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A newly filed wastewater document with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is offering what may be an early glimpse into the physical layout of two major expansions coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World: a brand-new Disney Villains-inspired land and Piston Peak, a Pixar‘s Cars-themed area.
The filing, submitted under “Project SNK,” outlines utility connections and building locations tied to future development in the area formerly occupied by the Rivers of America. While Disney has not officially confirmed the details shown in the document, the plans provide insight into how the two new areas will be arranged.
Looking at previously released concept art, we believe that Piston Peak will occupy the front section of the former Rivers of America, while the Villains land will take over much of the back section. Below, we’ve overlaid the newly released permit onto a Google Earth image of Magic Kingdom to provide a clearer view of how the expansions fit within the existing park. We added a red line to the image to separate the two areas, with Piston Peak positioned below the line and the Villains land primarily above it. Some of the structures north of the line may also serve as backstage facilities.
Theme park analyst Mickey Views shared a computer-generated flyover showing the building footprints revealed in the wastewater permit, further highlighting how the two expansions could be arranged on site.
According to documents, the Villains land and Piston Peak developments are expected to accommodate more than 9,000 guests, with the permits citing 9,316 as the average guest count used to calculate the capacity of the upgraded stormwater systems.
Disney Villains Land
Disney previously announced that the Villains land will include two major attractions, along with dining and retail offerings. Although no specific details have been revealed, the new filing offers clues based on building size and placement.
According to measurements taken using Google Earth, the two largest structures in the northern section of the site measure approximately 56,000 square feet for the building on the left and 83,000 square feet for the building on the right. Given their scale, these are believed to be the likely locations for the land’s two headline attractions.
A long, narrow rectangular structure measuring roughly 15,800 square feet may be used for shopping, dining, or other facilities, with the possibility that some of these functions could also be integrated into another building. Meanwhile, a smaller building at the top of the site, estimated at 8,500 square feet, is tucked away from guest areas and may function as a backstage facility. Its placement might also be intended to accommodate a railroad station along the park’s edge for the Walt Disney World Railroad.
Another square-shaped structure near the bottom of the Villains land area measures roughly 5,800 square feet. Due to its proximity to the Haunted Mansion, some rumors suggest it may not be part of the Villains land at all and could instead be related to a possible Haunted Mansion-themed addition.
It should be noted that these suggested uses for the structures are based on observation, as Disney has not confirmed their purpose.
Piston Peak/Pixar’s Cars Area
The southern portion of the former Rivers of America will be dedicated to Piston Peak, the upcoming Cars-inspired area that will serve as an expansion to Frontierland. Disney has already confirmed that this area will feature a rally race ride unique to Walt Disney World, as well as a family-focused attraction, though details about the latter remain under wraps.
The wastewater document shows two possible structures in this section. The larger building, bordering Frontierland, measures approximately 47,600 square feet, while a second structure just above it is estimated to be about 19,300 square feet, according to measurements taken using Google Earth. At least one of these buildings is expected to contain indoor portions of the rally race attraction.
Concept art released by Disney depicts Piston Peak as a fairly mountainous environment with Parkitecture-style buildings designed to blend naturally into the landscape. This indicates that the structures—especially the largest—will likely be concealed by rockwork and other landscape elements, similar to other immersive lands at Disney parks, while incorporating the distinctive Parkitecture aesthetic.
What This Means Going Forward
Although the wastewater filing doesn’t confirm final designs, ride layouts, or themes, it offers one of the clearest technical glimpses yet into how the Villains and Cars expansions could take shape. The Villains land appears set to occupy much of the back section of the former Rivers of America, with two large-scale attractions serving as its centerpiece. Piston Peak, meanwhile, will anchor the front portion near Frontierland, creating a new transition between classic and modern Magic Kingdom areas.
Disney has not commented on the document.
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