so far. It does not specify which elements are being installed, confirm progress on either attraction, or hint at an opening window. What it does suggest is that work is moving beyond the demolition, utility modifications, and reshaping of the former river and island that dominated the site over the past year.

Inside Piston Peak National Park

Disney offered its most detailed look at the land at D23 earlier this year, unveiling a model showing how Piston Peak will fit within Frontierland. Drawing on the American wilderness and the world of Cars, the area will feature snow-capped peaks, towering trees, waterfalls, rivers, and geysers.

Its buildings, including a visitor lodge and Ranger HQ, will follow “Parkitecture,” the rustic style associated with National Park Service structures. Trees and rugged terrain will also act as natural screens, separating Piston Peak from neighboring parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square.

Cars Ridge Run Rally

The land’s headline attraction will send guests on an off-road race through mountainous terrain, with snowy summits, steep descents, and geyser fields along the route. Ride vehicles are designed to respond to the landscape, while an original character, Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore, anchors the area’s story.

Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along

The second ride centers on Miss Fritter, the demolition derby champion from 2017’s Cars 3. Disney says a giant Audio-Animatronics figure, roughly the size of a school bus, will host the derby-themed experience. Neither attraction has an announced opening date.

Saying Goodbye to the Waterfront

The Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the riverboat closed permanently on July 7, 2025, more than a year ago. The river had been part of Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971, with Tom Sawyer Island following in 1973. Their removal split the fan base, with some welcoming fresh attractions and others mourning the loss of the park’s quieter, slower-paced corners.

Part of a Larger Overhaul

Piston Peak is one half of what Disney calls the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom’s history. Villains Land, planned beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, will bring two major attractions plus dining and shopping, giving the park four new rides across both projects.

Guests visiting Magic Kingdom this fall will still find construction walls across Frontierland’s former waterfront, and no opening timeline has been shared. However, the start of set-element work means the first recognizable pieces of Piston Peak’s scenery may not be far off, making the site worth watching on every return trip.

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