Richard Petty Driving experience to close later this year

[rteetz]

Later this year the Richard Petty Driving experience will close to make way for transportation improvements according to Disney.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-richard-petty-20150211-story.html

 

[sachilles]

Being a motorsports guy, that is a bit of bummer, but it really isn't used all that much outside of the driving experience. Wonder what the transportation improvements are. I suppose it could be used for parking, but there is plenty of space east that wouldn't require flattening the speedway.
New transportation hub?

 

[rteetz]

Being a motorsports guy, that is a bit of bummer, but it really isn't used all that much outside of the driving experience. Wonder what the transportation improvements are. I suppose it could be used for parking, but there is plenty of space east that wouldn't require flattening the speedway.
New transportation hub?

When they said transportation that's the first thing I thought was a new or second TTC but it's unlikely. I never experienced it but I agree that it is a bummer. I liked that WDW had its own race track.

 

[dismomtfj]

Glad we made our reservations for May. Although to be fair, it is probably a once and done thing for us anyway.

 

[DrBanner]

I thought a good amount of nascar teams used that site for testing? Hate to see it go was neat to see the cars driving around..

 

[DDLand]

That's news... Interesting.

Am I the only one that found that attraction oddly placed? It always struck me as funny that they have the big Magic Kingdom sign, and then all of a sudden there's a speedway, and then parking. Not anything wrong with it, just oddly placed. They had to know that area is one of the most crowded and in demand places on the Resort. Couldn't they have put it somewhere else in the first place? Still a shame, as it filled a niche especially among conventioneers.

 

[circus4u]

That's news... Interesting.

Am I the only one that found that attraction oddly placed? It always struck me as funny that they have the big Magic Kingdom sign, and then all of a sudden there's a speedway, and then parking. Not anything wrong with it, just oddly placed. They had to know that area is one of the most crowded and in demand places on the Resort. Couldn't they have put it somewhere else in the first place? Still a shame, as it filled a niche especially among conventioneers.

Actually, this was originally part of the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom. At one time, races were held there but the race was removed from the circuit (can't remember what type of races they were, not NASCAR though). Never could understand why they put it there when they had so much land available.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It was installed in what...1974?

It's one of the oldest things in wdw...

Predates everything but a couple of lodges, mk, and the campground...

I'm surprised it lasted this long...

But there's a very logical path to what this could mean...

 

[DDLand]

Actually, this was originally part of the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom. At one time, races were held there but the race was removed from the circuit (can't remember what type of races they were, not NASCAR though). Never could understand why they put it there when they had so much land available.

It was installed in what...1974?

It's one of the oldest things in wdw...

Predates everything but a couple of lodges, mk, and the campground...

I'm surprised it lasted this long...

But there's a very logical path to what this could mean...

This particular piece of property was never a parking lot and ground was broken in 1995. It's recent and poor planning...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich...cing_Experience_.2F_Exotic_Driving_Experience

I'll admit I'm not too sorrowful about this.

 

[sachilles]

NASCAR no longer allows teams the freedom to test at will. It's an effort level the playing field between teams by equalizing the amount of time teams can test. That will hurt many tracks revenue starting this year, but I don't think that was the track's bread and butter anyway. There are plenty of tracks within a few hours of Orlando that can fill the niche.
The tri oval, is limited in who it attracts. As mentioned in the article, a road course fits their mold better. In the industry there are several country club road courses being built around the country. I could see that being a good fit in the area, but not necessarily in WDW.
Again I think it's odd that they'll reclaim developed space instead of the undeveloped space immediately near the track. The location must be an important part of the equation.

 

[chartle]

Maybe some sort of improvement to traffic flow.

 

[DDLand]

NASCAR no longer allows teams the freedom to test at will. It's an effort level the playing field between teams by equalizing the amount of time teams can test. That will hurt many tracks revenue starting this year, but I don't think that was the track's bread and butter anyway. There are plenty of tracks within a few hours of Orlando that can fill the niche.
The tri oval, is limited in who it attracts. As mentioned in the article, a road course fits their mold better. In the industry there are several country club road courses being built around the country. I could see that being a good fit in the area, but not necessarily in WDW.
Again I think it's odd that they'll reclaim developed space instead of the undeveloped space immediately near the track. The location must be an important part of the equation.

Agreed. That is one of the most densely built up areas on the Resort. It's also one of the first impressions that people get of MK.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

This particular piece of property was never a parking lot and ground was broken in 1995. It's recent and poor planning...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich...cing_Experience_.2F_Exotic_Driving_Experience

I'll admit I'm not too sorrowful about this.

I must Be going nuts...I was sure that the speedway was an early addition...
What was there before?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Maybe some sort of improvement to traffic flow.

Or you shift the parking lot that way..." Peel it back" from the TTC area and "repurpose" that

 

[chartle]

I must Be going nuts...I was sure that the speedway was an early addition...
What was there before?

Gators

 

[chartle]

Or you shift the parking lot that way..." Peel it back" from the TTC area and "repurpose" that

Ok I'll start the fire.

MONORAIL EXPANSION.

 

[Hammill9508]

i would be interested to see if they opened or developed a road coarse for the exotic cars

 

[sachilles]

i would be interested to see if they opened or developed a road coarse for the exotic cars

Mickey speedway DVC resort!

 

[chartle]

i would be interested to see if they opened or developed a road coarse for the exotic cars

It didnt sound like in the article the RP driving experience was looking at doing this on Disney property.

 

[circus4u]

This particular piece of property was never a parking lot and ground was broken in 1995. It's recent and poor planning...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich...cing_Experience_.2F_Exotic_Driving_Experience

I'll admit I'm not too sorrowful about this.

I was there many times before the track was constructed and during the construction (lived in the Tampa area from 1957 through 1996). Will have to go back through my old pictures and 8mm movies to check. I seem to remember the parking lot tram drivers talking about it also. You have my curiosity up now.