When it comes to changes to Disney World’s oldest attractions, fans tend to react… badly, and have been for decades.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Which arguably makes it all the more surprising that there’s a Magic Kingdom opening day attraction that many fans are desperate to see changed, if not outright removed: The Tomorrowland Speedway.
Like many Disney rides, the story of the Tomorrowland Speedway begins 3,000 miles from Disney World in Anaheim, California. When the “Happiest Place on Earth” opened on July 17th, 1955, Autopia was among its opening day attractions, and one of its most popular. At the time, the U.S. Interstate Highway System didn’t exist in its current form, so the Autopia track was truly a vision of the future, making it appropriate for the park’s Tomorrowland. This, along with the Bob Gurr-designed cars that gave everyone the feeling of “driving”, made the ride a favorite of many during its early years.
Autopia
Given that popularity, it’s unsurprising that the ride was ported over to the Magic Kingdom when Disney World opened in 1971. Initially dubbed the Grand Prix Speedway (there were several name changes and sponsorships until the current Tomorrowland Speedway name came into use in the early 2000s), the ride was built on the border between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland. Just like its Disneyland counterpart, the ride was quite popular initially.
Tomorrowland Speedway
So, why do so many fans want to see the Speedway closed or drastically changed these days? Well, there are several reasons. For starters, the ride takes up a huge chunk of real estate in a heavily trafficked area of the park. As mentioned above, it’s right on the border between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and sits just in front of both TRON Lightcycle / Run and Space Mountain, and many fans feel that that space could be better utilized. Plus, the theme of driving on a highway that was quite literally futuristic in 1955 and still somewhat novel in 1971 is commonplace at best — and at worst something guests want to escape while on vacation — in 2026. Then there’s the issue of the smell.
Tomorrowland Speedway
The Tomorrowland Speedway (and Autopia), for that matter, have also long been dinged for the effect their gas-powered ride vehicles have on the park’s environment, both in the larger sense of environmental damage and in the more immediate smell of gasoline. However, when it comes to that issue, there is hope to save the ride. In 2027, Disneyland’s Autopia will be transitioned to fully electric vehicles, and many of the fans who wish to preserve the Tomorrowland Speedway hope that a similar change is on the way for the Disney World version.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Both those who want the ride removed entirely and those who wish to see it modernized and updated were hoping to hear an announcement about the ride as part of a rumored larger Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland announcement at D23 in August. However, while a major announcement was made about Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, nothing was said about the Magic Kingdom’s.
©Disney
The Tomorrowland Speedway will likely remain a controversial topic among Disney fans until the ride is either refurbished or replaced. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney World’s evolution.
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I miss the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea E attraction from Year One. Maybe they could bring that back!?
My family rode Speedway with the young grandchildren. They loved it! What we did was the adults stepped on the gas and the kids steered. We were all hysterically laughing. I felt like the cars were improved from when I last rode it in the 1990’s. I didn’t smell gas fumes.
Yes, please change to electric cars, but please don’t get rid of this attraction!! The little ones absolutely love the opportunity to drive these little cars around the track!! No, this is not a ride for adults…it is a ride for children and they love it.