Tommorowland Speedways future???

[ExtinctJenn]

The Speedway is one of those attractions at Walt Disney World that has hardly changed a bit since opening day.

I guess it all depends on your definition of "hardly". In the late 80s when the "temporary" Mickey's Birthdayland went up the track was actually significantly changed and shortened. In 1999 it underwent a remodel where the theming was changed a bit and the cars updated but ultimately the track stayed the same in that one. Not splitting hairs, just sharing because lots of folks don't realize it.

 

[Glasgow]

I've got mixed feelings! The speedway is part of my fondest memories as a child - I remember yearning to make a bee-line to the Speedway the moment we walked down Main Street. I took my oldest DD last trip and she loved it as well .. talk about wonderful trip down memory lane!

Having said that, Tomorrowland NEEDS to be about progress, about the future, about things we dream about. In it's current state, it is not .. it's a bit sad. An update of Indy Speedway is definitely necessary, at the very least, towards electric cars .. and at most, a huge new E ticket. I keep repeating Walt's mantra in my head .. WDW will not become a museum.

Think of the possibilities of a new E or two D tickets right next to SM? Wow

 

[Bairstow]

The beauty part of going to Hong Kong-style electric cars isn't the lack of fumes, it's the sound!
To passers-by, the electric karts are near-silent.
To the little passengers inside, they don't sound like lawn mowers anymore, but like real race cars, thanks to the onboard vehicle audio and a small subwoofer in the seat. If they wanted to get fancy, they could have different cars with different engine sounds, sports cars, muscle cars, or as in Hong Kong, futuristic vehicles, so that different vehicles would yield different experiences.

This, plus a little more landscaping could really plus the attraction and eliminate most of the complaints against it.

 

[thomas998]

The beauty part of going to Hong Kong-style electric cars isn't the lack of fumes, it's the sound!
To passers-by, the electric karts are near-silent.
To the little passengers inside, they don't sound like lawn mowers anymore, but like real race cars, thanks to the onboard vehicle audio and a small subwoofer in the seat. If they wanted to get fancy, they could have different cars with different engine sounds, sports cars, muscle cars, or as in Hong Kong, futuristic vehicles, so that different vehicles would yield different experiences.

This, plus a little more landscaping could really plus the attraction and eliminate most of the complaints against it.

Wow, didn't know hong kong used electric cars. On the last trip to Disneyland we were amazed at the fumes from the cars and wondered how in the world they were able to get away with it in California. Was really kind of depressing, they spent a bit of money making the cars look better with new bodies, but they still had the worn out lawn mower engines underneath.

 

[The Mom]

6. Do not bump threads unless you have something else to add to the discussion. Additionally, replying to discussions which have been inactive for several months or longer should be avoided unless you have something of value to add.

 

[SomePixieDust]

This discussion should be brought up more often though.
It’s a problem that the place reeks of gas with the pavement deteriorating. It’s in need of a mass renovation or go the test track update route. Update the ride while keeping the general idea in place. Lots of ideas but at least make the ride feel futuristic.

I mean, it IS in Tomorrowland…

 

[ClippersRoyal]

Its nice to see the ride always stay full. I love it but I will say from my most recent trip, the seats and steering wheels for some vehicles were chipped and ripped apart. As much as I love the ride, it’s a bit embarrassing to see how badly in shape it’s gotten to. Not much care put into the attraction and definitely needs a refresh at minimum. It doesn’t look neat

 

[CheechChongy122]

This discussion should be brought up more often though.
It’s a problem that the place reeks of gas with the pavement deteriorating. It’s in need of a mass renovation or go the test track update route. Update the ride while keeping the general idea in place. Lots of ideas but at least make the ride feel futuristic.

I mean, it IS in Tomorrowland…

Tomorrow Land Speedway isn’t really talked enoguh when it comes to how bad it’s aging, imho.

And I’m not saying that in regards to if it’s needs IP or not. Just aging in general. Those cars need to be thrown out

 

[CHOX]

Back when 20k was still around did that entire corner of the park smell like a gas station?

 

[Bocabear]

The strange thing is, the Hong Kong Autopia was removed for expansion... So what happened to all the futuristic electric cars? Our Speedway desperately needs a complete overhaul... If we are going to have a speedway in Tomorrowland, it needs to be futuristic, imaginative and fully dressed with beautiful landscape and fantastic set pieces...
It is shocking to me they did not deal with this during the many years of Tron Construction...

