If Disney does't get rid of that darn Tommorrowland Speedway...

[scion5220]

My four year old niece LOVES this ride. I press the pedal and she steers. We have to avoid walking that way if we don't want to wait in line because if she sees it...we WILL be waiting in line!

Then again, she also adores sitting on driving style video games without even putting money into the game.

I can't believe anyone would doubt this attraction's appeal. Kids have steering wheel games on their strollers and infant toys! They will ride in circles in little cars at the fair! They LOVE driving!!

And I agree with the poster who said the smell is just part of Disney...the smell, the sound of the cars revving up as they move up for new "drivers", the accidental rear end crashes at the end of the ride...all quintessential WDW.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Oh, that ride smells so bad!!!! But my kids always loved it enough to stand in line for however long.

 

[ktlm]

I've been hearing rumors of Cars coming to one of the parks. I think this would the perfect place for an attraction like that. Or just simply update the cars that or on the track. Make them more modern and a little bit faster.

It is much more than a rumor, and it is a whole "land". Construction of Carsland at California Adventure at the Disneyland resort in California is well under day and scheduled to open next summer. Rumor has it that the big ride there will be very similar to Test Track, but Cars themed:

http://golosangeles.about.com/od/disneyland/ss/California-Adventure-Rides-By-Location_5.htm

My DD (5) has never wanted to ride the cars at the Speedway. The height requirement to drive is currently 54 inches, and if she can't be in the driver's seat driving, she doesn't want any part of it. I'm sure that will probably change when she is old enough to drive.

ADD: Oooh I guess the test track comparison is more than a rumor too, here is some video from the first prototype running the track at carsland- looks like it was posted a year ago- I can't believe it was already that far along then:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ings-racers-is-on-track-to-star-at-cars-land/

 

[disney_bob]

While I can see it becoming more "futuristic" with different materials and engine types, I'm adamantly against "Pixar-ing" it. Buzz Lightyear and Cars, etc do not belong in Tomorrowland.

 

[scion5220]

While I can see it becoming more "futuristic" with different materials and engine types, I'm adamantly against "Pixar-ing" it. Buzz Lightyear and Cars, etc do not belong in Tomorrowland.

Agreed.

 

[JimmyV]

Buzz Lightyear... do[es] not belong in Tomorrowland.

And what Land would be more appropriate for a Space Ranger? Liberty Square? Frontierland? Adventureland?

 

[kamik86]

For all those whose kids love this ride... do you not have go-carts in your area?? When i was a kid we would go ride go carts to get to drive. They did have the same smell thing (these just weren't as busy so it was less noticable but at Disney it would be that bad) but they weren't constrained to a track and went faster... MUCH More fun.

The place near me that has this also has a large pool with water bumper cars that you get to drive...

 

[GinnyEmma]

And what Land would be more appropriate for a Space Ranger? Liberty Square? Frontierland? Adventureland?

Wondering that too...

 

[prttynpnk]

I know kids love it, but it's just such prime real estate!

 

[JimmyV]

For all those whose kids love this ride... do you not have go-carts in your area?? When i was a kid we would go ride go carts to get to drive. They did have the same smell thing (these just weren't as busy so it was less noticable but at Disney it would be that bad) but they weren't constrained to a track and went faster... MUCH More fun.

The place near me that has this also has a large pool with water bumper cars that you get to drive...

The places you describe are both pricey and severly age restricted. Look how many people on this thread have reported that their 4-8 year olds love the Speedway. (I have a hard time not calling it the Grand Prix Raceway). None of those kids would be allowed to drive their own go cart. At least not in any of the places I have ever seen. At WDW, even the smallest rider can steer while mom or dad pushes the pedal down.

 

[JimmyV]

I know kids love it, but it's just such prime real estate!

And so is the Rivers of America. If you want to start planning the demise of a useless ride that takes up literally acres of usable space, how about we start with the Liberty Belle and the river(s) it meanders through.

 

[scion5220]

I know kids love it, but it's just such prime real estate!

