Disney World Closes Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island
Disney World closed its Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island this weekend to make way for a new “Cars” themed area. Walt Disney World is closing several iconic attractions beginning Monday to make room for a brand-new land.
Frontierland’s Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom will shut down on July 7 as Disney prepares to bring a national park-themed area called Piston Peak to life.
- Rivers of America has been a staple of Frontierland and Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom since Disney World opened in 1971.
- The Liberty Belle steamboat and Tom Sawyer Island were added in 1973, offering guests a narrated ride through scenes of early American frontier life. Visitors could also take a raft to explore Tom Sawyer Island, inspired by Mark Twain’s beloved novel.
Disney World closes iconic attractions to make way for new land, “Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers,” Disney shared in a blog post.
Disney said, “Imagineers will use a style of architecture developed by the Natural Park Service to blend structures into Rocky Mountain-inspired Piston Peak, and trees will serve as a natural border between an off-road rally attraction and the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square.”