There are a lot of things to be excited about as a Disney fan currently. At Disneyland Resort, there are new updates coming with a new Coco attraction, an Avatar-themed attraction, and a parking structure (yes, this is something to be excited about!). Over at Walt Disney World Resort, there is a new land coming inspired by Monsters, Inc. at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At Magic Kingdom, guests will soon see a new Villains Land and a new area in Frontierland called Piston Peak coming to life. This comes from the world of Pixar’s Cars and brings this world to life in The Most Magical Place on Earth!
With the addition of this world of Cars comes the continued theme that believing in oneself can help forge a path to dreams. Piston Peak promises to continue this journey in great American storytelling.
Piston Peak National Park in Magic Kingdom
Disney recently released concept art for Piston Peak National Park in Magic Kingdom. It shows roughly how this new area will fit into Frontierland. A pleasant surprise for many is that some of the current Rivers of America will remain in Frontierland, providing a much-needed refreshing water feature during the heat of the day.
The new area will include mountains, trees, rivers, and geysers. It is very reminiscent of national parks like Yellowstone National Park and inspired by the Rocky Mountains. As guests explore Piston Peak, they will be able to check out the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails, and more! Imagineers are using the same style of architecture that the National Park Service uses to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment for the buildings found at Piston Peak. This style of architecture is called “Parkitecture.”
There will also be a natural barrier created between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. This will be done by trees predominantly. However, there will also be rugged mountains that have dramatic peaks across the waterway from Grizzly Hall. There will also be soaring geysers from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad stretching into the trails of the off-road rally. This will help make the whole new area cohesive with the existing areas around it.
Why do I Recognize the Name Piston Peak?
This is not the first time that Piston Peak has appeared in the realm of the Cars franchise. In Planes: Fire & Rescue, Piston Peak National Park is the home of Dusty Crophopper and the Piston Peak Air Attack team. In this film, Piston Peak National Park is a fictional mix of Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks. When it was released, merchandise was sold in the parks.
About the Film
It isn’t currently known if this Piston Peak National Park is the same as what is coming to Magic Kingdom. However, it does seem possible. In this film, Dusty finds himself in the town of Propwash Junction near the national park. This is where the main characters are from and the central home for the movie. However, a forest fire takes place within the boundaries of the national park that Dusty helps to battle. It is very unlikely that Dusty or any of his friends from the Planes films will be appearing in this new area, however, it is still possible that the place is the same one in the world of Cars. Perhaps there will even be some nods to the films.
Along with creating Piston Peak National Park, Planes: Fire & Rescue also had the music of Mark Mancina accompanying it. Mancina’s music may be recognized by Disney and Pixar fans, as he has scored films like Moana, Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana 2, Tarzan, and more! It is unknown if he will be contributing any music to this new area of Magic Kingdom.
While Planes: Fire & Rescue didn’t receive the greatest reviews, it is a beautiful film to look at. Piston Peak is no exception to that. If the future Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom connects with this in any way, that could bode very well for Disney fans who are worried about the beauty of the Rivers of America being lost. Years from now, this might end up looking like a major upgrade in hindsight!
Meet The Ranger
Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore will be the central character in the main attraction at Piston Peak. He is based on Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore from the Donald Duck and Humphrey Bear shorts. He will be appearing in full audio-animatronic form in the rally race’s preshow.
This will be a fun nod to past Disney shorts and legacy while also bringing it into the present with the current world of Cars. Fans of all ages will connect with this character. Fans of the old original shorts with the Ranger will recognize the nod to the past. Current Cars fans will also enjoy a character that fits into a world they love in this newly created world at Magic Kingdom.
Rally Race
The main attraction for Piston Peak will be a rally race. This attraction will have guests board characters from the world of Cars and go for a drive off the beaten path as they pursue the fastest lap in the west. This looks to be similar to Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land, but also quite a bit different, as guests get to experience an off-road race.
A Second Attraction
A second attraction has been announced for Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom. At this point, there are few details known about this attraction. What is known is that it will be a “family fun” attraction, and the Ranger HQ will be the queue for this attraction.
A New Chapter
The arrival of Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom comes as Disney Experiences, the segment that includes Disney Parks, is in a new chapter. This is an era where Disney is working to “turbocharge growth” at its parks. Disney CEO Bob Iger said during this year’s annual shareholder meeting for The Walt Disney Company that, “right now, we have more projects underway around the world than at any time in our history.” This includes the Cars expansion (Piston Peak) and Villains Land at Magic Kingdom. These are a part of the largest expansion for the park in its history.
More Growth at Walt Disney World Resort
Other new things coming just to Walt Disney World Resort include the afore-mentioned Monsters, Inc. land and the new Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios along with the new Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There are other exciting projects also happening around the world. This includes new cruise ships being built for the Disney Cruise Line.
What do you think of this new era of growth for Disney and its parks? Are you excited about what you are seeing for Piston Peak National Park? Do you like how it is leaning into the future while building on the foundation of the past? Share what you are most excited about in the comments below!