For what? Another height restricted thrill ride?

 

[agame2323]

No offense, but the ride is not dated. It is you who are dated. Or, more accurately, the ride is not intended for your age group. Of course anyone with a driver's license is not going to be impressed by riding in a car at 5 mph on a track that constrains you with a rail. But for kids 8-14, getting to drive a go cart type of car is the bomb. Always has been and always will be. The thrill of driving when you aren't old enough to is timeless. It never gets old as long as there is a new generation of too-young-to-drive kids waiting in the wings. To that point, Dumbo is dated and uninteresting once you are past a certain age. All it does is go around in circles. No big drops. No 3-D effects. But it remains an incredibly popular ride that is a "must do".


I find it hard to believe that anyone can argue that this ride ins't (in comparison to the advancement of other attractions in the park) dated. I don't know how long its been since you've been to WDW but Disney has made a ton of progress using "current" technology to create a better rider experience.

Kids like or love this ride because there isn't necessarily an alternative. If your kid wants to race cars in Disney, this is it. And most kids between 8-14 (I think 14 is pushing it a little) are not fully aware of what COULD be done to this ride from a technical standpoint. In their defense, they really shouldn't care.

I'm more or less speaking to those who realize how far Disney has come since that ride opened. Again, just looking at certain "new" attractions (Toy Store, Sourin', Mission Space... etc) one can only imagine what Disney could transform Tomorrowland Speedway into. And I would be willing to bet kids would love the latter a lot more.

I don't know is I would classify Dumbo as a "must-do." My kids are between 8-14 and Dumbo has never made the "Must Do list. Of course it all depends on what your family defines as a Must-do. However, I don't know many who have give advice to someone saying..."oh yeah, you have to ride Dumb when you visit the Magic Kingdom. Its a MUST-DO."

 

[nhl66pens]

DS always wants to ride the cars (he is 5 now)... but it's impossible to steer the cars straight so all we do is bang into the center rail back and forth making for a very jerky ride. Can't they fix the steering or something???? So much wasted space...

My DD purposely tried to steer it into the center. I kept telling her I'm never going to let her get her license which (of course) just made her keep doing it. It was a long ride around that track but she still talks about it almost 2 years later.

 

[disney_bob]

And what Land would be more appropriate for a Space Ranger? Liberty Square? Frontierland? Adventureland?

None. There is nothing "tomorrow"-ish about a talking group of toys or talking cars. Might as well throw stitch out while you're at it. If you must have something at MK then I guess you could put it in Fantasyland... since talking toys are a fantasy.

Hollywood Studios would be a better, though still not perfect, fit.

 

[kmk1180]

Just do what I do......... totally forget it even exists! This is one of 3 attractions we have not been on in all of WDW and 90% of the time I just plain forget it's there.

And that's why WDW great...not everything is for everyone..but there is something for everyone.
Just because it's not for you doesn't mean Disney should get ride of it.
It's there for someone else.
Relax and enjoy the parts that you enjoy and let others enjoy the parts they enjoy.

This post has it right...if you don't like it, just keep walking.

 

[mesaboy2]

I find it hard to believe that anyone can argue that this ride ins't (in comparison to the advancement of other attractions in the park) dated. I don't know how long its been since you've been to WDW but Disney has made a ton of progress using "current" technology to create a better rider experience.

Kids like or love this ride because there isn't necessarily an alternative. If your kid wants to race cars in Disney, this is it. And most kids between 8-14 (I think 14 is pushing it a little) are not fully aware of what COULD be done to this ride from a technical standpoint. In their defense, they really shouldn't care.

I'm more or less speaking to those who realize how far Disney has come since that ride opened. Again, just looking at certain "new" attractions (Toy Store, Sourin', Mission Space... etc) one can only imagine what Disney could transform Tomorrowland Speedway into. And I would be willing to bet kids would love the latter a lot more.

