Credit: Inside the MagicDisney has hit a minor roadblock.
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In the wake of Disney’s bombshell announcement regarding Magic Kingdom’s Rivers of America, the company has reportedly hit a speed bump that may delay the project. A detailed new report from Wdwmagic reveals the reason Disney’s permit was blocked, with the company being asked to provide additional information before any real work can get started.
The Walt Disney Company is currently in the middle of what could be the most exciting transformational period ever for its theme parks, with several new rides, attractions, and entirely new lands on the way.
Disney laid out its upcoming projects at its D23 fan event in August, sharing more details on previously announced projects like a new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar coming to the Magic Kingdom and a new Monsters Inc.-inspired expansion for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
However, Disney’s Cars expansion certainly took home the award for the most surprising development of the night, with the company planning to invest a significant chunk of change in Pixar’s world-famous animated franchise.
The new Cars expansion will be located in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, specifically within Frontierland, a country-fried western town home to several other attractions, most notably, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The initial announcement may have been a shock, but the news of where this new Cars land would be going would hit longtime fans like a punch in the gut. Disney confirmed that the Rivers of America, along with Tom Sawyer Island, would be paved over to make way for this new addition.
Disney Hits Speed Bump in Florida
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However, the South Florida Water Management District, or SFWMD, has returned Disney’s permit application to begin initial work on its massive Cars expansion. The SFWMD has requested that Disney provide additional information and revisions before the project can officially start burning rubber.
The permit specifically details modifications to the stormwater system near Tom Sawyer Island and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a necessary step in preparing the land for its upcoming transformation.
The SWFMD identified several issues with Disney’s permit, including inconsistencies between what Disney stated and previously approved plans. The district is now seeking clarification from Disney, requesting reports on wetland impacts and how the new expansion may affect the ecosystems in the area.
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As stated earlier, Disney’s upcoming Cars expansion is one piece of the Disney puzzle, with the company currently working on an unprecedented number of new rides and attractions for its theme parks. At Disney’s D23 event, Parks and Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro presented the Horizons showcase, delivering a truckload of news regarding upcoming theme park expansions.
“The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success. That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city,” Josh said during the show.
Disney’s long-rumored plans to build a door roller coaster based on Pixar’s Monsters Inc. finally came to fruition, with the company announcing a new Monstropolis area is officially coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s new Avatar expansion also received some updates, with the company sharing more concept art regarding the divisive West Coast version of Pandora.
What upcoming Disney theme park project are you most excited about?