Walt Disney World has long been a place of nostalgia, where memories are made that will last a lifetime, where generations have enjoyed the classic attractions that make up its rich history. But Disney’s latest announcements at SXSW 2025 confirm what many fans have feared—some of the most beloved elements of Disney World like Rivers of America and MuppetVision 3D are being erased to make way for new, modern IP-driven experiences.
An image of Tom Sawyer’s Island via DocumentDisney YouTube
And while fans opine the corporatization and destruction of these beloved institutions, Disney is proudly touting what might one day become known as a self-inflicted wound that destroyed what was once Walt Disney’s dream.
While Disney is promoting these changes as innovative and exciting, the reality is that they come at the cost of iconic attractions and the thematic integrity that once made the parks truly immersive.
Rivers of America at Walt Disney World Will Be Removed for a Cars Ride
One of the most shocking changes is the complete removal of Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World to make way for a Cars-themed attraction. This new ride is described as a high-speed, off-road rally adventure, distinct from Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland.
The ride’s setting will include rocky landscapes, geysers, and steep climbs, but there’s one major issue—how does this fit into Frontierland?
Concept art for Disney’s unnamed Cars attraction for smaller racers at Magic Kingdom
The dedication plaque for Frontierland reads:
“Here we experience the story of our country’s past. The colorful drama of Frontier America in the exciting days of the covered wagon and the stage coach. The advent of the railroad and the romantic riverboat. Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage, and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.”
Now, Disney is asking guests to believe that talking cars with cartoon faces belong in a land meant to honor the pioneers who shaped early America. The removal of the riverboats and classic waterways represents a direct contradiction of Frontierland’s intended theme.
There was a time when this would have been utterly unthinkable. Disney theming was second to none, and nothing came before the story and immersion that guests had come to expect from the company. However, the current Disney Parks and Experiences department, under the bumbling watch of Josh D’Amaro, doesn’t seem to put much stock into the work of legends like Tony Baxter and Marty Sklar. They don’t even seem to care about the vision of Walt Disney himself, and destroying the Rivers of America at Disney World proves it.
Disney’s Off-Road Testing and Fan Backlash
To develop the Cars ride, Imagineers built a real dirt track and tested vehicles in an off-road environment. Disney showcased this process on social media, emphasizing how they were using real-world engineering to craft an authentic experience.
However, fans have been quick to criticize these updates online.
Fans react to the destruction of Rivers of America at Walt Disney World for a Cars themed attraction in Frontierland – X
On platforms like Reddit and TikTok, many have pointed out how out-of-place this attraction feels in Frontierland. Others have questioned why Disney is so focused on inserting new IP attractions into classic lands instead of building a dedicated Pixar expansion elsewhere.
The backlash highlights a growing concern among fans—Disney is prioritizing brand synergy over theme park storytelling.
Muppets Losing Their Dedicated Space at Hollywood Studios
The changes don’t stop at Magic Kingdom. At SXSW Disney continued to proudly brag about the upcoming gutting of MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Muppet Courtyard is being completely erased to make way for Monstropolis, a new area themed to Monsters, Inc. This is a major loss for fans of the Muppets, as it means the end of a dedicated space for the characters in the park and the erasure of the last major project of Jim Henson’s life.
A screenshot of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via DocumentDisney YouTube
However, Disney isn’t eliminating the Muppets entirely. Instead, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is being rebranded with a Muppets theme. Some hold this up as proof that Disney still cares about the IP, however this will be the modern Muppets, which features almost none of the original performers who stood alongside Jim Henson. Fans argue that this feels like nothing more than a rushed attempt to repurpose an existing attraction rather than preserve the integrity of Henson’s legacy with respect to the characters he made famous alongside legends like Richard Hunt, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, and more.
The Growing IP Problem at Walt Disney World
Disney’s decision to shoehorn modern franchises into existing lands isn’t new, but these latest announcements reinforce a troubling trend.
Instead of creating new themed areas, the company is taking beloved spaces and repurposing them for whatever franchise they want to promote next. The decision to place a Cars ride in Frontierland or turn Muppet Courtyard into Monstropolis shows how little concern there is for preserving the parks’ original theming.
Concept art for Monsters Inc. Land via Disney Parks Blog
The removal of Rivers of America in Walt Disney World marks one of the most significant thematic losses in Magic Kingdom’s history. Once it’s gone, what’s next? If Disney is willing to erase an opening-day staple, no classic attraction is truly safe. Could we see Liberty Square, a land dedicated to the founding of the United States become nothing more than a themed land that blends into the Haunted Mansion IP?
It would be unwise to put anything past D’Amaro and his cronies at this point.
Final Thoughts: Is Anything Sacred at Disney World?
While Disney’s Imagineers have worked hard to develop these new attractions, the reality is that these changes come at a cost. Classic areas are being removed, replaced, and rebranded to fit whatever new franchise Disney wants to push. These are beloved experiences and features connected to millions of memories created over five decades and Disney is eradicated them and branding these unwelcome changes with Josh D’Amaro’s trademark artificial corporate smile.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro via Disney Parks YouTube
The backlash over the Cars attraction and the removal of Muppet Courtyard highlights growing frustration among dedicated parkgoers.
At what point does Walt Disney World lose the very elements that made it special? Fans are right to ask: Is anything sacred at Disney anymore?
How do you feel about Disney World destroying the Rivers of America and MuppetVision? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
