Disney’s plan to bring Cars attractions to the Magic Kingdom at the expense of the Rivers of America is one of their most controversial decisions in recent memory. Disney fans have roasted the idea on social media, begging Disney to reconsider and save the only piece of nature in the world’s busiest theme park.
Two former Imagineers took to social media to propose some alternative ideas for the Cars land addition that would save the Rivers of America. Eddie Sotto and Jim Shull, two longtime Walt Disney Imagineers, drafted some quick designs that show what Disney could do to appease guests.
First, let’s look at Sotto’s concept.
Sotto’s goal was to show Disney could do it all with a bit more effort.
Literally just penciled this out to show that you CAN have it all with a little imagination. Riverboat boards by TBA, track loops w switches (MS Streetcars), allowing direct access to BTM, even a stream for Canoes to explore a BTM “cavern” under the rock bridge. MORE land now to use for Cars, but retains the immersive river experience. Tunnel to new “Lafitte” Island? Villains can be accessed by HM and also thru F’land “portal”. It can all be done, you just have to want to. I hear the case is still closed, but was fun to “Imagineer” a bit.
Eddie Sotto
Sotto’s plan redesigns the Rivers of America, adds a bridge, and shifts the new Cars land back behind the Haunted Mansion. He even added a new attraction, canoes, which is similar to what’s offered in Disneyland. There are some possible issues with the plan, but it’s fun to see what could be created if the ambition was there.
Former Imagineer Jim Shull took a stab at it himself.
Shull’s comments on his design:
This path requires an under river tunnel to a lift that carries Thunder trains to Maintenance. The river depth for a canoe only section would be shallow. [Sotto] renamed the island but I kept it Tom Sawyer. CARS land moves behind HM which is okay since the Mansion show building needs masking if anything is built behind it. Also Small World sits back there and any plan needs to address that too. This plan connects the expansion back to Fantasyland for increased total path circulation.
Jim Shull
Both Sotto and Shull were able to quickly come up with solutions that adds Cars land while keeping the Rivers of America in some shape or form. Both shifted Big Thunder Mountain Railroad into an island, which is similar to the version of the ride in Disneyland Paris. Both moved the Cars attractions back behind Haunted Mansion, which falls more in line with the “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” concept Disney originally pitched.
Of course, both plans involve a lot more work and money to pull off compared to Disney’s idea to simply remove the river. And that’s the sticking point. Disney doesn’t have the ambition or drive to do this. Despite a major backlash on social media (seriously, look at the comments on any Disney post about this project), Disney is still pushing ahead because it makes the most sense financially.
Will Disney listen to these former Imagineers and the vocal opposition to this idea?
