Horizons Showcase: Piston Peak

At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, Disney officially announced new details about high-octane attractions and spectacular scenery coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. Taking to the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress stage at D23 2026 to share the news were Michael Hundgen, Vice President Creative for Walt Disney World and Imagineer Jason Grandt.

Making its public debut, the second attraction coming to Piston Peak was announced: Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along.

Inspired by the “Diva of Demolition” from Cars 3, Michael announced that the ride will feature Miss Fritter as a “huge school-bus-sized animatronic” who hosts a stampeding bash at her “wildest demolition derby yet.”

Further details were also revealed around Piston Peak’s previously announced racing attraction. Imagineer Jason Grandt introduced the crowd to Cars Ridge Run Rally and described the experience as a quest to find “the wildest racer in the wheelderness” as they compete for the “fastest lap in the west.”

The course will take racers through the rugged beauty of America’s national parks, including a climb up Piston Peak itself, where an icy, snow-covered mountaintop awaits. Jason shared that he’s especially excited to experience the frosty summit at night.

After reaching the top, racers will plummet down for a camelback descent and later navigate an exhilarating geyser field. The race ends by circling the Old Tankfull geyser before a sprint to the finish line where Lightning McQueen and Mater are covering the race live on Racing Sports Network.

Fans at D23 got an up-close look at those off-road challenges – plus ridges, rivers, mud flats, tree-covered trails, and more – at the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion, where a detailed 225-square-foot scale model showcased the entire Piston Peak National Park project.

Cars Ridge Run Rally will debut a completely new ride vehicle, designed not to simulate an off-road car, but to be one. Michael explained that the attraction design is unlike typical theme park systems, promising that guests will “feel every bump, drop, and rock because this vehicle’s tires and suspension are truly driving over and reacting to them.”

Progress is already “fully underway” and Michael described the visible updates as “Imagineering in the round,” for a racing experience unlike anything else in the world.

Cars from around the country are fueling up to be the wildest racer in the “wheelderness.” Of course, we know that fans are curious to see how the exciting new backdrop for the big rally race will fit into the waters, landscapes, and storytelling at Magic Kingdom.

Today, we are excited to share that Piston Peak National Park will continue the sweeping storytelling tradition that has crossed Liberty Square and Frontierland since opening day.

Since the early days of Magic Kingdom, adventurous guests have traveled across space and time as they pass from Liberty Square to Frontierland. Starting with architectural influences from upstate New York and colonial America in Liberty Square, before traveling to a bear-y fun concert in the North Woods, a stop by New Orleans at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and ending in the Arizona bluffs at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

At the heart of all these stories are heroic characters with a belief in themselves that helped forge a path to their dreams. To continue this journey in great American storytelling, Piston Peak National Park will be part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom.

Imagine an awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers and impressive geysers. While fictional, Piston Peak is inspired by the Rocky Mountain area and the history and iconic sights of the American Frontier and its national parks.

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. To make sure these buildings fit naturally within the surrounding majestic landscapes, Imagineers are using a style of architecture called “Parkitecture,” which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment.

From the outside, trees will provide a natural barrier between the off-road rally and other parts of Frontierland and Liberty Square. Rugged mountains with dramatic peaks will be nestled along a calming waterway across from Grizzly Hall and soaring geysers from the famed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will stretch into the trails of our off-road rally.

Imagineers are hard at work beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad bringing to life the first-ever land inspired by the Disney Villains with two major attractions, dining and shopping all on an incredibly twisted grand scale.   So follow along every step of the way on the Disney Parks Blog because more details are coming soon.