Permits Filed for Phase 2

[peterpanic74]

I have been to CA, Paris, WDW and seen pics of HKDL and it seems that the WDW speedway has the most bland design (and also the shortest) track of all the MK parks. I'd be happy to see the Speedway removed or removed and replaced with a HKDL version - which is the best one to date from what I can see.

Having been on CA, WDW, and HKDL (didn't take the time to ride it in Paris), I think that DL Autopia has by far the best and most extensive layout. The best features of the HKDL Autopia are the mountainous scenery, and the quiet, pollution free electric cars. Put the HK cars in DL, and you've got a winner!

 

[peterpanic74]

I've heard that Hong Kong's has tracks that don't run parallel, so that in itself would make the attraction better.

True, and it does.

 

[jrlang1]

The speedway will remain until there is no longer long lines for the ride. it is still a feature ride for the younger crowed. It is funny to people people watch towards the end of the ride. the kids are hitting the cars adjenst the rails side to side and the parents can hardly stay awake. Unless the weather is bad i don't think i have seen the line less then 20 mins

 

[baymenxpac]

The speedway will remain until there is no longer long lines for the ride. it is still a feature ride for the younger crowed. It is funny to people people watch towards the end of the ride. the kids are hitting the cars adjenst the rails side to side and the parents can hardly stay awake. Unless the weather is bad i don't think i have seen the line less then 20 mins

in all fairness, that's probably more attributed to an obscenely slow load time and low load occupancy more than the actual popularity of the ride. you can find a 20-25 minute wait on an extra magic hours day at 8:30am with practically no one in the park. plus, due to the placement of the ride, i think a lot of inexperienced park go-ers usually see it on their way from fantasyland to tomorrowland and just jump on it if they don't have any real course of attack for going through the park.

personally, i think it's a pretty big waste of prime real estate. do i have some nostalgia for it? absolutely. it was a favorite to ride with my dad when i was a kid. but i'd love to see something new and/or some innovation to the existing ride.

btw, be kind. it's my first post! long time lurker and fan of you all!

 

[cheezbat]

The Speedway is definitely NOT a big people eater. It does have a pretty poor capacity. The amount of time it takes drivers to load, buckle, get around the course, unbuckle and unload is so poor...The massive plot of land could very well house two big E-tickets or a few C or D tickets and another restaurant and shop. Disney is missing out big time on this spot.

 

[cookiee_munster]

im not a huge fan of the speedway (sorry to thread drift btw) just doesn't seem to fit in with the theme of Tomorrowland (if at all Tomorroland does actually have a cohesive theme)

Once upon a time, was Tomorrowland named Discoveryland? i cant remember, and i guess i could just go look it up online, but without having to spend more time researching and just getting to the point, wouldn't it be better if the theme were changed from something "future" based to something more about discovering new things? involving travel and technology etc.

ive always loved the Jules verne look that Disneyland Paris created, and of course Mysterious Island at DisneySea.

i like the idea of replacing the Speedway with something like Aquatopia but theming it to something more Jules Verne based. Dunno how much space that would take up if it replaced the Speedway, maybe room for something else???

i dunno... ive gone off on one. sorry for drifting... :zipit:

 

[lazyboy97o]

im not a huge fan of the speedway (sorry to thread drift btw) just doesn't seem to fit in with the theme of Tomorrowland (if at all Tomorroland does actually have a cohesive theme)

Once upon a time, was Tomorrowland named Discoveryland? i cant remember, and i guess i could just go look it up online, but without having to spend more time researching and just getting to the point, wouldn't it be better if the theme were changed from something "future" based to something more about discovering new things? involving travel and technology etc.

ive always loved the Jules verne look that Disneyland Paris created, and of course Mysterious Island at DisneySea.

i like the idea of replacing the Speedway with something like Aquatopia but theming it to something more Jules Verne based. Dunno how much space that would take up if it replaced the Speedway, maybe room for something else???

i dunno... ive gone off on one. sorry for drifting... :zipit:

There was a plan to make Tomorrowland into Discoveryland, but it never happened. Tomorrowland 98 at Disneyland was a vain attempt to bring some of the Discoveryland idea to that park.

Aquatopia sits in 2" of water you do not control the ride vehicle, it is all automated so you see where everything happens.

 

[Lee]

Dunno how much space that would take up if it replaced the Speedway, maybe room for something else???

Yep, Aquatopia would fit nicely into the Speedway plot. I did a paste-up that showed it last year sometime.
I'd love to see it happen, but it's very unlikely. Plus, it would be a capacity proble, as Aquatopia ain't the best in that area....but neither is Speedway.

 

[Tom]

Yep, Aquatopia would fit nicely into the Speedway plot. I did a paste-up that showed it last year sometime.
I'd love to see it happen, but it's very unlikely. Plus, it would be a capacity proble, as Aquatopia ain't the best in that area....but neither is Speedway.

