🌵 Rivers of America, Liberty Belle, and Tom Sawyer Island will permanently close July 7, 2025. Here’s a look at Piston Peak National Park, the planned reimagining of these locations to a Cars-themed area.
“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. “ - Disney Parks Blog
07/05/2025
🌍 Disney just announced its seventh theme park destination—coming to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi! This landmark resort will blend Disney’s iconic storytelling with the rich culture and stunning architecture of the UAE. Situated on a beautiful waterfront, the park promises cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences, making it the most advanced and interactive destination in Disney’s portfolio. Developed in collaboration with Miral, the resort aims to welcome families from around the globe to a unique celebration of imagination and innovation.
06/05/2025
🏴☠️ Set sail for something new in Adventureland: The Beak and Barrel is coming to Magic Kingdom in late 2025. This immersive tavern, inspired by the lore of Pirates of the Caribbean, will feature rich storytelling, atmospheric spaces like “The Mess” and “Captains’ Quarters,” and a few magical surprises along the way. Stay tuned for more details as the adventure unfolds.
- Founded by the legendary pirate Captain Meridian “Merry” Goldwyn, the tavern features her talkative first mate, Rummy—a reimagined version of the original Barker Bird from the ride’s entrance. 
- The central area, known as “The Mess,” boasts long communal tables, a bar constructed from a cursed shipwreck, and an anchor-shaped chandelier dripping with candle wax. 
- The “Captains’ Quarters” offers a more refined setting with pirate-slashed decor and five enchanted ship-in-bottle models rumored to come alive in battle.
- Guests can anticipate a variety of pirate-themed food and beverages, along with magical surprises inspired by characters like Tia Dalma. 
02/01/2025
🙏 2024 was the year I let my 7-year podcast progress slow so I could give my family even more of me. I watched my creator friends thrive as I posted less, held fewer interviews with Imagineers, recorded no attraction podcast episodes (the most popular but also most time-consuming), and even skipped out on an incredible D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (Emily was born just a week prior).
While it was tough for me to watch my hard-earned podcast numbers shrink, my reach counts flounder, and my feeling of entrepreneurial growth taper, I regret nothing about this season, shifting my focus to what always counts most for me: my family. This picture sums up an incredible year focused on my girls (that includes Joanna), and it was filled with so many joyful moments I never showed you (and some challenging ones too).
2025, I’m calling it my “comeback year” for the show. My family will always come first, but this will be the year I get back to attraction episodes (starting with the first episode of the year), return to posting valuable social media content on a frequent basis, and tap into what makes Imagination Skyway special.
Extra thanks in 2024 go to my Patreon subscribers, my business partners and sponsors, my friends in this community, those of you who have stuck with me, and of course my family, whom this would all mean nothing without.
2025, I see you. Let’s go.
12/08/2024
🌵 New concept art for the new Cars themed section coming to Magic Kingdom! Disney confirmed this morning, as shown in this concept art, that the new Frontierland reimagining at Magic Kingdom will involve replacing at least part of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America to make way for the 2 new attractions announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—“a thrilling off-road rally race and a family friendly attraction even the youngest racers will love.”
Take a close look at the far edges and you’ll see Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the top right and left. Then at the left-hand side is Country Bear Musical Jamboree. Following the map, this puts the majority of the attraction space for Cars where Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island now stand.
This is all part of the largest Magic Kingdom expansion ever, which includes a new Disney Villains themed land, which a Disney Parks Blog article this morning confirmed is going to be the “beyond Big Thunder” section discussed over the last two years.
11/08/2024
🎤 👊 Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan event announced a LARGE number of CONFIRMED lands, attractions, and more, and a large number of breaking ground within the next year. Scroll through this post to see all the major announcements. Which are you most excited to see?
10/08/2024
🍿 Here’s every major announcement from last night’s Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (scroll through the images in this post to see the announcements listed out). Which are you most excited to see in theaters or on Disney+?
07/08/2024
🐭 Ahead of D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this weekend, I wanted to share 7 concepts I’d love to see for Walt Disney World and Disneyland. I’ve shared many of these ideas on the podcast in the last 2 years, but I’m compiling them all here:
🇲🇽 Santa Cecilia beyond Big Thunder with a Coco flying theater attraction taking you into the land of the dead on Dia de Los Mu***os. This would be seamless to blend with Frontierland and would be the first flying theater attraction at Magic Kingdom.
🦖 More details about Indiana Jones Adventure with a unique storyline created for Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a way that ties it to Tropical Americas and the greater park mythology (nature has intrinsic value). Some Dinosaur tributes would also be welcome!
🇩🇪 This one is unique, but there’s land behind the Germany and Italy pavilions at EPCOT for a major attraction. Perhaps a Tangled water ride could fit well here. After all, the film was inspired by a German Grimms’ fairy tale. World Showcase could benefit from another E-ticket!
💦 More details about Avatar coming to Disneyland. The concept art seems to show a water attraction based on Avatar 2, and I’d love to see some technology from Pirates of the Caribbean at Shanghai.
🌐 Spaceship Earth has earned its next (fifth) installment and could use a major update. While I’d hate to live without the attraction for 2-3 years, I’d welcome its next iteration.
🧠 I shared this idea in a previous Reel, but incorporating Inside Out into the Imagination Pavilion (keeping Figment and perhaps bringing back a tribute to Dreamfinder) could breathe new life into this classic pavilion.
🦸 A broader, less concrete, and more complicated idea, I’d love to see more Marvel at Walt Disney World. I know the famous contract stipulations with Universal make this tough, but I know Disney can find a way.
This of course comes in addition to wanting updates from other blue sky ideas announced previously, including Test Track 3.0. What’s the biggest item on your wish list for the Disney Experiences Showcase?
