Well, it’s officially the end of an era at Magic Kingdom. Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat are both now closed to park visitors.
Tom Sawyer Island
It’s been a long journey, but it seems like Disney has been quick to update the My Disney Experience app and beyond — because new maps have popped up in the park and on the app overnight.
It’s a sad day at Magic Kingdom, because two Disney World attractions are now permanently closed. Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat are no more — and it looks like Disney has wasted no time updating maps to reflect that. Before we headed into Magic Kingdom this morning, we spotted this update on the My Disney Experience app, completely removing the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat from the map.
©Disney
Shortly after heading into Magic Kingdom, we spotted the same changes reflected on the paper maps as well.
NEW Magic Kingdom park map
When we opened the map, we couldn’t help but feel just a bit sad that Tom Sawyer Island is no more. Well, it’s still technically there for now, but it doesn’t exist on the map anymore.
It’s GONE
For comparison, here’s what the old map looked like. As you can see, the Rivers of America, the Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island are now completely missing:
Magic Kingdom map showing Tom Sawyer Island
At some point in 2027, we will eventually see a new Cars Land called Piston Peak. The area is inspired by National Parks — primarily Rocky Mountain National Park. The name of Piston Peak stems from the fictional land, Piston Peak National Park, from the 2014 Disney film Planes: Fire & Rescue (which is part of the Cars universe).
Piston Peak ©Disney
New attractions, stores, and food and beverage spots will be part of this new land. Guests can look forward to two NEW Cars attractions! Get ready to race through the mountains on wild terrain along mountain trails as you dodge geysers and splash through mud holes on an exciting and thrilling rally race ride. Disney also shared that the second ride will be geared toward “smaller racers” and will be fun for the whole family!
@Disney
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While we’re extremely sad about the closure of Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Square Riverboat, and the Rivers of America, we are excited about what this new chapter will bring to Magic Kingdom. We’ll be keeping up with all the updates you need to know about, so make sure you stay tuned to DFB for the latest news!
Cars Land vs Villains Land — Which Will Be the Most Popular in Disney World?
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Are you looking forward to the new Piston Peak National Park addition to Magic Kingdom? No, not really. And Disney sure didn’t waste any time getting rid of 50+ years of Walt and tradition by issuing new maps! I can see how younger generations would love a Cars attraction but we have no interest. They should have left the boat, island, Indian village and waterway alone and built Cars (and Villains Land) somewhere else on property. They could have easily reimagined it without destroying it. Seems like Disney is throwing the baby out with the bathwater! And telling us baby boomers…who made Disney what it became…. that we don’t matter and that America’s history and Walt’s legacy don’t need to be honored or remembered anymore. Sad….
What a catastrophe for all who love Walt Disney World, this is a decision so bad that the Magic Kingdom will never recover. It’s greatness.
We Boomers can’t feel like nothing can change. Even in politics, the young are taking over. They are saying what they want. I look forward to new rides. I’ll bring my 3 young grandchildren and see Disney World through their eyes.
I sure hope they never do this at Disneyland!