Richard Petty Driving Experience to close

[MarkTwain]

I know it's just Wikipedia (and not even cited), but I have to admit this passage from the Speedway's Wikipedia article sounds believable:

Walt Disney World Speedway was constructed on a very limited budget. By design, permanent features of the facility were built at a minimum. The track plans called for only the track surface, retaining wall, and catch fence to be constructed. The remainder of the facility, such as seating areas, restrooms, and race support areas, would be built on a temporary, as-needed basis. This strategy had never been used on an oval race track, but had been widely successful for years in temporary street circuits (such as Long Beach). No permanent garages were built on the premises, however, this was not entirely unusual. Race teams would simply work out of their transporters, a practice used frequently at street circuits and other tracks without garages.


The initial savings in construction costs was significant. Temporary bleachers and restrooms would be erected each year beginning in November, in preparations for the January races. The lack of permanent grandstands also allowed track officials to adjust the configuration and capacity of seating annually, reflecting ticket demand. This practice, however, would prove to be inconvenient, and increasingly expensive in the long run, since the grandstand area encompassed portion of the Magic Kingdom parking lot. That area would be unusable for nearly three months, including during the busy Christmas and New Year's holiday season at the theme park.


Three linked ponds in the track’s infield are formed in the shape of Mickey Mouse. The pond, dubbed "Lake Mickey", was built a year after the track opened due to drainage concerns.


Parking problems

Initially, the track location, adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot, was seen to be convenient. However, after a couple of years, traffic control was overwhelming. Since the race spectators would be arriving at the same time and place as regular theme park visitors, overflow parking was required. In 1996–1997, Disney officials reacted by parking all race spectators in the Magic Kingdom parking lot, and sending all visitors to the Magic Kingdom to the Epcot parking lot. Race spectators would walk to the nearby Speedway, while all guests to the Magic Kingdom were required to take the Disney Monorail or a Disney bus from Epcot, a trip of several minutes. Several complaints surfaced. In 1997, the IRL race was shortened by a sudden rainstorm, and fans scurried to their cars. The resulting rush created a severe gridlock of World Drive and surrounding roads which lasted several hours.


Starting in 1998, spectators to the race events were diverted to park at Epcot, and were taken by shuttle bus to the Speedway. Visitors to the Magic Kingdom were directed to park as usual, in the Magic Kingdom parking lot. While this eased many guest complaints, it also was now inconvenient for race patrons, and resulted in a significant cost increase for operations. The Disney Transport infrastructure did not own enough buses to smoothly run the operation, and outside bus companies had to be hired to run the shuttle service. In addition, it necessitated race spectators to arrive earlier to account for the additional transportation time.

If whoever wrote this is correct, it sounds like the speedway was poorly planned, poorly constructed, and inadequately funded from the get-go. Not surprising that it's finally getting the axe then.

 

[articos]

Finally. As misplaced as the BAH.

Good riddance. One of the most stupid decisions in placement made on the property.

Really, yes.

Prior to this the MK still felt rather isolated as you approached the parking lots. Not to mention nothing said magic more than the roar of cars as heard from the TTC. It didn't really blend too well with the welcome BGM.

Exactly.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Best thing I've read in the whole thread. That stop sign can be a nightmare at some times of the year; I've been stuck in that intersection for over 20 minutes before.

It's flat out dangerous. CPs that live at Vista Way have been killed while crossing the street there.

 

[Rinx]

Frozen Resort...Duh

 

[peter11435]

It's flat out dangerous. CPs that live at Vista Way have been killed while crossing the street there.

None of this work is anywhere near the Vista Way CP housing complex. That is located way over on 535.

 

[Next Big Thing]

None of this work is anywhere near the Vista Way CP housing complex. That is located way over on 535.

Ah, I got confused for a bit. I read "Vista Way" and just assumed lol.

Point still stands, the area along 535 where Vista is is really dangerous for pedestrians.

 

[peter11435]

Point still stands, the area along 535 where Vista is is really dangerous for pedestrians.

Yes it is. Hopefully the county/state will do something about it eventually.

 

[Occasional Guest]

I may be wrong but my understanding as an Indycar fan is that the former relationship between IndyCar and Disney facilitated the building of the track. Indycar paid for the track to be built which is why it was built on a very limited budget. The track proved to dangerous for open wheel cars due to the lack of "Safer Barrier" walls. Several serious accidents occurred including Sam Schmidt being paralyzed. Those problems coupled with the terrible parking situation led to the race being discontinued. Again, this is only my understanding and may be flawed.

 

[ryguy]

I doubt noise played a factor to its closure. I mean they have ferry boats blasting their horns every few minutes. Can't imagine being the bungalow closest to the TTC.

 

[216bruce]

DVC huts?

A DVC "shantytown" themed resort. It will feature a creek for a restroom, dining will be left over gel packs and CLIF bars from Marathon weekend along with road-kill. Guests can panhandle cars as they drive by. The rooms themselves will be appointed in multi-wall carboard and PVC tarps.
Of course because it's a MK area resort, and location is everything, the cost will be several hundred points for a week. Hobo Joe from "The Muppet Movie" will be the resorts mascot.

 

[Texas84]

So are there any rumors as to what they are going to use that land for? parking garage?

Star Wars 5th gate

(You're asking us? )

 

[ford91exploder]

Star Wars 5th gate

(You're asking us? )

No, No it will be executive parking with covered parking areas and onsite car detailing and and onsite service bays as well, not to mention town car service to the actual venue, In addition it will be overflow bus parking because the area by the Hess can't hold any more buses than it does now...

 

[PhotoDave219]

Star Wars 5th gate

(You're asking us? )

This one caught me off guard...

 

[flynnibus]

As a direct result of the drone flyovers and skywriters... Disney is going to start offering it's own helicopter tours of the property and banner planes to carry your personalized messages. All at the fantastic prices Disney is known for. The Raceway will be repurposed into the heliport to ensure Disney maintains the level of service necessary for it's guests.

 

[wogwog]

A new closing date was just announced. So fans of this activity have a few more weeks after the original target date in June. The new closing is "early August".

 

[roj2323]

A new closing date was just announced. So fans of this activity have a few more weeks after the original target date in June. The new closing is "early August".

UGH!! I wish they would start bulldozing it now.

 

[xstech25]

The fact that certain people think this is a budget cut just shows that certain people will always try to find something to complain about. How about the fact that Magic Kingdom ran out of parking like 5x last year. Now that the park has added capacity with New Fantasyland its at risk of running out of parking quite frequently but the park rarely reaches capacity anymore.

 

[Nick Pappagiorgio]

Yeah there was an interesting tweet yesterday from Ed Carpenter who is an IndyCar driver. He is married to the daughter of Tony George (who is part of the family that owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). George was part of the team from IMS that helped build the Speedway for Disney. He is the guy wearing plaid. His expression says it all....

 

[Occasional Guest]

Yeah there was an interesting tweet yesterday from Ed Carpenter who is an IndyCar driver. He is married to the daughter of Tony George (who is part of the family that owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). George was part of the team from IMS that helped build the Speedway for Disney. He is the guy wearing plaid. His expression says it all....
View attachment 88972

I follow Ed on Twitter and I somehow missed that one. It's pretty funny that Tony paid for it and is now reduced to taking pictures outside the track.

 

[Donald Razorduck]

The placement is horrible. Needed to be part of Sports complex.