 

[Timothy_Q]

It is shocking to me they did not deal with this during the many years of Tron Construction...

Pandemic happened and all TL updates got shelved

They didn't even finish removing the 94 stuff or updating the land signage, which are comparatively cheap

 

[RunForestRun]

Demo this and put 3 attractions in it's place. Incredibles, Wall-E and Stitch or Big Hero Six would do.

 

[Bocabear]

Demo this and put 3 attractions in it's place. Incredibles, Wall-E and Stitch or Big Hero Six would do.

Let's be realistic though...they would tear the speedway out and the space would sit dormant for years while they worked on other parks...I would rather see them upgrade and re-imagine the speedway in a manner befitting "Tomorrowland"...not Nascar. New technology, Spectacular, futuristic sets and lots of eye candy. A vivid jaw-dropping nightscape lighting package...an expanded layout It could be an E ticket all over again... and would be well worth it for the park.

 

[MichRX7]

"Drivers row 1 green lights to go"

I was so excited as a kid to hear those words and try and stretch and reach the gas pedal faster than my older brother. I even still have a few of my original driver licenses from that ride. Of course, I was visiting between the ages of 5-10 and I was born in 1967 so it is probably time for a futuristic update to this ride even though my children, grandchildren and now great grandchild all have loved this ride over the years. So

 

[MAGICFLOP]

Brings up something interest. Some people in here go nuts when others lament about attractions in EPCOT getting reimagined and they wish for the past, yet the same people who want EPCOT exhibits swapped out never mention that the Speedway, Small world, Carousel of prog and peter pan have all need to be replaced with something modern.

 

[Schmidt]

Let's be realistic though...they would tear the speedway out and the space would sit dormant for years while they worked on other parks...I would rather see them upgrade and re-imagine the speedway in a manner befitting "Tomorrowland"...not Nascar. New technology, Spectacular, futuristic sets and lots of eye candy. A vivid jaw-dropping nightscape lighting package...an expanded layout It could be an E ticket all over again... and would be well worth it for the park.

I would think they could do a real nice upgrade for a fraction of a brand new E!
I love this ride because it gives my kids pure enjoyment!!! Still does the trick for the little ones, but I agree an upgrade would be nice.

 

[WaltWiz1901]

If it were my call, the Speedway would've ideally been replaced during the whole Fantasyland expansion, but as there are quite a number of advocates for it, either one of these upgrades would do (with the cars changed from gas to electric either way):
- The TRON Light Racers retheme I could've sworn I saw art of somewhere, or...
- ...seeing how it bleeds into Fantasyland, bring Mr. Toad back to the Magic Kingdom: reroute the course, enclose parts of it to hide views of the intrusive Lightcycle Run show building, and make the queue area Toad Hall - a win-win! (On another note, a themed restaurant like Tokyo Disneyland's Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall would be a sweet supplement...but obviously not at the expense of Sonny Eclipse)

[The] introduction of a trackless Fantasyland dark ride that combined the best of both worlds -- that is, the ability for "drivers" to "steer" and control a car (within reason) -- has long been a pipe dream of mine. In my head, it would be themed to Mr. Toad (with multiple tracks/storylines)[...].

It's funny. I was armchair imagineering and had a thought about the original source material, "The Wind In the Willows". I envisioned four tracks that would show the perspectives of the Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and Toad, all coming together in the fight for Toad Hall. I would have stayed more true to the book than the cartoon and, to the chagrin of many, there would be no Hell scene.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

If it were my call, the Speedway would've ideally been replaced during the whole Fantasyland expansion, but as there are quite a number of advocates for it, either one of these upgrades would do (with the cars changed from gas to electric either way):
- The TRON Light Racers retheme I could've sworn I saw art of somewhere, or...
- ...seeing how it bleeds into Fantasyland, bring Mr. Toad back to the Magic Kingdom: reroute the course, enclose parts of it to hide views of the intrusive Lightcycle Run show building, and make the queue area Toad Hall - a win-win! (On another note, a themed restaurant like Tokyo Disneyland's Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall would be a sweet supplement...but obviously not at the expense of Sonny Eclipse)

Love the Mr. Toad idea

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Love the Mr. Toad idea

Great idea, but unfortunately, we the fans of Toad are so old, we wouldn’t need our magic bands to ride it, just our AARP cards…