Closing time for Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America at Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Now, another iconic corner of Walt Disney World is shuttering.
Sunday, July 6 is the last operating day for Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom in Florida.
For decades, this tree-lined stretch of Frontierland and Liberty Square invited guests to break away from the hustle and bustle of the world's most visited theme park, to take in the scenery and slow down.
The closing was announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event last August, but a specific date wasn't shared until June.
Here's why the attractions are closing and what guests can expect from their replacement.
What is Tom Sawyer Island?
Like its counterpart at Disneyland in California, Tom Sawyer Island is a old timey island amid the Rivers of America, which guests can reach by raft or circle by riverboat.
"Wander dusty dirt roads lined with tall trees, explore whirling mills and amble across creaky suspension bridges. Navigate narrow passages amid secret mined caves and uncover a frontier fort," read the attraction's page on Disney World's website. "Along the way, follow in the pioneering footsteps of early settlers, during an era when Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer reflected a new nation coming into its own. It's an unforgettable expedition into the heart of the American frontier!"
D23, the Official Disney Fan Club notes both Disneyland and Disney World's Tom Sawyer Island were present on the opening days of their respective parks, but their attractions didn't open until later. Disneyland's version was personally designed by Walt Disney and given a pirate overlay in 2007.
It's important to note that only Magic Kingdom's version is closing. Disneyland's Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will remain open, as will its Rivers of America and riverboat.
Why is Disney closing Tom Sawyer Island?
Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America are closing at Disney World as part of Magic Kingdom's largest expansion to date. The Florida park is getting a whole new area beyond Big Thunder Mountain, including a new Villians land in years to come.
The space where Tom Sawyer Island is now will be replaced by a new "Cars"-inspired area different from the Radiator Springs setting of Cars Land in Disney California Adventure.
The new area will be called "Piston Peak National Park."
"Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers," Disney Parks Blog posted in June. "Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails and more all set within the Disney and Pixar 'Cars' universe."
Disney said Imagineers will use a style of architecture developed by the Natural Park Service to blend structures into Rocky Mountain-inspired Piston Peak, and trees will serve as a natural border between an off-road rally attraction and the rest of Frontierland and Liberty Square.
Concept art shared by Disney shows water will also remain a prominent part of the landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
39 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
Hulu Docuseries Worth Your Time
What if I told you that Hulu has a wide variety of docuseries that will have you bingeing immediately? And what if I made a whole streaming list for you to check out right now? Here are 21 great Hulu docuseries you can stream right now: Welcome to Wrexham (2022–present) After purchasing Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC, Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds seek to elevate the organization to new of the best docuseries in recent memory. Even if you are not a sports fan, it is incredible to watch this journey of a small Welsh town become a magnet for all eyes in the sports world. We're witnessing something pretty special with this it on Hulu. Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown (2024) The unimaginable horrors of Jim Jones' cult are recounted by eyewitnesses and Bizarre. It is an essential watch for anyone interested in the terrifying true stories behind cults. This one, in particular, was one of the largest incidents of intentional civilian death in American it on Hulu. Tucci in Italy (2025) Stanley Tucci takes you on an intimate tour of you're into travel shows and wish they never left Italy, I've got a show for you. Tucci really focuses on all the little aspects of "The Boot" that isn't covered in most tourist-like it on Hulu. Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023) Follow a cult from its origins to its demise as a group of college students fall under the influence of one of their friends' three-part docuseries offers a close examination of a case which continues to unfold daily with new developments. True crime and cult horror fans will be glued to this it on Hulu. David Blaine: Do Not Attempt (2025) Famous illusionist David Blaine seeks people around the world who can perform extraordinary feats that are, in a way, magic and sleight of hand are your bag, then Blaine will probably pull a rabbit out of it. Jokes aside, illusions are fascinating to me because who the heck figures out how they can perform these feats? it on Hulu. McCartney 3, 2, 1 (2021) Music legend Paul McCartney sits down with fellow legend Rick Rubin to share some rare, in-depth stories about his music miniseries has garnered tremendous praise, earning a "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Who better to listen to about their musical journey than the 18-time Grammy Award-winning McCartney?Watch it on Hulu. Sasquatch (2021) Investigative journalist David Holthouse seeks answers for a bizarre homicide that was rumored to be committed by a lover? Squatch on over and watch this three-part series looking for the most famous camera-shy being it on Hulu. Legacy: The True Story of the L.A. Lakers (2022) Follow the rise and success of one of the biggest sports franchises of all a Boston sports fan, it pains me to include this, but there is no denying the importance of the Lakers to the NBA. There are 10 hour-long it on Hulu. In Vogue: The 90s (2024) The '90s fashion industry through the eyes of three editors of Anna Wintour stepping down as Vogue Editor-in-Chief this year after nearly four decades, this docuseries feels even more important as an addition to your watch list. Through six episodes, take a stylish ride into the glamorous lives of the people behind Vogue. '90s babies and fashion lovers, in particular, will want to buckle it on Hulu. Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025) A famous vlogger is arrested for child abuse, and now, she and her family share their case captured the attention of both the media and social media users, and this docuseries presents the information of the entire case, including the accused abusers' side of the it on Hulu. American Monster (2016–present) Look into the eyes of a killer and witness unseen footage of cases dealing with unexpected killers hiding in plain of Investigation Discovery's longest-running shows, it's a hidden gem for true crime lovers. This is like Unsolved Mysteries but focused on violent American crimes rather than open cases—a spotlight on people who became real it on Hulu. Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini (2024) After the disappearance of Sherri Papini, all eyes fall on her husband, Keith, as a series of events unfold that grip the state of this three-part series, you will see how this documented disappearance snowballs into a massive media frenzy. If you enjoyed mystery disappearance movies like Gone Girl, you will love it on Hulu. Devil in the Ozarks (2023) A nearby murder produces DNA evidence connected to a sexual assault case 20 years this is a single-episode series, the small-town true story feels intimate and it on Hulu. Born to be Viral: The Real Lives of Kidfluencers (2025) Like. Share. And dive into the lives of families raising children in the age of a chronically online world as they strive to earn lives of these modern parents are placed under a microscope, just as they have done to their it on Hulu. Liberation: D-Day to Berlin (2025) Restored footage brings the turning point of World War II to series brings World War II to life in color, and it's an eerie watch. The color adds to the gut check for younger generations, showing them that this was very real and not too far behind it on Hulu. Snapped (2006–present) From bizarre to high profile, Snapped features stories about the accused and the of the more popular true crime series, this Oxygen show tells the stories of women accused of it on Hulu. Hey, Beautiful: The Anatomy of a Romance Scam (2025) Women share their stories about a handsome man who was anything but the dream online of twists and turns in this one, and when it comes to true crime, it shows that there are still plenty of dangers on the other side of the it on Hulu. Call Her Alex (2025) Follow the day-to-day life of the most influential woman in the podcasting you're an avid listener of "Call Me Daddy," then you will love this look behind the microphone as Alex Cooper prepares for her first tour. Watch it on Hulu. The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer (2025) Uncover the dark secrets discovered in a reopened Indiana serial killer crime docs are often stomach-churning, but this one is just flat-out creepy. Four episodes, this series puts a spotlight on an old case where a wealthy businessman preyed on gay it on Hulu. Dark Side of the Ring (2019–present) Take a look behind the curtain at some of the darkest stories and figures in the sports entertainment business of pro fun as pro wrestling is, there is no question that there is a much darker side to its history than any promoter would like to it on Hulu. Deadliest Catch (2005–present) Men brave the dangers of the Bering Sea in the quest to meet their quota or risk losing their I believe this one teeters toward some reality-esque subplots, the real dangers of crabbing are very present in the series. You will have 20 seasons of drama dealing with the sky highs and lowest lows in the lives of it on Hulu. Watch all of these docuseries and more on Hulu. Which of these docuseries had you hooked? Tell me why in the comments below!
Eater
an hour ago
- Eater
Find Glorious Pakistani Chopped Cheeses at This East Village Restaurant
is a born-and-raised New Yorker who is an editor for Eater's Northeast region and Eater New York, was the former Eater Austin editor for 10 years, and often writes about food and pop culture. The chopped cheese sandwich is a New York City bodega mainstay. Burger patties are chopped and grilled together with spices, onions, and American cheese, turning into a glorious gloopy mess, paired with tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo, and placed in a hero or kaiser roll. And now there's a new restaurant aiming to offer a South Asian spin to the classic city sandwich, as first reported by EV Grieve, swapping a burger patty for chapli kebab. Nishaan will open in the East Village at 160 First Avenue, between Ninth Street and 10th streets, sometime this summer. Owner Zeeshan Bakhrani's approach to building Nishaan's halal menu stems from his upbringing. 