Never realized how much fun the tomorrowland speedway is

[kcnole]

I've always been a proponent of destroying the speedway and putting something else there in its place. It takes up a ton of space, it doesn't really fit thematically in either Tomorrowland or Fantasyland, its boring, etc...

I was wrong. I took my son (who is 2 1/2) to the Magic Kingdom this weekend. As soon as he saw the speedway the only thing he could talk about was driving a racecar. So I reluctantly took him on the ride. I've never seen his face beam like that as he "drove" that race car. We wound up riding it again, and if we'd have let him, we'd have ridden it a third time.

I've never seen a ride bring that much joy to a kid before. Its two days away and he's still telling everyone about how he got to drive a race car. The picture my wife took of us is my desktop right now, and his smile brings one to my face everytime I look at it.

So while this may not be a ride that I can enjoy by myself, I definitely see why its there now and I don't think it should ever go away. Get a retheme to something futuristic? certainly, but that needs to be there for the kids.

 

[SirGoofy]

I've always been a proponent of destroying the speedway and putting something else there in its place. It takes up a ton of space, it doesn't really fit thematically in either Tomorrowland or Fantasyland, its boring, etc...

I was wrong. I took my son (who is 2 1/2) to the Magic Kingdom this weekend. As soon as he saw the speedway the only thing he could talk about was driving a racecar. So I reluctantly took him on the ride. I've never seen his face beam like that as he "drove" that race car. We wound up riding it again, and if we'd have let him, we'd have ridden it a third time.

I've never seen a ride bring that much joy to a kid before. Its two days away and he's still telling everyone about how he got to drive a race car. The picture my wife took of us is my desktop right now, and his smile brings one to my face everytime I look at it.

So while this may not be a ride that I can enjoy by myself, I definitely see why its there now and I don't think it should ever go away. Get a retheme to something futuristic? certainly, but that needs to be there for the kids.

Great story!:sohappy:

While I don't necessarily think the ride needs to be ripped out, it needs a big overhaul desperately. The cars are loud, smelly, and obnoxious, and the scenery is very lame. Up the theming(like Autopia) and make the cars electric, and they've got something great.

 

[misterID]

Good story. But I still want it ripped out. :lol:

It would be cool if they could put it somehwere like around the ESPN complex and themed it to NASCAR or something. If there's any room.

I just hate that speedway. But I completely understand why small kids would love it, though.

 

[Master Yoda]

It still never ceases to amaze me how cool even the most mundane things can be when you see them through your kids eyes. Kids may make the body grow old but they sure can keep the mind and heart young.

 

[Figment632]

In its current form it doesn't really fit in TL in needs some major TLC here is what I would do.

The TL Speedway will now be called The Highway to Tomorrow Land. It is the best way to travel from the land of Fantasy to the land of Tomorrow!

The queue would be rethemed to look like a Futuristic rest stop on the highway. Most of it would be covered and on the walls would be maps and futuristic advertise ments.

There would be a huge futuristic forced perspective city scape in the distance that is the city of Tomorrow.

The cars would all be electric and made to look futuristic. The land scape would be updated with futuristic shrubbery. Also there would be bill road and exit signs with some of them saying Exit 74 Frontier land.

There would be billboards through out the ride with futuristic advirtisements and for the attractions in TL. For example on could be for a performance by Sunny Eclipse or for the Astro Orbiter.

Then there would be sensors throughout the ride when the cars past over them it would trigger the radio. It would play music, and advirtisements.

"Once you arrive in TL please use the Tomorrow Land Transit Athority's one of kind transportation system the People Mover."

"Need to depart the planet in a hurry? Come aboard Starbase 75's Space Mountain and blast off to any detsination in this galaxy or the next"

"Space is a dangerous place thats why TL is protected by the Space Rangers. Enlist in the Space Ranger's and help Buzz Lightyear defend the Galxky from the evil Emperor Zurg"

"Before your jorney home from TL be sure to stop by Mickey's Star Traders for that last minute TL gift"

When you exit the ride you would be directed towards TL.

 

[Fantasmic]

It's fun, when you don't get stuck behind some little kid who can't make the car go forwards!

 

[stlbobby]

I've always been a proponent of destroying the speedway and putting something else there in its place. It takes up a ton of space, it doesn't really fit thematically in either Tomorrowland or Fantasyland, its boring, etc...

