MK Cars-Themed Attractions at Magic Kingdom

[Chi84]

I asked ChatBot the following question:
“Analyzing everything that Walt Disney said in his lifetime, what do you think his reaction would be to the removal of the River boat and the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer’s Island?”
And here’s Chatbots answer:
“Based on everything Walt Disney said and stood for during his lifetime—especially regarding frontier Americana, guest immersion, and educational storytelling—it is highly likely that Walt would have strongly opposed removing the Rivers of America, the riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island from Magic Kingdom.
Here’s why:

Walt’s Deep Personal Connection to the Rivers of America

Walt loved the Mississippi River mythology and American frontier culture. He personally helped design and layout the original Rivers of America at Disneyland in the 1950s.

• He was so invested in the Mark Twain Riverboat that he actually piloted it himself on Disneyland’s opening day in 1955.
• He referred to that whole area—Tom Sawyer Island, the riverboat, the surrounding frontierland—as an idealized, romantic piece of American heritage meant to educate and delight both children and adults.

His Love of Tom Sawyer

Walt said: “I wanted to have a place where I could take my daughters and enjoy the things I loved when I was a boy.”

• Tom Sawyer was a symbol of childhood adventure, freedom, and exploration to Walt. He once claimed it was the kind of experience he wished for as a Missouri farm boy.
• He was personally involved in the design of Tom Sawyer Island and even dictated how the caves and fort should look.

His Philosophy on Theme Parks

Walt wasn’t building just thrill parks—he said, “Disneyland is a show.” Every part had to tell a story, reflect a piece of history, or serve a deeper purpose.

• He once remarked, “You can’t top pigs with pigs.” Meaning: you shouldn’t chase fads or short-term thrills over enduring themes and meaningful environments.
• 
  
• Walt’s Probable Reaction

If someone proposed eliminating the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island from the Magic Kingdom today, Walt would likely have said something like:

“Why would you take away one of the most beautiful and educational parts of the park? That’s real American history brought to life. Children today still need to know what it felt like to ride a steamboat, to crawl through caves, to live out an adventure. That’s the spirit of this place.”

Final Verdict:

Walt Disney would likely be heartbroken and firmly against the removal of those elements. He believed in blending entertainment with storytelling, nostalgia, and education, and the Rivers of America embodied all of that.

So as you can see, even AI understands it.

But he would be 124 years old now. Maybe he would have changed his mind along the way.

 

[WDWhopper]

here are several direct quotes from Walt Disney that strongly support the idea that he would have opposed removing Rivers of America, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island from the Magic Kingdom. These statements reveal his deep values around history, storytelling, Americana, and personal experience, especially in the creation of those attractions.

1. On His Love for the American Frontier

“All of us have a great fascination for the story of the American frontier. That’s why I wanted Frontierland — to bring to life the romance of the old West.”

— Walt Disney, 1955

Walt viewed Frontierland as essential—not optional. The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are its literal and symbolic heart.

2. On Tom Sawyer and Boyhood

“Tom Sawyer Island is the sort of thing I had always wanted to do. As a boy, I read Tom Sawyer and always dreamed about having such a place to play.”

— Walt Disney, quoted in The Story of Disneyland (1956)

This quote reflects how personal Tom Sawyer Island was to Walt. It wasn’t just another attraction — it was his own childhood dream turned real.

3. On the Riverboat and Romantic Realism

“When I was a boy, I always wanted to ride on a real steamboat, and now I can—whenever I want.”

— Walt Disney, 1955

He considered the Mark Twain Riverboat a symbol of that dream fulfilled. He even piloted it himself on opening day — that’s how much it meant to him.


4. On Preserving History Through Entertainment

“Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America.”

— Walt Disney, Disneyland Opening Day Speech, July 17, 1955

The Rivers of America are those “hard facts”—a living slice of American heritage. Removing them would violate the very dedication of the parks.

5. On Timeless Attractions vs. Fads

“You can’t top pigs with pigs.”

