Disney World's Cars-Themed Expansion Faces Minor Roadblock with SFWMD Permit Request

Sep 16, 2024 in "Cars Land Magic Kingdom"

Gallery / 3 Photos
Frontierland Concept Art Aerial View

Posted: Monday September 16, 2024 11:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney Imagineering's plans to transform Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom into a new Cars-themed land have hit a minor speed bump.

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has returned Disney's initial permit application, requesting additional information and revisions before the project can move forward.

Closer view of the new Cars-themed attractions at Magic Kingdom

The permit, which focuses on modifications to the stormwater management system behind Tom Sawyer Island and Big Thunder Mountain, was a necessary early step in preparing the land for its large-scale redevelopment. Disney had filed the permit as part of its plans to ensure proper water flow and environmental considerations for the new Cars-themed area, scheduled to begin construction in 2025.

However, the SFWMD identified several inconsistencies between Disney's construction plans and the previously approved conceptual designs. These issues primarily relate to wetland impacts and how the development might affect surrounding ecosystems. The District has requested further clarification on the proposed modifications to stormwater systems, the exact extent of wetland impacts, and the mitigation measures Disney will implement to protect the environment.

Cars Land Permits

In addition, the SFWMD asked Disney to revise their construction plans to include detailed maps showing the current conditions of wetlands, as well as the areas expected to be affected by the new construction. These maps must outline the full extent of wetland boundaries, upland buffers, and other water management details. The permit review also pointed out that Disney needs to ensure the project's impact on local wildlife, especially any listed species, will be minimized and appropriately mitigated.

This delay doesn't signal the end of the project but highlights the rigorous environmental regulations Disney must follow to ensure compliance with local and state requirements. The returned permit is part of the usual process for large-scale developments, especially those in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands.

Cars Concept Art

At Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro, with the help of Tow Mater via video call, announced that a new area inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios film "Cars" will be coming to a reimagined section of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. "The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city," Josh told the crowd.

Cars Concept Art

In this Cars adventure, guests will be able to experience two new "Cars"-themed attractions. One attraction will invite you on a thrilling rally race through the mountains. Take on wild terrain as you race across the landscape climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and — Mater's favorite — splashing through mudholes.

Cars Concept Art

The second attraction will be geared towards smaller guests and will be fun for the whole family. Work on this new space in Frontierland will begin in early 2025.

"As we develop the next generation of Disney Experiences, we're always looking for new ways to tell the stories people love," D'Amaro said. "We're thrilling Cars fans by building on this incredibly successful franchise and creating the next chapter in this story."

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Raineman1 day ago

I am well aware of the "shareholder value" and "underutilized space" mindset, as it has been repeated ad nauseam in this thread, but nothing at WDW "has to go". And it's always interesting to me when people sound like they work in Disney's financial department when they talk about why an attraction/area had to go, or even why they are happy that a replacement is happening. For them, it's never about "I didn't really care for the old attraction, but the new one looks great", which is an argument/opinion that I can at least respect. The focus and agenda with Disney theme parks has always included financial considerations-it's always been a business-but there was a time when alot of other creative factors were just as important. Now, money is the overwhelmingly most important factor, and creativity/theming/originality take a backseat to it.

Gusey1 day ago

Yeah, they announced all of this when they shared the fun map, but everyone focused on the size of the water in the art rather than everything else.

Disstevefan11 day ago

Everything is destroyed. All we have now is hope.

DrStarlander1 day ago

I personally think the whole project is dumb. But, now that the island and river are gone, I've shifted to wondering if they will do a great job (DCA's Cars Land) or a terrible job (Avenger's Campus) and hoping they'll do a great job.

Smoky1 day ago

TSI wasn't creating shareholder value and had to go, sorry.

LittleBuford1 day ago

To be fair, nothing at Magic Kingdom is accurate; it’s all highly fictionalised. I say that as someone who really wishes this weren’t happening in the first place.

Raineman1 day ago

Most likely with mountains shaped like car parts. And most likely with a sprinkling of anthropomorphic cartoon cars along the trails, too. The scenery will be inspired by the mountain areas of the western US, but probably not accurate to what the mountains actually look like. It's still set in a completely fictional world.

Incomudro1 day ago

Well, no... The trails will not be based on a fictional world of talking anthropomorphic cars. They will be based on the geography of a mountainous western US setting.

Raineman1 day ago

So they demolish an area that already had trails to explore-for a new area that will have trails to explore? 😂 Instead of trails based on a classic piece of American literature written by one of the most celebrated and well known authors in history, there will be trails based on a fictional world of talking anthropomorphic cartoon cars. But we have to keep little Aiden and Riley happy, right?

jah49551 day ago

I'm still skeptical how they're going to "cram it all in" without it feeling too abbreviated. I can't help but believe the "see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more" will all/mostly be via the 1 main attraction (either from the POV of the queue or the ride vehicle) imo

DrStarlander1 day ago

Apologies if this is old news but I just noticed the language on the Disney Experiences site and the details were interesting: Did we know the places were specifically the "visitor lodge," "Ranger HQ" and that there would be "trails" to explore? Most of that is evident from the concept images but the word "explore" suggests to me more than a walkway from point A to point B but maybe something more akin to what was on Tom Sawyer's Island. And should we expect to see an animatronic of the Autobahn ranger character inside the Ranger HQ? I'm guessing yes. And maybe that's the queue for the second attraction, based on the fun map. It's surprising to me they haven't mentioned food as part of this area given how great a role the food offerings at DCA's Cars Land play.

DrStarlander25 days ago

I'm a little confused if you worried about it being "too cartoony" as before or too serious ("deeply patriotic") for the context. I don't think it would be too cartoony or too serious (or, that "deep"). I mentioned Snow White's Grotto because there you have playful characters from an animated movie but the overall vibe is calm and restful and classy and a nice place to visit for a moment. That space could have been crass and cheesy and visually cacophonous, like something from a cheap mini-golf course. It's all about execution. As for whether the source painting is "deeply" patriotic, it's been a part of pop and entertainment culture for decades (nearly 100 years, at least, based on that Disney magazine below). It was first painted for exhibition at the 1876 U.S. centennial exhibition in Philadelphia and so even the original was intended for a theme park of sorts. As people who lived through the Bicentennial know, it was widely co-opted by Disney and others playfully, so it's not particularly sacrosanct. (It's about right for a patriotic theme park land that also has a place to get funnel cakes based on the Headless Horseman and a ride with grin-grinning ghosts.) All that's to say, I don't think the juxtaposition you're describing would be that dramatic (and the "car parts" and Spirit of '76 wouldn't be visible at the same time anyway. Two different things on either side of a structure, that's theme park design). I like natural rocks and waterfalls. But I think that Liberty Belle structure being the weenie of Liberty Square will be underexploited (for a $200/day theme park) if you go to it and there's nothing specific to Liberty Square there, just some Bwana Bob's-like merch carts and an unnecessarily sheltered view of a generic waterfall (which is not something meaningfully associated with Colonial life and villages or American history, kind of a non sequitur, arguably). I think that structure deserves specific content and a raison d'être that bolsters the land's theme and is worth walking into there for. Something nameable to see. And I think strategically, Disney ought to look for some ways to boost its patriotism cred, and this is an easy one. So if not a sculpture-waterfall, I'd be hoping for something else.

EagleScout61025 days ago

Knowing modern Disney the Frontierland version would be Tiana, McQueen, Henry the Bear and the goat from Big Thunder (in that order)

Bocabear25 days ago

So something deeply patriotic facing Liberty Square and then Car parts facing the new attraction? I think it would great if it would just look like natural rocks....even on the Piston Peak side....