BAY LAKE, Fla. – It’s the final countdown.
Magic Kingdom’s Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America, and the Liberty Square Riverboat will close permanently on July 7 to make way for the new “Cars” area coming to Frontierland.
Rivers of America was part of the Magic Kingdom’s opening attractions in May 1971 and flows along Liberty Square and Frontierland. Rivers of America was the home of the Mike Fink Keel Boats attraction. The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes attraction and the Liberty Belle Riverboat opened in October 1971.
Tom Sawyer Island, opened in 1973, is an artificial island set in Rivers of America that features a mine, a cave, a frontier fort, and trails all inspired by the stories of Mark Twain. It’s accessible by a log raft.
[Cruise around Tom Sawyer Island in the video below]
The closures will make way for Piston Peak National Park — inspired by the Rocky Mountain area, the American Frontier, and its national parks — where guests will be able to explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails, and more, according to Disney Parks Blog.
“Don’t get too comfortable in Radiator Springs because it’s time to leave the pit stop and head west into exciting new frontiers. On this adventure, guests will be able to experience not one but two exciting new ‘Cars’-themed attractions,” Disney said.
Disney said one attraction will take you “on a thrilling rally race through the mountains” as you race across the landscape, while the second attraction will be catered to children for fun for the whole family.
Also coming to Magic Kingdom will be Villains Land, which will feature two major attractions, dining and shopping.
“This new land will be home to the Disney Villains we know and loathe from our favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios classic films — ‘Which means happily ever after may feel like just a distant dream,’" Disney said.
Other attractions coming to Walt Disney World in the next few years will include a Monsters, Inc. Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Tropical Americas, a new land at Animal Kingdom that will replace the Dinosaur area, featuring attractions inspired by the Indiana Jones franchise and the animated film “Encanto.”
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These changes come after Universal’s Epic Universe, Central Florida’s newest theme park, opened in May.
Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park features five immersive worlds:
[RELATED: Everything to know about Epic Universe]
And after being open officially for just over one month, it has experienced expected growing pains but also plenty of praise.
Here’s what visitors are talking about when it comes to the Epic experience.