Is it time to replace Autopia?

[Minuet888]

after I went to DL last year I started a thread similar to this.
I don't think it needs to be replaced but needs to be changed or revamped, it definately was in need of a refurb when I was there the paint job was pretty bad and my quads HURT having to hold down what seemed like a too heavy gas pedal.

I think it needs to be revamped and given a heck of a lot more love

 

[2luvmickey]

It's a Disneyland classic!

We have movies of me having a tantrum at 4 years old because I wanted to keep going on the ride. Now, over 40 years later, my boys LOVE to go on the ride (at WDW or DL).

One year I had a driver's license that I turned in for a free Autopia toy.

Sure, it smells, needs updating and is loud, but I like the drive down memory lane!

 

[Funball]

Ohh ok .. i love the smell of those autotopia cars, but that is just me!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Here is the autopia section of my last TR...I think it says it all about why kids love it...For my son it was very exciting...His 2 autopia licenses now have his picture on them and one is in his wallet and one is on our fridge. This is quoted from my TR minus the pictures...If you want to see some great reactions to this ride they are on page 11 of my TR.

The fast pass line was really quick less than 10 minutes. Colton and I went in 1 car and Brant got his own.
Colton was really excited with his “drivers license”


and really upset for all the kids who dropped theirs in the bushes. (There were 100s of them people had dropped over the railing into the bushes really people say no thank you when they pass them out or drop them in a trash can or give them to some little kid who would really like to collect them all. Don’t drop them in the bushes!)

Walking up Colton asked me “Do you really think it is a good idea to let little kids drive? I didn’t get any lessons before they gave me my license.” I explained I would take care of the gas and he could steer, and that it was like driving his power wheel at home. He was still not sure so I showed him the track that was there in case he needed help staying on the road…it is funny that he was more nervous over Autopia than he was over any of the roller coasters.


He really enjoyed driving especially the off road part.





When we were done we watched over the railings for Daddy as he had been first in the set of cars let go after us and we snapped some photos of Daddy driving his car


and waiting in “traffic” to get out of his car.

 

[mystic_path]

When I was a little kid, at our local amusement park the cars on a track were my favorite thing. I can see the appeal to little children for sure. But I see your point too. I know your not supposed to be distracted when driving, but there isnt anything fun visually to look forward to passing as you drive. Just a bunch of plants. One night I went on Autopia as the fireworks were going off, and that was super cool, but a few days later I went on it during the day and was super bored.

 

[starshine514]

Driver's Licenses? Hmm...I was thinking of totally skipping this ride. We rode the one at the MK last year, and my girls were less than impressed (yeah, they have power wheels, so they're used to cars that go faster and that you can take wherever you want), but they'd probably think a driver's license was neat...may have to work this in now...

 

[Sephrina]

I remember loving it as a child, but my parents not so much. My DS (9), just said it was terrible when I asked him, but he is definately in the minority. He prefers the go karts at a local business. Maybe he would feel differently if he hadn't experienced go karts first. I'm happy we won't have to do it again for the time, but when he has kids. I hope it still there.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Driver's Licenses? Hmm...I was thinking of totally skipping this ride. We rode the one at the MK last year, and my girls were less than impressed (yeah, they have power wheels, so they're used to cars that go faster and that you can take wherever you want), but they'd probably think a driver's license was neat...may have to work this in now...

You get the drivers license as you go through the line. After the ride they have a photo booth where you can get sticker pics taken to put on your license I think it was like $5 but since we got stickers in his photo package at school we didn't take the pic there just stuck them on when we got home.

 

[skiingfast]

I think given the child to adult ration that Autopia possible would be voted best attraction in the park.

 

[brocklesnar69]

I don't hate this ride, but I think it definitely needs a major overhaul. The cars need to be faster; they should make part of the track "indoor" so that the overall ride is part Dark Ride, and they need to make the track more interactive and futuristic to really scream "Tomorrowland!" and by futuristic, I mean retro-contemporary.

I just hope if they add more stuff to it, they don't dumb it down. Kids don't need things to be dumbed down. Nowdays it seems like they're dumbing everything down. They're completely missing the point. Walt Disney didn't dumb things down.


Otherwise though, I am in complete agreement. Ditch this old waste of space ride and replace it with something more thrilling!

 

[Huff]

Cars will be NOTHING like Autopia. It's based on Epcots Test Track. It's fully automated, you do not drive the vehicles. Test Track hits a top speed of 60mph. I can only hope Cars does much the same with far superior theming.

 

[jenniferrose]

I don't hate this ride, but I think it definitely needs a major overhaul. The cars need to be faster; they should make part of the track "indoor" so that the overall ride is part Dark Ride, and they need to make the track more interactive and futuristic to really scream "Tomorrowland!" and by futuristic, I mean retro-contemporary.

I just hope if they add more stuff to it, they don't dumb it down. Kids don't need things to be dumbed down. Nowdays it seems like they're dumbing everything down. They're completely missing the point. Walt Disney didn't dumb things down.


Otherwise though, I am in complete agreement. Ditch this old waste of space ride and replace it with something more thrilling!

I respectfully disagree with most of this. I think that it should stay outside the way it is. The signs and landscapes are really nice. A lot of kids are scared of dark rides. Maybe one tunnel that has some stop lights and is still somewhat lit from sunlight but totally dark I think could be scary. People would scream as they went through for the fun of it and could spook some kids. I cant take my son on most of the rides in Fantasyland because the loud dark inside rides scare him. And I would hate for them to put something more thrilling, it is the simple driving that makes kids so happy.

