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Revving Up the Magic: “Cars” Land Construction Gears Up Behind Magic Kingdom
A new set of six construction permits has been filed for a backstage area just beyond the borders of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, all pointing toward a major new expansion project—one that’s picking up serious speed. The permits, which all list the address of “1700 Floridian Way, Bay Lake, FL,” correspond to an area tucked behind Fantasyland and Frontierland. While not part of the park’s official guest-accessible footprint, this zone is crucial for construction staging—and may be key to the long-rumored arrival of “Cars” Land in the Magic Kingdom.
Related: Walt Disney Imagineers Explain How “Cars” Will Fit Into Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland
Here’s what’s included in the permit roundup:
- Fire Alarm System Installation
- Trailer Installations
- Infrastructure Development
- Electrical Work
- HVAC Unit Installations
- Fire Suppression Systems
What’s more telling is the cast of contractors involved: Siemens Industry, McGrath RentCorp, Specialty Plumbing, Bumgarner Electric, Awesome Aire Solutions, and International Fire Protection. With so many trades lining up to work at once, it looks like Disney is assembling the pit crew.
This latest batch mirrors a nearly identical set of permits filed in April for a different address—5055 Caribbean Way—which hugs much closer to Frontierland. That location has been speculated as a probable backstage operations base for the upcoming “Cars” expansion. With this new site farther back toward Floridian Way, it’s possible Disney is prepping two zones to support a large-scale construction effort, or they’re setting up separate bases for the “Cars” land and the more distant (but still eagerly awaited) Villains-themed land.
Shifting Into High Gear
At the recent D23 event, Disney Imagineers finally peeled back the curtain a bit more on the Frontierland “Cars” expansion. The new land is designed to complement the rustic vibe of Frontierland, with creative use of water features, terrain, and noise-masking elements to ensure Lightning McQueen and friends don’t disrupt the Old West charm. A whimsical “fun map” was released (pictured above), showing a beautifully forested mountain range and desert canyon terrain—clear nods to both Piston Peak from Planes: Fire & Rescue and Radiator Springs from Cars. A brand-new original character for the area was also teased.
And yes—it’s now official: the Rivers of America, including Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat, will close permanently after July 6, 2025, to make way for this new expansion.’
Related: Everything We Know So Far About the New Monsters, Inc. Land Coming To Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Villains Lurk in the Distance
While the “Cars” land is clearly in pole position, the Villains-themed area is also on the horizon—though at a slower pace. Disney filed a 14-acre development permit earlier this year with a March 2025 start date. Still, no physical construction seems to have begun. This new land promises a wicked lineup of Disney’s most infamous baddies including Maleficent, Hades, Ursula, Gaston, and others. But for now, they’re waiting in the wings while Lightning and Mater hog the spotlight.
Are you excited to see Piston Peak finally arrive in Magic Kingdom? Leave us a comment to let us know!
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