I don't know is I would classify Dumbo as a "must-do." My kids are between 8-14 and Dumbo has never made the "Must Do list. Of course it all depends on what your family defines as a Must-do. However, I don't know many who have give advice to someone saying..."oh yeah, you have to ride Dumb when you visit the Magic Kingdom. Its a MUST-DO."

Is it a little dated? Yeah, I suppose. Does that really matter to me? Nope. I need more fingers and toes to count all the "dated" attractions at WDW. That's part of the charm and appeal.

Judging by the lines at the Speedway and Dumbo, there are plenty of people who appear to agree with me. Just because it isn't your thing doesn't mean it's not others'.

I'm happy for Disney to leave it be. If and when the experts there decide it makes sense to replace it, I'll be interested to see what they come up with.

 

[JimmyV]

I find it hard to believe that anyone can argue that this ride is dated.

I'm NOT arguing that it is dated. You are. I agree with the above statement. It is hard to argue that the ride is dated.

I don't know how long its been since you've been to WDW but Disney has made a ton of progress using "current" technology to create a better rider experience.

With just a few exceptions, (1976, 1982 and I think one other year), I've been to WDW at least once a year since 1972. Often times twice a year. Most recently in October, and headed down again in two weeks. But I am not sure how this is relevant. The young kids to whom this ride appeals don't give a Rat's Ratatouille about current technology. These same kids ride the Carousel and Dumbo and take delight in both.

Kids like or love this ride because there isn't necessarily an alternative. If you kid wants to race cars in Disney, this is it.

And you know this how? Aren't you reading the responses to this thread? Have you seen one poster who has stated what you posit as a certain truth? Even the posters whose kids ride it two, three or four times per trip?

And most kids between 8-14 (I think 14 is pushing it a little) are not fully aware of what COULD be done to this ride from a technical standpoint. In their defense, they really shouldn't care.

And they don't. And yes, I'll grant you that maybe 14 is pushing it.

I'm more or less speaking to those who realize how far Disney has come since that ride opened. Again, just looking at certain "new" attractions (Toy Store, Sourin', Mission Space... etc) one can only imagine what Disney could transform Tomorrowland Speedway into. And I would be willing to bet kids would love the latter a lot more.

I'm not debating what "could" be done. But everything has to be looked at through the cost/benefit analysis. Should WDW spend millions building a new ride that a 6 year old may, or may not like better? Pooh could have been a drive through, 3-D extravaganza. Peter Pan could be oh-so-much more than ships floating over stationary dioramas. But not every ride has to be Star Tours. I think you are way over-thinking the base enjoyment that young kids get from the simple pleasures. Just because we age and become more sophisticated does not mean that 6-year-olds do as well. 6 is still 6. Sure, they can program the DVR and work a computer. But that doesn't erase the fact that they still like to do stuff that 6 year-olds like to do.

I don't know is I would classify Dumbo as a "must-do." My kids are between 8-14 and Dumbo has never made the "Must Do list. Of course it all depends on what your family defines as a Must-do. However, I don't know many who have give advice to someone saying..."oh yeah, you have to ride Dumb when you visit the Magic Kingdom. Its a MUST-DO."

I'm going to leave that one alone. The length of the line (and that of Peter Pan and Pooh) speak for themselves.

 

[Missish]

I'm inclined to agree. I can definitely see the appeal of the attraction, but it really is awful.

When I was younger, I used to bump into the centre rail like nobody's business, but always thought that was because I was 7/8/9 and couldn't drive. Years later, having held a driver's license for 5 years, I STILL hit that damn centre rail!

Not to mention the amount the cars break down! The last time I was on the attraction (which I now only go on when there's > 15 minute wait and we're killing time before a FP), the car in front of me broke down THREE TIMES. It got very boring very quickly.

 

[jenniea159]

For the life of me I can't understand why this "ride" is still active. Don't get me wrong, it was probably very cool in its heyday. But now...talk about DATED!

I've been hearing rumors of Cars coming to one of the parks. I think this would the perfect place for an attraction like that. Or just simply update the cars that or on the track. Make them more modern and a little bit faster.

In epcot they are changing test track cars to the "Cars" cars.