I think like the others have said... electric to get rid of the horrid fumes and maybe if someone taller than 5'8" could sit comfortably, that would be nice. Oh and, if we are making a wish list... over hangs while in line because it can get HOT!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I haven't read the whole thread yet but NO, we shouldn't replace it. As a mom to three young kids the autopia often is the favorite for our group. My kids LOVE driving and I remember loving it as a child too. I love that it's a ride that you are not off of in 2 minutes and have to get back in line right away. I love the cute little off road area. I agree that hopefully sometime in the near furture they will have some sort of electric car but otherwise they autopia will always be a part of disneyland.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Wanted to add that kids dont need it more thrilling! The pure JOY they get from knowing they are driving is enough. They love every thing, the trees, the fountains, seeing the monorail tracks and they giggle with glee each time they hit the track and bouce around. They love going under the overpass and around each turn. They dont need a thrill ride. The simple things are thrilling for them. I suppose my opinion was different before I had small children but now I dont see any change needed except to the ride vehicle itself. The speed is perfect for it's target...young kids. It's a classic, let it be!

 

[Funball]

I think also that kids love it because it really makes them feel like they are driving for reals! it was bad enough that they took out the skyway, but if they took out autopia that would be very bad..and no it should not be made a dark ride, not all kids like the dark

 

[brocklesnar69]

I respectfully disagree with most of this. I think that it should stay outside the way it is. The signs and landscapes are really nice. A lot of kids are scared of dark rides. Maybe one tunnel that has some stop lights and is still somewhat lit from sunlight but totally dark I think could be scary. People would scream as they went through for the fun of it and could spook some kids. I cant take my son on most of the rides in Fantasyland because the loud dark inside rides scare him. And I would hate for them to put something more thrilling, it is the simple driving that makes kids so happy.

I think like the others have said... electric to get rid of the horrid fumes and maybe if someone taller than 5'8" could sit comfortably, that would be nice. Oh and, if we are making a wish list... over hangs while in line because it can get HOT!

I didn't mean to make the indoor parts 100% pitch black. I meant they should theme the indoor parts like a dark ride (like in Fantasyland) but make the themes of the indoor parts retro-contemporary and having to do with technology. Like, I don't know, imagine driving through something like Innoventions, where you get to see a bunch of retro-futuristic stuff. Nothing scary though.

Overall though, as it is now, it's a nice little relaxing ride, but they could most certainly, and should, plus it.

 

[Funball]

I didn't mean to make the indoor parts 100% pitch black. I meant they should theme the indoor parts like a dark ride (like in Fantasyland) but make the themes of the indoor parts retro-contemporary and having to do with technology. Like, I don't know, imagine driving through something like Innoventions, where you get to see a bunch of retro-futuristic stuff. Nothing scary though.

Overall though, as it is now, it's a nice little relaxing ride, but they could most certainly, and should, plus it.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BUT that is what they are saying, some kids are spooked with rides like that.[/FONT]

 

[mystic_path]

I didn't mean to make the indoor parts 100% pitch black. I meant they should theme the indoor parts like a dark ride (like in Fantasyland) but make the themes of the indoor parts retro-contemporary and having to do with technology. Like, I don't know, imagine driving through something like Innoventions, where you get to see a bunch of retro-futuristic stuff. Nothing scary though.

Overall though, as it is now, it's a nice little relaxing ride, but they could most certainly, and should, plus it.

I can see peoples points of children being totally terrified of dark rides. Heck I even get claustrophobic on dark rides. Especially the ones in Fantasyland. HOWEVER.... I agree with your point that Disney could easily come up with ideas that are super kid friendly. It doesnt have to be loud & noisy, have strobe effects or have things jumping out at them.

If they left Autopia the way it is, theme it into something fun, like Honey I shrunk the kids, and make you feel like your tiny, and as you drive through the "Grassy Yard", you could drive past things like giant Oreo cookies, and giant magnifying glasses.

 

[SilentFeline]

I just wanted to give my two cents on this topic. I don't think Autopia should be removed/replaced, especially since it seems like Cars Land will be completely different. I think kids really enjoy feeling like they're actually driving a car, and adults can enjoy that nostalgic feeling of how exciting it was when they were kids. I do, however, agree that it could do with some updating. The smell of the exhaust (or whatever you want to call it) doesn't bother me so much. If anything, it makes it seem more authentic, although I'm not saying that I would be opposed to replacing the current cars with electric cars.

That being said, I went on the ride 3 times during my last 5-day visit to DL (it's one of my bf's childhood favs), and I noticed that there were distinct differences in the speeds of the cars. One of my cars was super slow and it was very annoying. Second, I noticed that many of the cars (including one of mine) backfired quite a bit. This is also annoying and very inconsistent between cars. Finally, I think it's quite a hassle to have to keep restarting the car when it shuts down randomly on the track. With these improvements, the ride could be enjoyed for many years to come by both kids and kids at heart!

 

[DahliaRW]

Actually, the cars "stall" to stop you on purpose. It's their way of spreading out the cars and keeping them from bunching up. So it's not a problem with the cars, it's how the ride is designed (or so I heard from a CM).