— Walt Disney (explaining that copying successful things instead of innovating dilutes impact)

This speaks to removing an emotionally rich, iconic, immersive land like Rivers of America to make room for a short-lived franchise ride — Walt would have strongly resisted that logic.

6. On Creating Meaning, Not Just Rides

“I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they’re in the Park. I want them to feel they’re in another world.”

— Walt Disney

The Rivers of America—with its boat, island, fort, and caves—is that other world. It’s not a queue-based thrill ride; it’s an immersive realm of imagination and heritage.


Walt’s words make it abundantly clear that he saw these features as core to the park’s purpose, not expendable real estate. His dream was never about chasing IP trends—it was about preserving wonder, storytelling, and a sense of history. Removing these elements would likely feel to him like tearing out a piece of his soul from the parks.

 

[JohnD]

here are several direct quotes from Walt Disney that strongly support the idea that he would have opposed removing Rivers of America, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island from the Magic Kingdom. These statements reveal his deep values around history, storytelling, Americana, and personal experience, especially in the creation of those attractions.

1. On His Love for the American Frontier

“All of us have a great fascination for the story of the American frontier. That’s why I wanted Frontierland — to bring to life the romance of the old West.”

— Walt Disney, 1955

Walt viewed Frontierland as essential—not optional. The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are its literal and symbolic heart.

2. On Tom Sawyer and Boyhood

“Tom Sawyer Island is the sort of thing I had always wanted to do. As a boy, I read Tom Sawyer and always dreamed about having such a place to play.”

— Walt Disney, quoted in The Story of Disneyland (1956)

This quote reflects how personal Tom Sawyer Island was to Walt. It wasn’t just another attraction — it was his own childhood dream turned real.

3. On the Riverboat and Romantic Realism

“When I was a boy, I always wanted to ride on a real steamboat, and now I can—whenever I want.”

— Walt Disney, 1955

He considered the Mark Twain Riverboat a symbol of that dream fulfilled. He even piloted it himself on opening day — that’s how much it meant to him.


4. On Preserving History Through Entertainment

“Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America.”

— Walt Disney, Disneyland Opening Day Speech, July 17, 1955

The Rivers of America are those “hard facts”—a living slice of American heritage. Removing them would violate the very dedication of the parks.

5. On Timeless Attractions vs. Fads

“You can’t top pigs with pigs.”

— Walt Disney (explaining that copying successful things instead of innovating dilutes impact)

This speaks to removing an emotionally rich, iconic, immersive land like Rivers of America to make room for a short-lived franchise ride — Walt would have strongly resisted that logic.

6. On Creating Meaning, Not Just Rides

“I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they’re in the Park. I want them to feel they’re in another world.”

— Walt Disney

The Rivers of America—with its boat, island, fort, and caves—is that other world. It’s not a queue-based thrill ride; it’s an immersive realm of imagination and heritage.


Walt’s words make it abundantly clear that he saw these features as core to the park’s purpose, not expendable real estate. His dream was never about chasing IP trends—it was about preserving wonder, storytelling, and a sense of history. Removing these elements would likely feel to him like tearing out a piece of his soul from the parks.

I've read posts here and there that since DL is "Walt's Park", the thinking goes most of Walt's ideas won't be removed there which gives Disney free rein to change any other park any way it wants.

Regarding "Walt" Disney World, named by brother Roy after Walt passed, the argument is that Walt planned an EPCOT city, not another theme park vacation area.

I think that's bunk.

 

[plutofan15]

The Big Beautiful Belle everyone!View attachment 868881

No attraction is ever more popular than when it is scheduled to be removed.

 

[BrianLo]

The point is since DLP is "Walt's park" -- which it is -- any update can be made to any other park. Nevermind what he may have thought about ROA in WDW. That is what is bunk.

Am I misunderstanding your acronym to actually be “Disneyland Park” instead of the more commonly abbreviated Disneyland Paris?

 

[JohnD]

Am I misunderstanding your acronym to actually be “Disneyland Park” instead of the more commonly abbreviated Disneyland Paris?