I was wrong. I took my son (who is 2 1/2) to the Magic Kingdom this weekend. As soon as he saw the speedway the only thing he could talk about was driving a racecar. So I reluctantly took him on the ride. I've never seen his face beam like that as he "drove" that race car. We wound up riding it again, and if we'd have let him, we'd have ridden it a third time.

I've never seen a ride bring that much joy to a kid before. Its two days away and he's still telling everyone about how he got to drive a race car. The picture my wife took of us is my desktop right now, and his smile brings one to my face everytime I look at it.

So while this may not be a ride that I can enjoy by myself, I definitely see why its there now and I don't think it should ever go away. Get a retheme to something futuristic? certainly, but that needs to be there for the kids.

This is the story everyone needs to remember when they say something should be ripped out. The attraction just may not be aimed at them. Someone, a great many someones in fact, may be getting a great deal of enjoyment from it.

While I don't necessarily think the ride needs to be ripped out, it needs a big overhaul desperately. The cars are loud, smelly, and obnoxious, and the scenery is very lame. Up the theming(like Autopia) and make the cars electric, and they've got something great.

What fun is that? Little kids want loud smelly race cars. Remember this isn't for you, it's for them.

 

[JWG]

I have to agree with the OP, I have one who thinks she's so big because she can drive now... - just needs updating and capacity is a problem...

(sorry for the devil eyes, though not entirely inappropriate...)

 

[SirGoofy]

What fun is that? Little kids want loud smelly race cars. Remember this isn't for you, it's for them.

Just for clarification, is this serious, or sarcasm?

 

[Exprcoofto]

Great story, but the attraction needs major changes. Make it more like Autopia in DL but with HKDL's electric cars.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I bet a lot of things we hate around here would become great seen through a little kid's eyes. Good post.

And I agree the thing could use a thematic touchup, but the fact is very few of us will ever look at it and get excited, whatever the theme happens to be.

 

[Laura]

And I agree the thing could use a thematic touchup, but the fact is very few of us will ever look at it and get excited, whatever the theme happens to be.

I get excited. It's one of my secret favorites. Of course, we only ride it "for the kids" :lookaroun.

Now, if they'd just remove those track guides....

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I get excited. It's one of my secret favorites. Of course, we only ride it "for the kids" :lookaroun.

Now, if they'd just remove those track guides....

Yeah well...Autopia is way cooler than Speedway. Or so I've heard.

 

[stlbobby]

Just for clarification, is this serious, or sarcasm?

I'm being serious. I think to a kid the noise is part of the appeal. It makes it feel bigger and faster than it is. I'm sure some kids are put off by it, and it can be irritating to adults, but for little ones like the OP's it is all part of the magic.

 

[greebomusic]

My sons favorite ride hands down. And we'll ride it at least a dozen times come May. Though I'm all for electric.

 

[SirGoofy]

I'm being serious. I think to a kid the noise is part of the appeal. It makes it feel bigger and faster than it is. I'm sure some kids are put off by it, and it can be irritating to adults, but for little ones like the OP's it is all part of the magic.

Then they can easily put speakers that put out the noise. The smog spewing cars have to go. Especially when the company likes to tout how "green" it's trying to be.

 

[kcnole]

Yeah, the noise is part of it. Race cars are supposed to be loud and my son kept making the noise that the car made. You're right that there's probably a way to mimic the sound however and lose the gas odors.

Like I said, I would like to see it updated to be futuristic looking with some cool visuals for the adults at least while the kids still get the fun of driving the car.

 

[misterID]

The speedway isn't going anywhere and is no doubt going to be enjoyed by kids under 7 for years and years to come. But I would love to see something like Mysterious Island go there or something big.

 

[stlbobby]

Then they can easily put speakers that put out the noise. The smog spewing cars have to go. Especially when the company likes to tout how "green" it's trying to be.

I guess they could do it with speakers, but I don't think it bothers most people. I'm all for conservation, but a place like Disney burns so much fossil fuel I just don't think turning one attraction electric would make that much difference. It's not like the electric just comes from nowhere, they have to burn coal to get it.

Once they have the Mr. Fusion from Back to the Future for each car then sure change it over.

I just think the rumble and the smell are part of the romance and appeal.

 

[Chevross]

I'm a supporter of the Tomorrowland Speedway. I never did get to ride it when I was a child cause my father was the type of person who thought it was a waste of time. I was an adult my first time riding it with my little cousin and I thought it was great. My little cousin also enjoyed it and I'm glad she got the chance to ride it while is a child.