Piston Peak National Park Is Coming to Magic Kingdom

We’ve known for some time that a new Cars-inspired area is coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, replacing two existing attractions in Frontierland. Now, Disney has revealed the name of the new land: Piston Peak National Park.

The new area will bring the world of Cars into a rugged national park setting inspired by the American West, complete with mountain peaks, trails, geysers, waterways and two new attractions.

A New Frontier

The arrival of Piston Peak National Park will continue the evolving story of the area between Liberty Square and Frontierland.

Guests will journey through a series of distinct American landscapes and settings. The story begins in New York and colonial America in Liberty Square, transitions into the North Woods surrounding Country Bear Musical Jamboree, moves into New Orleans at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and ultimately ends among the Arizona bluffs of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Piston Peak will add another layer to that frontier story while bringing the Cars characters into the landscape.

Welcome to Piston Peak National Park

Although Piston Peak is fictional, Disney says the area is inspired by the Rocky Mountains and America’s national parks.

Inside the new land, Guests will be able to explore a visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and other locations designed to feel as though the Cars characters have made their home within a national park.

Imagineers are also taking inspiration from a style of architecture known as “Parkitecture.” Developed by the National Park Service, the approach is designed to make structures harmonize with their surrounding natural environments.

That means Piston Peak won’t simply look like a Cars attraction dropped into Frontierland. The architecture and landscape are intended to make the entire area feel like part of the surrounding wilderness.

A Rugged Mountain Landscape

The landscape surrounding Piston Peak National Park will feature rugged mountains and dramatic peaks.

Trees will create a natural visual barrier between the new off-road rally and the surrounding areas of Frontierland and Liberty Square. A calming waterway will also run across from Grizzly Hall, while the geysers associated with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will visually extend into the trails of the new rally attraction.

The result is intended to make Piston Peak feel connected to the existing Frontierland environment rather than isolated from it.

Cars Ridge Run Rally

The centerpiece of Piston Peak National Park will be Cars Ridge Run Rally. This will be a thrilling off-road racing adventure through the mountains.

Guests will race across wild terrain while climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers and splashing through mudholes. The goal is to find “the wildest racer in the wilderness” while competing for the “fastest lap in the west.”

The course will take racers through the rugged beauty of America’s national parks, including a climb toward the summit of Piston Peak.

At the top, Guests will encounter an icy, snow-covered mountaintop before beginning a dramatic descent. The ride will then take racers through a camelback drop and into an exhilarating geyser field.

The race eventually circles the Old Tankfull geyser before racers make a final sprint toward the finish line.

And waiting at the finish? Lightning McQueen and Mater, who will be covering the race live on the Racing Sports Network.

A Completely New Ride Vehicle

One of the most intriguing aspects of Cars Ridge Run Rally is its ride vehicle.

Disney says the attraction will debut a completely new ride vehicle designed not to simulate an off-road car, but to actually be one.

Rather than simply creating the sensation of driving over rough terrain, the attraction is designed so Guests will feel the bumps, drops and rocks as the vehicle’s tires and suspension react to the terrain.

Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along

Piston Peak National Park will also feature a second attraction designed with smaller racers and families in mind: Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along.

Making its public debut with the announcement of Piston Peak, the attraction is inspired by Miss Fritter, the “Diva of Demolition” from Cars 3.

Miss Fritter will host what Disney describes as her “wildest demolition derby yet.”

The attraction will feature a massive, school-bus-sized Miss Fritter animatronic as Guests take part in a stampeding, spinning experience designed to bring the character’s chaotic personality to life.

A New Chapter for Magic Kingdom

Piston Peak National Park represents a significant transformation for this corner of Magic Kingdom.

Rather than simply adding Cars characters to the park, Disney is creating an entirely new environment around them, one inspired by national parks, the Rocky Mountains and the rugged landscapes of the American West.

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