The Tomorrowland Speedway has been part of Walt Disney World since opening day; October 1st, 1971. While I have fond childhood memories and family photos from “driving my first car”, it could certainly be a better experience suited for Florida’s Magic Kingdom. But if Disney removes the Speedway at this point, what should take its place?
There are three reasons the Speedway should have never been part of Magic Kingdom:
- It doesn’t fit the Tomorrowland theme. There is nothing futuristic about it. Even in 1971, an attraction that consisted of driving a small car powered by a fossil-fuel combustion engine was old news.
- It doesn’t fit the Magic Kingdom theme. There is nothing magical about this prosaic attraction. Only the youngest children will find it exciting to drive a slow (max speed 7 miles per hour) vehicle bound to a permanent track – but the youngest children can’t even have the relative thrill of taking to the open-ish road on their own, as the minimum height for a solo rider is 54 inches. For reference, the bucolic Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover averages 6 miles per hour, and has the added scenic value, including views inside Space Mountain.
- Not to mention the “speedway” theme, soaking up the hot Florida sun with no fun, offbeat paths – unlike Disneyland’s Autopia! Speedway is wildly impractical for Florida summers, with its unshaded asphalt and suffocating exhaust fumes.
Perhaps the strongest argument against the Tomorrowland Speedway is the enormous amount of real estate it occupies, situated in what should be a prime location between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. I think we were all surprised when TRON Lightcycle Run was announced to sit between Space Mountain and the Speedway, rather than replacing an existing footprint.
Here are a few ways this space could better be utilized:
- Go Electric > Add shade > Add Wreck-It Ralph theming. S-U-G-A-R, jump into your racing car! Sugar Rush! I can’t be the only one still wanting more in-park representation for this precious retro movie. A Wreck-It Ralph-themed racing attraction done right could fill that awkward gap between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland quite nicely.
- More Fantasyland! Sure, we got the Fantasyland Expansion back in 2012, but I’d love to see more. We have Cinderella Castle, how about a Cinderella-themed dark ride? Or a Tangled attraction that’s more than themed restrooms (hello, Tokyo Disney’s boat ride?), plus more table service dining.
- Bring back the classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. There’s plenty of room to dig out a lagoon and put even-more-terrifying-than-in-the-past giant squid in the water. And there are thousands of older Disney enthusiasts who remember this attraction fondly and want the chance to experience it again with their kids.
- I’m dreaming here, I know, but maybe rework the plans for that new Cars land sadly taking over the Rivers of America? Even if this isn’t a probability, it’s tough to imagine two car-related attractions existing so close to each other. Maybe the Speedway’s replacement will happen sooner than we think…
What do you think? Has the Tomorrowland Speedway kept pace with the evolution of the Magic Kingdom? What would you like to see take its place?
Theme Park Correspondent for The DIS | Chloé loves kitschy dark rides, roller coasters, a good background area music loop, hot Butterbeer, and all things Halloween. You’ll mostly find her wandering around Orlando’s biggest theme parks snapping pics and sharing tips… or probably talking about The Great Movie Ride.