Yes. DLP for Disneyland Park as opposed to DLR for Disneyland Resort. I see your point though. Okay, DL for Disneyland, the park not the resort.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Best news is, there’s a wonderful ROA to visit at Disneyland, with two magnificent ships, canoes, and a gorgeously redone back section.

Just ignore the current state of TSI…

 

[JohnD]

Best news is, there’s a wonderful ROA to visit at Disneyland, with two magnificent ships, canoes, and a gorgeously redone back section.

Just ignore the current state of TSI…

You just made my point. DL has all that so screw WDW. Got it.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

He was so invested in the Mark Twain Riverboat that he actually piloted it himself on Disneyland’s opening day in 1955.

I’ll add that Walt personally owned the Mark Twain, the railroad, and the monorail.

So he was literally invested in them as well.

For me, the rivers of America with the steam riverboat, Main Street USA, the steam train, and the carousel are the non-negotiables that should be in any “Disneyland style” park.

 

[CoastalElite64]

All in good fun

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It’s much more relevant to ask what Marty Sklar would think - and I’d bet he’d not like it.

it’s pretty relevant to ask what Walt would think of a Disneyland style park.

The company is practically built on the deification of Walt and his creations.

But I agree… Marty would hate this plan as well!

 

[lazyboy97o]

It’s much more relevant to ask what Marty Sklar would think - and I’d bet he’d not like it.

Or he’d be a full on corporate toady like he was with “it’s a small world”.

 

[James Alucobond]

What I think could be said is that he designed the parks with the likes and desires of children in mind, layered with a maturity of design that even adults can enjoy. With that in mind, I think it’s fairly reasonable to think that Frontierland as it was may never have been built in the modern era since Westerns have all but vanished from children’s entertainment. I don’t think the problem here is the re-programming of content. It’s that kinetics are being lost, the design intent of the area is being papered over half-heartedly, and the theming becomes a mishmash as parts are updated while others persist.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

An old attraction that wasn’t being visited

that’s not a true statement. If nobody was visiting the island or riding the riverboat, Disney wouldn’t have kept operating them for 50+ years.

 

[networkpro]

So back to this new Cars mini-land: how are they going to blend its edges into the remaining portion of Frontierland ?

 

[mlayton144]

Can’t help but to think people can’t let go of their own personal nostalgia when judging things - things were always better in the old days!. Disney has a current and future customer base to worry about, not the perpetual complainers that are being victimized by having their childhoods ripped out from under them (most of which I would bet do more complaining then actually being paying customers). Disney certainly deserves a museum for his creations and being the visionary that he was (which is called Disneyland in its current form). The other parks should be free to experiment

 

[JohnD]

Can’t help but to think people can’t let go of their own personal nostalgia when judging things - things were always better in the old days!. Disney has a current and future customer base to worry about, not the perpetual complainers that are being victimized by having their childhoods ripped out from under them (most of which I would bet do more complaining then actually being paying customers). Disney certainly deserves a museum for his creations and being the visionary that he was (which is called Disneyland in its current form). The other parks should be free to experiment

Let's put it another way. Attractions (ROA, Liberty Belle, and TSI) promoted by Walt himself are removed in favor of a company that Disney bought and the IP chosen from that company is Cars? Walt is rolling over in his grave.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Let's put it another way. Attractions (ROA, Liberty Belle, and TSI) promoted by Walt himself are removed in favor of a company that Disney bought and the IP chosen from that company is Cars? Walt is rolling over im his grave.

Walt didn’t promote any attractions at Magic Kingdom. He was dead when they started designing the park.

 

[Chi84]

Let's put it another way. Attractions (ROA, Liberty Belle, and TSI) promoted by Walt himself are removed in favor of a company that Disney bought and the IP chosen from that company is Cars? Walt is rolling over in his grave.

But he is in his grave.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Can’t help but to think people can’t let go of their own personal nostalgia when judging things - things were always better in the old days!

Huh? You mean the nostalgia of visiting the parks and riding on 3 different Disney castle park riverboats in 2025 already?

Yes, I enjoyed those experiences and want to continue to enjoy them. What’s odd about that?