Where is Lightning McQueen in the New Cars Land?

The Cars are coming to the Magic Kingdom, but this will be far from a CARbon copy…

Last year, Disney shocked the theme park world — and angered many tourists and fans — by announcing that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island would be removed from the Magic Kingdom to make way for a massive new expansion based on Pixar’s Cars franchise.

In early June 2025, after months of teasers and small reveals, Disney finally released some concrete details about the Cars project – as well as a July 7th closure date for the Rivers of America – and they were somewhat surprising. While those lamenting the fact that Cars “doesn’t fit” in Frontierland likely won’t have their opinions changed, there’s no denying that these plans certainly show Disney going out of their way to distinguish this east coast installation from California Adventure’s screen-accurate Cars Land.

Gone is the Route 66 setting that recreates the film in fine detail, and in its place is Piston Peak National Park. Based partially on a location that appeared in the Cars spinoff Planes, the new setting will be “an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers,” according to Disney.

The look of Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, as well as the country’s national parks. In fact, the buildings in the area will be based on the National Park Service’s “Parkitecture” concept. This architectural style was developed by the service as a way to create structures that “harmonize with the natural environment.” Of course, Disney Imagineering’s versions will be scaled to Cars as opposed to humans.

This includes the massive Visitor’s Lodge, an A-Frame building int he tradition of classic National Park lodges from the early-to-mid 20th Century, which will serve as the primary loading area for the land’s main attraction, an “off-road rally race” ride, complete with custom vehicles.

As per Disney, Piston Peak will blend seamlessly into the Frontierland thanks to trees that “will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square” while “rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally. “

Along with this NEW setting will also come NEW characters. Once again, not content to repeat the previous Cars Land, Disney is eschewing many of the film franchise’s most famous characters, instead introducing new characters like Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore!

Woodlore will be a part of the queue for the land’s second ride, a “family-friendly attraction.” An animatronic Ranger Woodlore will regale guests with the history and folklore of Piston Peak.

While the character is an original theme park entry into the Cars canon, he does have deep ties to Disney history. See, the Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore Cars character is based on Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore, a park ranger character from several mid-century Disney cartoons, including ones featuring Humphrey the Bear and Donald Duck.

In addition to Woodlore, there will likely be other newly created characters, including the off-road racers that will be part of that attraction… and perhaps even ride vehicles themselves!

However, if concept art is to be believed, at least two of the franchise’s well-known characters will appear, as Lightning McQueen and Mater both appear at the “Finish Line” for the off-road racers attraction.

According to Disney, these Cars characters — both new and old — will fit into Frontierland, as at the “heart of all the land’s stories are heroic characters with a belief in themselves that helped forge a path to their dreams.”

Whether or not that logic sways those questioning how Cars fits into Tomorrowland, there’s no denying that Disney has gone out of their way to differentiate the land from it’s predecessor. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on the Magic Kingdom’s transformation.

The Ridiculously Detailed History of Disney World’s Frontierland

 

Are you excited for these new Cars characters and settings? Let us know in the comments below.

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