'Looking at the dishes I enjoyed growing up as a Pakistani kid and an American kid,' Nishaan says, and figuring out how to 'combine them in a way that honors both dishes and it's not just two dishes slapped together,' he says. Take the star of Nishaan's halal menu: He didn't just want to take a chapli kebab and place it into a burger bun. He thought about the DNAs of the patty-shaped kebab and a chopped cheese, taking the chapli kebab spices like adobo and cinnamon, cooking the meat on a griddle, mixing in pepper jack and American cheese, and dropping it all in a hoagie. (He thought about swapping in a paratha, the flaky South Asian round bread, but decided it would be too much.) In addition to the chapli kebab chopped cheese, he's making a Buffalo chicken iteration with tandoori spices. The bihari barbacoa tacos at Nishaan. Nishaan 'I like combining cultures,' Bakhrani says. He explains how cultural dishes have morphed into something different because a main element wasn't available, or there are other ingredients that work better. 'The invention of the dishes themselves is through some sort of limitations,' using what is available, he says. Bakhrani is also making bihari barbacoa tacos, for which the tender, smoky shredded beef is cooked with bihari spices, topped with a tamarind salsa, resulting in a 'smoky chipotle taco,' he describes. And his elotes chaat combines Mexican and South Asian snacks. He tops corn with tamarind chutney, chaat masala, a lime-cilantro sauce, bhel (crispy rice), and cotija. It's 'the greatest thing I ever made,' he says. The forthcoming restaurant will also offer loaded fries, like the Noom Dhoom masala with an achari mayonnaise and a chopped cheese iteration. Bakhrani isn't stopping at savory items. He's riffing on a viral dessert with the Dubai chocolate paratha. He plans on creating what he describes as a 'funnel cake-ish' version where he will deep-fry the paratha, add powdered sugar, pistachio sauce, hazelnut sauce, and kadayif (shredded crispy filo). It's 'nutty, chocolatey, flaky,' he says. 'We describe it as a flash croissant.' There are drinks too. He's making a gulab jamun cold foam, a take on the syrupy South Asian dessert. His comes with cardamom coffee topped with a saffron cardamom rosewater cold foam and dehydrated gulab jamuns. Then there's the strawberry rosa sago milkshake, for which he makes strawberry coconut rosa jellies, mixed with strawberry ice cream. The elotes chaat at Nishaan. Nishaan Before Nishaan, Bakhrani had been making food on his own for a while as he worked in finance product management.. He had already done a food collaboration with halal mini-chain Namkeen, resulting in the garam masala hot chicken in 2023. He also ran pop-ups in his hometown of Chicago as well as Dallas. But Bakhrani got laid off in 2024 and had to figure out what he wanted to do. 'I know how to cook, I know how to sell food,' Bakhrani tells Eater, so, on a whim, he applied to be a vendor at Smorgasburg. To his surprise, he got accepted and started the stall in late August 2024. His Smorgasburg signage emphasized the sandwich, calling the stand the 'home of the Pakistani chopped cheese,' which was intentional. 'I heard somebody walk by, and they were like, 'Oh, I don't know what Pakistani food is, but I've had a chopped cheese. I want to try that,'' he recounts. 'I'm like, 'Yes, that's exactly what I wanted: food that is familiar but different.' With the pop-ups and lack of a day job, he wanted to open something of his own. 'I'm the kid of immigrants,' he says, 'there's nothing but work in my brain.' A restaurant front allowed him a permanent space to cook, experiment, hire staff, and interact with customers. The small counter-service restaurant will have about 10 to 14 seats. The design will take its cues from the Wazir Khan mosque in Lahore, emphasizing floral geometric shapes, Bakhrani explains. There's an inherited arch structure from the address's predecessor, Mexican restaurant Sabor A Mexico Taqueria. 'I want to leave a mark on the cuisine, but I want people to have that feeling of, 'Hey this is going to be my comfort food spot, when I'm hungry; when I'm thirsty; when I want something that satisfies the soul; I come here and eat it.' The restaurant's name means 'mark' in Urdu, because he wants his food to leave an impression.
Black America Web
2 hours ago
- Black America Web
Royal Baddie Alert: Meet French Montana's Girlfriend, The Princess of Dubai
Rapper French Montana said he was a shot caller, and he's proving it by successfully shooting his shot with a real-life princess! As reported by VIBE, the Moroccan-American rapper has made headlines with his new romantic connection to Sheikha Mahra, the Princess of Dubai. The couple was recently spotted in Paris, exuding a 'new couple glow' as they held hands and enjoyed the city's romantic ambiance. Their public appearances coincided with Paris Fashion Week, where French Montana attended high-profile events. Sheikha Mahra, also known as Xtianna on Instagram, shared glimpses of their Parisian escapades on her social media. Her highlights included luxurious dinners, the iconic Eiffel Tower, and a symbolic love lock adorned with a red heart. While the lock's details were obscured, it hinted at their budding romance. This relationship marks a significant chapter for both. Sheikha Mahra, the daughter of UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recently divorced Sheikh Mana al Maktoum, with whom she shares a daughter, in 2024. French Montana, known for hits like 'Unforgettable,' has expressed a desire to keep his private life out of the spotlight, citing past experiences where media attention complicated relationships. Despite their public outings, the couple seems intent on maintaining a level of privacy. As they navigate their relationship, fans are eager to see how this unique love story unfolds. Check out some flicks of French's Royal Baddie below! Royal Baddie Alert: Meet French Montana's Girlfriend, The Princess of Dubai was originally published on
