We are starting a new series here at Buster and the Banshee: The Great Disney Debate. In this recurring series, we will debate various topics of disagreement and, dare we say, controversy among Walt Disney World fans.
As with all debates, there really isn’t one true right answer. There are always shades of gray. So just because we have a certain opinion about something doesn’t make it right or wrong. We are all individuals, with our own preferences and perspectives. If we all agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place to be. In that spirit, we invite you to join the debate, give us your opinion on the topic of the day. But please, be respectful. Disagreement is welcome but rudeness is not.
On that note, let’s get into our first debate topic:
Is Cars Land good for the Magic Kingdom?
What is Cars Land?
At last year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, Disney announced that they will be creating a new area in the Magic Kingdom inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise. This new themed land will include both a “thrilling” road rally through the mountains around Radiator Springs, as well as a family ride geared towards smaller racers.
The new land itself will be positioned smack dab in the middle of Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. It will be replacing the Rivers of America area, which means that both Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat will both closing for good. While both attractions are not among the most popular to say the least, they are both from the early days of WDW. Therefore, there exists a lot of nostalgia around these attractions. So should Disney be closing down these historic experiences? Or has their time come to be sunset?
PRO: Cars Land Will Be an Improvement
The case for replacing the Rivers of America with Car Land is simple. You are replacing two very unpopular attractions with a new land based upon a popular franchise that will most assuredly be super in-demand. This will allow Disney to make better use out of this under utilized area of the park, adding much needed ride capacity to Magic Kingdom.
You rarely see long wait times for each attraction. At most, you are waiting for the next riverboat or the next raft to arrive. They never appear in anyone’s list of the top attractions at WDW. In fact, we would venture a guess that most people skip both of these rides in favor of TRON or Space Mountain or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or any number of headliner attractions.
Liberty Square Riverboat is pleasant enough. You do a loop around the river, seeing some attractions from a different perspective. It might be worth maybe experiencing once, but certainly it doesn’t have the same level or repeatability as other rides.
Tom Sawyer’s Island falls into a similar category. You take a raft from the mainland to the island. From there, you can explore hideaways and forts inspired by the stories of Mark Twain. But, again, it isn’t really anything special, judging by the lack of popularity. Personally, we have never been there since you “must be ambulatory” to experience it. Therefore, those who travel in wheelchairs (like Little Banshee) or ECV’s are not welcome. All the more reason to shut it down.
In its place, you will get a new land based upon an actual IP that people have heard of (do they still read Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer in schools?). If it is anything close to the Cars Land at Disneyland, it will be a huge upgrade for this tired area of the park. Plus, we will get two new rides which are bound to be orders of magnitude more popular than what exists currently. This added capacity will soak up crowds, dispersing guests, and providing wait time relief to others areas of Magic Kingdom. Plus, presumably any new rides will be friendlier to those with mobility disabilities, allowing Disney to bring the magic to more people.
Finally, Cars Land’s Southwest US visual aesthetic will fit in perfectly with the rest of Frontierland. The sightlines will blend in seamlessly with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the surrounding areas. Honestly, you couldn’t pick a better place to put in Cars Land from a theming standpoint.
CON: Leave Rivers of America Alone
Rivers of America is of great historical significance. It is based on the original Disneyland version and was part of the Magic Kingdom when it opened in 1971. It is also a presence at many of Disney’s international theme parks, so it has a strong tradition in Disney lore.
Yes, the attractions are not cutting-edge thrill rides by any means. However, they add diversity to Magic Kingdom by providing a different sort of experience for guests. The Liberty Square Riverboat is a gentle scenic jaunt through parts of the park that cannot be normally viewed. It’s a nice 15 minute respite from the hustle and bustle of the theme park crowds… something that can be very welcome on a hot day. Plus you don’t have to wait for hours in a cramped queue to experience it.
Similarly, Tom Sawyer Island provides something different. Guests go through a self-guiding exploratory tour of various environments inspired by Mark Twain’s classic stories. Families especially welcome it as it gives young children an opportunity to blow off some steam with some fun free-play around the island. Plus, you aren’t rushed through. You can stay and explore as long as you want to. And again, you don’t have to wait hours in a queue get to experience this attraction.
Beyond the rides themselves, Rivers of America is the beating heart of Frontierland. The entire land is built around this waterway, providing a visual anchor for the area. It provides wide open vistas from one side to the other, reminiscent of the expansive views you might see in the Old West. Removing it would completely change the character of the land, possibly for the worse. Presumably with two major rides smack dab in the middle of this land, it will now feel more closed in and claustrophobic.
Finally, Frontierland takes its cues from America’s expansion west during the 19th Century. As far as we know, the primary modes of transportation were horses, horse drawn wagons, riverboats, and trains. Cars? Not so much. So while we concede that Radiator Springs fits in with the geographic locations of the Old West, it doesn’t fit in with the time period the land is supposed to represent.
OUR OPINION: Time to Move On
While we definitely see the merits of leaving Rivers of America alone, we feel like the park needs to evolve. You have this prime real estate in the middle of the park that is under utilized. Meanwhile, you have this super popular multi-decade franchise that has very little representation at Walt Disney World. Judging by its popularity at Disneyland, adding Cars Land is the biggest no-brainer in the history of no-brainers.
Replacing Rivers of America with Cars Land is a perfect swap. Radiator Springs is a great thematic fit for Frontierland as it would blend seamlessly with the overall visuals of the land. Yes, it takes place a century after the Old West. However, with the addition of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to Frontierland, that barrier has already been breached.
We get the pull of nostalgia. Really we do. However, let’s fast forward to 2027 when the new Cars Land opens. Imagine a young child, coming to Walt Disney World for the first time, setting eyes on Radiator Springs. Picture the wonder that they might feel as they see the world of Cars coming to life in the real world, right in front of them. Imagine how they will feel when they get to ride through the wilderness, just like their hero Lightning McQueen did in the movie.
That experience… that feeling…. now becomes that child’s nostalgia. Every time they come to visit Walt Disney World, they will get to remember how they felt that first time. So don’t think of it as losing something nostalgic. Think of it as passing the nostalgia baton to the next generation.
Anyway, what do you think? Are you looking forward to Cars Land? Or would you rather see Rivers of American remain as-is. Leave us a comment and let us know your opinion.
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