02/08/2024
💕 Welcome to the world, Emily Anna Krul, born July 30. As a Dad with two daughters (like Walt), I am feeling truly blessed and am looking forward to our Disney trips as a family of four (we have Emily’s first Disney trip booked for early 2025). Maggie has told us she’s excited to hold her baby sister’s hand wherever we go together, and like Elsa and Bluey, she is looking forward to being a big sister. Joanna and I are feeling truly blessed and our hearts are filled with joy this week. Emily, Mommy and Daddy love you so much and devote ourselves to being everything you and Maggie need us to be!
26/06/2024
May you grow up to be righteous.
May you grow up to be true.
May you always know the truth.
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous.
Stand upright and be strong.
May you stay forever young.
🎶 Forever Young
16/06/2024
🏒 The Pixar magic is strong with Inside Out 2! I’m so glad we took Maggie to see this one in theaters because she really enjoyed seeing it on the big screen as much as we did, and this is a movie I cannot wait to come to Disney+.
I put this film on the Pixar A-list because it checks off many boxes:
⭐️ A creative premise (in this case, a meaningful expansion to an existing creative premise).
🎥 A great story that both children and adults can enjoy, full of heart and humor.
🥹 Emotional moments (my eyes got misty twice).
🎶 A beautiful musical score.
🧠 Motifs that help us grapple with major life moments (in this case, our own emotions, especially in times of growth and change).
While the plot for this film didn’t quite have the same level of profound realization as its predecessor (remember what Joy discovered about the true value of Sadness?) and thus was more predictable, it still was incredibly emotionally gratifying and very enjoyable to watch. And despite Disgust and Fear getting new voices with this sequel, I found it was handled as smoothly as similar Pixar recasts (e.g. Slinky Dog).
🍅 With a 92% critic score and 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes opening weekend, I must say these scores are warranted. I can’t wait to see it again!
25/05/2024
🎹 So saddened to hear about the passing of Richard M. Sherman, announced by Disney just a few moments ago. Richard and his brother Robert wrote some of the most iconic songs of all time, and I’ll be spending the weekend listening to some old favorites in his memory.
“Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman, half of the Academy Award®-winning songwriting team of the Sherman Brothers (with his late brother, Disney Legend Robert B. Sherman), passed away Saturday, May 25, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, due to age-related illness. He was 95 years old. One of the most prolific composer-lyricists in the history of family entertainment, and a key member of Walt Disney’s inner circle of creative talents, Richard garnered nine Academy Award nominations (winning two Oscars® for his work on the 1964 classic Mary Poppins), won three GRAMMY® Awards, and received 24 gold and platinum albums over the course of his 65 year career. His career ran the gamut from the early days of rock n’ roll (with such hits as “You’re Sixteen”) and television to Broadway and Hollywood.“ - Walt Disney Company
What song by Richard Sherman has brought you the most joy?
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Imagination Skyway posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?
Share
About the Show
Imagineer Podcast is a show and community that celebrates all things Disney®, including the Disney Parks and Resorts®, Walt Disney Studios®, Disney-Pixar®, Marvel®, Star Wars®, and other Disney properties. As an unofficial guide to all things Disney, Imagineer Podcast serves to help listeners grow a greater understanding of the Walt Disney Company® and a deeper appreciation for the company’s destinations and content. Podcast episodes explore the history and design of Disney attractions, offer tips for traveling to the Disney Parks and Resorts, and celebrate the best that the Walt Disney Company has to offer.
About the Host
Matthew Krul is a lifelong fan and historian of all things Disney (since his first trip to Walt Disney World® as an infant) and a former Cast Member of the Walt Disney Company. After working at the Disney Store® in 2006, Matt went on to complete an internship at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2007 as part of the Disney College Program. Matt also participated in a Disney Professional Internship in 2014, working with the Marketing Strategy team at Disney Vacation Club®.
Matt now lives in the New York City area with his wife and family as a Digital Marketing Manager. As an annual passholder, he makes frequent trips to Walt Disney World and the occasional pilgrimage to Disneyland®. Matt has also visited Disneyland Paris® and has stayed at almost every Walt Disney World Resort hotel. He founded the Imagineer Podcast in 2017 to share his love for all things Disney and to inspire generations to go after their dreams. Matt’s goal is to create happiness and build a positive community of Disney fans.
About our page
The Imagineer Podcast's Facebook channel focuses on connecting and engaging a community of podcast listeners. Like and follow our page for some unofficial Disney magic wherever you are, even when you're not at the parks.
Our podcast and community is devoted to:
- Sharing our passion for the Disney brand
- Inspiring listeners to follow their dreams
- Exploring the marvels of Walt Disney Imagineering®
In creating a fair and constructive community, we will not tolerate:
- Solicitations to buy or sell goods or services in our community
- Harassment of any kind (written, verbal, or otherwise expressed)
- Posts or sharing of links containing illegal or offensive content
You can find links to our podcast by visiting http://imagineerpodcast.com.
Disclaimers:
I’ve been a huge fan of Disney since before I can remember and am privileged to be a former Cast Member of the Walt Disney Company (and to address a common question I receive, I never worked for or with Walt Disney Imagineering). The Imagineer Podcast is a product of my sincere passion for the Disney brand. The opinions presented are completely my own and are not influenced in any way. Although I formerly worked for the company (2014 and prior), I am not currently an employee of the Walt Disney Company, nor am I compensated in any way for the content I produce (I do not receive cash, tickets, hotel stays, meals, merchandise, or any other form of payment for the content I produce). In the event that I am compensated, I will fully disclose the means of payment in the appropriate post or podcast episode. At the end of the day, I’m simply a fan just like you doing my best to spread the Disney magic. I look forward to sharing it all with you. - Matt Krul
