New look at big changes coming to Disney parks | D23 underway in California
Disney’s D23 fan convention in California has unveiled a new look at major updates, including the new “Cars” area at Magic Kingdom and the pair of new rides coming soon to Animal Kingdom.
Among the highlights a 19-by-19-foot model of the new “Cars” area, Piston Peak National Park, which will replace the former Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom.
Video above: Disney World’s Sorcerer’s Hat torn down in 2015
“Disney released a full model that you can walk around of the Piston Peak National Park, the ‘Cars Land’ area of what we’re going to have at Magic Kingdom,” said Tharin White of EYNTK.info.
The new area will feature two attractions, including a family-friendly ride inspired by the character Miss Fritter.
“They look a lot like Test Track, kind of like an off-road version of Test Track,” White said.
Piston Peak is expected to open around 2028 or 2029.
At Animal Kingdom, Disney revealed new details about the “Encanto” attraction coming to the Tropical Americas section.
“Now we have been able to see the ride vehicle, and it looks a lot like ‘Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway’ or ‘Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance,'” White said.
The “Encanto” attraction will include an animatronic capybara, and one of the ride vehicles will even feature a piano.
Disney also revealed a model of the Mayan temple that will house a new “Indiana Jones” ride, which replaced “Dinosaur.”
The “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones” rides are both expected to open with Tropical Americas in 2027.
Reflecting on this year’s D23, White noted a shift in Disney’s approach compared to previous years.
“Disney’s coming across very confident with solid things. That was kind of the problem that we had in 2024 and 2022 when we looked back, is Disney had all this blue sky, all of these ideas,” White said. “I’m really confident for this one that the stuff we’re going to see is the stuff we’re going to get.”