Would be an excellent attraction, if themed properly, to transition from TL to FL.

Did you post your paste-up anywhere?

 

[pppapazo]

I've always thought the Aquatopia technology would be amazing merged with a dark ride based on the Sorcerer's Apprentice. It would be like Pooh's Hunny Hunt but with ride vehicles swerving between brooms tossing buckets of water and swirling around Mickey as he clings to Yen Sid's book of spells in the whirlpool. I'd love to see something like that pop up in the new Fantasyland. Wishful thinking, I know, but still...

 

[cbconglom]

hd video of the missing lane and flags

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVi0lm8kumY&feature=player_embedded#!

 

[cheezbat]

I really liked the take on Tomorrowland that Disneyland Paris took...DISCOVERYLAND. The Jules Verne look and feel is so much more neat that this continual attempt at making things look futuristic...and then utterly failing. Personally, themewise Tomorrowland is the worst cohesive themed land in both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Disneyland just threw Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage into Tomorrowland, while at the MK we've got The Tomorrowland Speedway(it's such an old, outdated noisy and smelly ride...let it die already) and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor? It really feels like Disney just needed to put SOMETHING in these areas but didn't know what, so they just threw whatever they could think of in there.

I hope to see a replacement for Monsters Inc in the near future, as well as the Speedway. The Aquatopia idea is a very good one...but I think with the amount of land that the Speedway takes up, we could see another addition to that area as well. I too agree that the Discoveryland overlay would mesh much easier into Fantasyland.

 

[Tom]

hd video of the missing lane and flags

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVi0lm8kumY&feature=player_embedded#!

Wow. So, they're really going to scoot that entire curve inward about 5' just for Dumbo.

 

[Lee]

Wow. So, they're really going to scoot that entire curve inward about 5' just for Dumbo.

It's kinda confusing...
How would removing the inside lane help reduce the overall position of the track?
I could see moving the outer lane...

Anyhow...just rechecked the plans for that area...track looks exactly the same as it does now.:shrug:

 

[Tom]

It's kinda confusing...
How would removing the inside lane help reduce the overall position of the track?
I could see moving the outer lane...

Anyhow...just rechecked the plans for that area...track looks exactly the same as it does now.:shrug:

Quite confusing. Watching the video, it looks like that dirt area is freshly exposed...as if perhaps they just excavated it and are going to put NEW track there (on the inside of the curve) and then perhaps delete that much from the outside. :shrug:

That's all I can figure. I can't think of any other reason why they'd need to dig up the inside of the curve like that. Very odd.

 

[Lee]

Quite confusing. Watching the video, it looks like that dirt area is freshly exposed...as if perhaps they just excavated it and are going to put NEW track there (on the inside of the curve) and then perhaps delete that much from the outside. :shrug:

That's all I can figure. I can't think of any other reason why they'd need to dig up the inside of the curve like that. Very odd.

Even that doesn't really make sense. Why dig up track next to the curve if you're just going to put in new track there? If anything they should be ripping up the curve and adding a lane on the inside of the curve, that is if they really want to shift the track to the south.
For now I'm gonna stick with the theory that they are just going to close some lanes while Dumbo's area is under construction, then open it back up.

 

[FutureWorld1982]

Here you are some photos from my update:

New, temporary light:

Dumbo markers:

Source: OTPN.

 

[DTM93]

I agree! WDW's is :snore::snore:

I like DLR's, especially how it branches off to parts where it's one track alone and goes over rocky road.

With the DLR one I definitely agree but when me and my Mum were in a car we were used to WDW's one previously so we thought the car had gone off the normal track. :lol:

 

[danlb_2000]

Even that doesn't really make sense. Why dig up track next to the curve if you're just going to put in new track there? If anything they should be ripping up the curve and adding a lane on the inside of the curve, that is if they really want to shift the track to the south.
For now I'm gonna stick with the theory that they are just going to close some lanes while Dumbo's area is under construction, then open it back up.

That still doesn't explain why they are digging up the inside of the track, not to mention that there is a recent permit for "Speedway Track Re-Alignment". Maybe this is just a red herring, maybe they are just replacing a bad section of track that has nothing to do with Dumbo.

Dan

 

[Skyway]

Could it be that they are planning do to the Speedway what DOT does anytime it has construction alongside a real highway traffic lane? Create a temporary lane in the median!

Rather than reduce Speedway's capacity by shutting down an entire lane, they could be paving a small temporary lane on the INSIDE of the track (which jibes with what others have seen) and then shifting all the lanes over a few feet.

Once the FL construction is done they could easily (and cheaply) tear up that temporary pavement and restore the current lanes.