Frontierland will be redesigned using themes from the "Cars" movies. Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar
Walt Disney World Resort officially begins the expansion of Magic Kingdom this week as permits are filed to break ground on several projects. Details were revealed over the weekend at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, Calif.
The American West, the backdrop for the film "Cars," will be brought to life in a reimagined section of Frontierland. Parkgoers will be able to explore Radiator Springs and beyond with two new attractions.
"We are thrilled to create this original 'Cars' adventure and put our guests in the driver's seat as we — quite literally — explore a new frontier in Frontierland," said Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney World portfolio executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. "Part of pioneering this new story includes tapping into the themes of exploration and adventure that inspire so many of us to keep propelling forward. Anytime we touch Magic Kingdom, we recognize the massive responsibility that exists to get it right and tell stories that connect with our guests."
A brand-new land also is being built, which will be dedicated to Disney villains: a multi-acre area with two major attractions, plus shopping and dining outlets. These additions to the park represent the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom's history.
Other ongoing projects include a "Pirates of the Caribbean"-themed tavern and a nighttime parade debuting in 2025.
Additional park projects
Improvements also are being made to the resort's other parks. Tropical Americas, an 11-acre land in the Animal Kingdom, will transport guests to Central and South America. Plans for the area include an Indiana Jones experience through a Mayan temple, the premiere of an "Encanto" attraction, and a carousel with intricate wood carvings of animals from various Disney stories. Work is scheduled to begin this fall, to be completed in 2027.
Hollywood Studios will be the new home of Pixar Animation Studios' "Monsters Inc." Here, riders will experience what it's like to zoom through the factory's door vault, thanks to the first-ever suspended coaster at a Disney park. Construction is scheduled to commence next year.
Last but not least, Test Track will reopen at EPCOT in 2025. Walt Disney Imagineering is working with Chevrolet to celebrate the evolution of motor vehicles over the last 100 years. The line for the revamped ride will feature six exhibits celebrating innovative automobiles and the creators behind them.
More details on all of these projects will be shared soon.