Speedway at Magic Kingdom

[Victor Kelly]

It is not going anywhere. From a crowd control point of view, it eats people left and right consistantly. Yes it is in dire need of upgrades both in appearance and in function. Children love it, and that is what the Magic Kingdom is all about, children. Disney knows this, look at what they just spent a castle full of money on, to build FLE.

 

[zurgandfriend]

This debate pops up every couple of months or so. You said it in your first sentence "Kids love it." I remember the first time my 5 year old son and I rode it and the look on his face when I said "you drive." update it sure but keep it for all the little drivers.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

That's right. It's going anywhere.

I would, however, like to see the cars eventually be upgraded to the electric cars they use at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Unlike the current cars they don't sound like a hundred lawn mowers all running at once, and to the rider they sound more like a "real" race car.

I hope they do this too. If nothing else, it's more environmentally friendly.

 

[topher]

By that logic MK would only have 1 attraction. Not every attraction need to be "the most popular", you need some fillers and crowd eaters to make the park flow.

By this logic we should abandon all hope of future E tickets and start hoping for more walkthroughs like the legend of captain Jack Sparrow.
If they replace an attraction rather than simply subtracting, it seems the people would still be eaten. Nom Nom Nom

 

[graphite1326]

Then along that line how about you make a racing attraction where it feels like you're racing on flying pods?

This was my thought exactly.

 

[graphite1326]

The problem is that it's a crowd eater and enough people still love it. Hard to justify a huge investment to replace it. I'm sure it'll eventually be changed but probably as part of a mass TL overhaul.

AND this is why it is still the ride it is. Especially the crowd eater comment. If it is shut down for refurb all those people will be in lines elswhere causing very long lines.

 

[topher]

I dont think the "crowd eater" factor for the speedway is that important. They have closed SM, Splash and BTMR for several months each and the park still functioned. A few hundred extra people disbursed throughout the park at any point in time won't even be noticed.

 

[CP_alum08]

Do we have real numbers on the amount of people this attraction sees per day, per year, etc.? I imagine it has to be pretty high. Far more than a few hundred!

 

[Clowd Nyne]

I'd honestly they rather just start from scratch with a new attraction in the area. Add something that actually fits with a Tommorowland theme or make it part of FL since it is kind of on the border.

I would take another TL attraction any day of the week before another FL attraction. Seriously don't even put that out in the univeverse. It's bad juju.

 

[graphite1326]

I dont think the "crowd eater" factor for the speedway is that important. They have closed SM, Splash and BTMR for several months each and the park still functioned. A few hundred extra people disbursed throughout the park at any point in time won't even be noticed.

I respecfully disagree. Most of the people on this attraction are young children and their parents. If they aren't here than more than likely they would be in Fantasyland. I think it would have an affect.

 

[Fox&Hound]

Yeah, it takes up a looooot of space but the kids do love it. I think most people are looking at that space because in MK space is at a premium. I vote that you update it-and move it. AK and HS are both desperate for rides (IMO). Especially for younger audiences. Take it and theme it to Cars and move it to Hollywood back by the new Carsland area or put in AK but make it animal themed (I would hope they would make it electric though for the sake of the animals). But, if it already exists, I don't see them moving it to another park. If they do this, go ahead and move MILF to Hollywood too. =)

 

[rct247]

It is a pretty popular attraction that kids and families really do love. It's a very simple attraction too. It sees well over 15,000 guests per day if the weather is good. Even with all this, I hate it. I find it incredibly boring, smelly, and outdated.

If they must keep it, please bring it to futuristic standards with hybrid/electric/hover capability or something. Make the track more interesting with props and effects. Make the cars better even if they don't go faster.

Ideally, I'd replace it with an mini Wonderland area with darkride and then the rest for a new Tomorrowland attraction or two.

 

[luv]

Like much of the MK (and Tomorrowland especially), it looks old and run-down. It could use some sprucing up.

I see no need for a Cars theme. I think a Cars theme detracts from the idea that the little kids are driving real cars. I think the Speedway theme is still excellent.

 

[SnowFire]

Disney should remake Speed Racer and then redo the ride with loops and corkscrews!

Loops and corkscrews sound really scary to me at 5 mph.

 

[Goofnut1980]

With the size of it.. I wish they would put a water feature, grass and a new ride. TL is so grey and concrete everywhere. Does the future have to be so drab? They only use color at night with the neon that doesnt even go around the whole area.

Bulldoze and rebuild all of TL.

 

[Victor Kelly]

I think theming it more to NASCAR, and I mean all out theming, not just decals. Put in topiaries, water features, shade trees, then switch to electric cars.

 

[ddbowdoin]

tear this sucker down!

 

[JiminyandTink]

I would hate to lose the Speedway. While maybe not the most fitting in Tomorrowland anymore, I still love to hear the sound of the engines as I go by (I even like the gas smell). This ride really takes me back to being a kid, and it is a thrill to see how much my kids love it now.

I know we can't keep everything just for nostalgia, but I would be so dissapointed to not have it there.

As for Tomorrowland's theming in general, my opinion is that with the rate of technology, it is very difficult to keep this land feel current and truly futuristic. For me, I actually prefer the kind of cheesy 60s view of what they thought the future was going to be like.

 

[TubaGeek]

It requires a lot of staffing, is smelly and loud, and takes up a terribly large footprint of valuable land.
Axe it and put in something that can serve as a transition between FL and TL.

 

[Dwarful]

well, I'm in the minority here...but I'd like to keep it. It has been a must do on every trip from the time I took my first trip as a child w/my parents to every trip we've been on since. Last year we went with friends who go to WDW as much as we do and we made a deal with them and they rode it for the first time ever...and then we rode it several more times through out the rest of the trip. Kids love it, everyone can ride it ..maybe not be the driver...but ride w/someone.