The Walt Disney World Railroad at Magic Kingdom may once again experience a significant period of downtime in the coming years, as major changes are planned for the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island areas, including the construction of two new Cars-themed attractions.
Similar to the extended closure during the construction of TRON Lightcycle Run, the railroad is likely to be impacted by the extensive construction zone that will emerge as the new attractions take shape.
Earlier this week, Disney confirmed that the new Cars-themed area will be built directly on top of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America - both of which are inside the railroad track.
In the short term, starting in 2025, according to newly submitted permits, the railroad's tracks will be positioned between the construction staging area and the actual construction site on Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. The railroad is expected to be taken out of service to allow for the movement of vehicles and materials across the tracks.
Looking further ahead, the development of Villains Land will also affect the railroad's operations. As with the Cars-themed attractions, construction access and potential rerouting of the tracks may be necessary to accommodate the new land. However, details about the location and layout of Villains Land are not yet available, so it remains unclear how the railroad's path might be altered.
The Walt Disney World Railroad was closed for four years during the TRON Lightcycle Run construction project. During that time, the trains were available to board as a static exhibit, first at the Main Street U.S.A. station and then later at the Fantasyland station.
We do not yet have any confirmed construction timelines for either Cars or the new Villains Land, but we expect both projects to be completed by 2030, with Cars opening first.
Disney has yet to announce any operational changes to the Walt Disney World railroad due to upcoming construction.
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