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Magic Kingdom Closing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island on Fourth of July Weekend Is the Final Slap in the Face to Disney Fans

  • On July 7, Disney will close Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom to make way for Piston Peak National Park.
  • Prompted by Disney’s largest-ever expansion announced last month, the park is closing Rivers of America and related attractions to make way for Piston Peak National Park.
  • Since 1971, Rivers of America has anchored Frontierland and Liberty Square, with the Liberty Belle steamboat and Tom Sawyer Island added in 1973 to offer narrated frontier-life rides.
  • In the wake of the closures, Disney fans launched petitions with thousands of signatures and campaigns to express their frustration to the company.
  • More broadly, replacing heritage attractions with an IP-driven land highlights Disney’s shift toward merchandise synergy over park charm, raising questions about future guest experiences.
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Theme Park Insider broke the news in on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
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