Should Tomorrowland Speedway be the Next to Go?

[IBLarsen]

I would love to see this re-themed and updated as well. My DS has always LOVED this ride, staring with it's DL counterpart Autopia, and then this one as well. He is 11 now and it's still on his must do list for our upcoming trip. When he was younger, he would always want to be measured before each trip to see if he was tall enough to drive alone. That was the big draw for him....then the gas pedal is too hard for him to keep holding it down and was sadly disappointed.
So yes, it's old, but a classic that will always appeal to children. If they updated the theme, it would make it even more exciting for the kids, and maybe not so terrible for the parents!

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

I honestly wouldn't miss it.

Now, if the track were longer with more curves and hills and elaborately themed, I'd be all for it. As it is, it's just not all that impressive.

Plus that place is roasting hot in the summer.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Update it. Electric cars and re theming.

 

[klo1335]

I found an old map today on-line and was looking at some of the rides that I went on when I was a kid:

http://disney-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mk_map_old.jpg

It's pretty crazy to think about how much MK has changed. Some of my most vivid memories include the riding the Skyway, 20,000 Leagues, Mr. Toads... anyway, it got me thinking about what other rides might next to go. We were at the MK in December and I rode the Speedway with my 9 year old - I'm not sure it holds up in today’s go-kart and scooter world. A lot of kids have some sort of vehicle that goes faster and I was pretty disappointed after riding it all these years later. Plus, when you look at the amount of space it takes up in the park that could be used for new rides, I think it would be on the short list to go if they are looking for space for some new rides.

What do you think? What ride could you see being eliminated in the next ten years or so?

This is the map I remember when I went to Disney last. Speedway was never a ride I loved to go on. In high school I was all about the mountains.

 

[ethanwa]

Kids absolutely LOVE this ride. They feel like they can actually drive a car! I don't know why Disney would get rid of it.

I agree, it should be updated with electric cars. It would take a lot of the noise and smell out.

 

[FancyNancy]

I agree with BrianL. Definitely upgrade it and make it a little more modern and electric. My DD loves this ride but I always try to get away with not riding it because the smell of the gas makes me feel a little sick. I will take her on it anyways but it's definitely always the "OK let's get this one over with and move on." kind of ride for me.

 

[BradChristian]

My boys love the idea of the speedway, but it's lack of speed, handling and awful exhaust fumes leaves us disappointed. I'd like to see them keep the track, but update with some sort of eco-friendly car that goes just a touch faster and has some theming throughout the ride.

Faster and electric would be perfect.

I talked with Lou Mongello on twitter this week about this topic. He wants carsland to stay DCA only, and I get that.

However - he says tomorrowland is the next to get a major upgrade.

I'm surprised we haven't seen a big upgrade leading up to the film release in May.

 

[Wackdawg]

I really wish they would just do away with the speedway and while their at it redo again stitches great escape into something else also. The real estate that speedway takes up could easily add not just one but possibly two attractions to tomorrowland. I think a fun attraction of what the future could have in store for us with like a goofy and Donald as host could be very entertaining and enjoyable.they could use Donald's "modern inventions" or goofy's "motor mania" as a backstory for the rides. Just a thought.

 

[Tomh]

DS11 HAS to do the speedway, and not just once during our trip, multiple times. Pretty much any time you ask him what ride he'd like to do next, the speedway is at, or very near the top of his list. When ever we see it with a 20 minute or less wait, we are going on. Honest truth . .. at 45, I enjoy it as much as he does, whether I'm a passenger in his car, or driving myself.

Could it use a bit of updating, sure. I'm not 100% certain that getting rid of the gas engines is the way to go though, I suspect that the noise, power, feel of a real gas engine is a significant part of what makes this so exciting for yougsters. A bit more power / speed out of those cars wouldn't bother me any though, and perhaps a bit better muffler to quiet them down just a bit.

Aside from that, a cars retheme, or something else that ties in with a Disney Movie, and a bit more theming around the track would be awesome.

 

[footballmouse]

My kids love this ride & they are 20, 15 & 13! When we were there a couple of years ago the 18 yr old had just as much fun driving in the rain as his brothers did. I remember when I was little, you used to get your "license" after this ride. Not sure if they do this still or not.

 

[Buddyex]

I've only ridden it twice and never really understood why it has lasted this long and still pulls in crowds. It's noisy, smelly and dated and takes up a lot of valuable real estate ,although I do like the idea of giving it a Tron overhaul or at least something in keeping with Tomorrowland which definitely needs a refresh. As popular as it still is, I think it's nostalgia that has kept it going long after should've been retired , with the right replacement I doubt the kids would miss it.

 

[smraynor]

I hate to see one of the original rides go...But it is loud and smelly! My vote is for the electric versions and maybe make it a little more futuristic.

 

[pharaoh]

I would love to see this ride go away. I was never interested in riding it, even as a little kid. When I was 5 (1990!), I had an electric Barbie car that went faster than any of the speedway cars and that was more than enough driving for me.

As an adult, I can't believe this still exists. The fumes really bother me as I pass by, and it really is so noisy. And it just doesn't seem very "tomorrowland" to me at all.

At the very least I would like to see some kind of electric vehicles so there isn't any exhaust, and yes maybe change the theming as well.

 

[richmo]

I don't mind this attraction, but I agree that for the amount it takes up, the space could be better utilized.

One other thought (and one I don't think will happen) is that what if the "Tomorrowland" movie is a huge hit? Maybe there would be an excuse for a lot of retheming of the area. I'm not hearing a lot of buzz on the movie, so I don't think that will happen....but you never know.

 

[lugnut33]

Unless they allow us to smash into the car ahead of us I'm all for getting rid of this attraction. Crashing is the best part.

 

[BrianL]

Again, I agree with the noise and fumes issue, I don't quite grasp the "new theme" issue. It's a race track. With race cars. What sort of theme change is in order? Want to make the cars look like Lightning McQueen? OK. But they are still race cars. I wouldn't want the "theme" to be anything other than open wheel racing. Nor should it be. Updated cars would be fine. But not a whole new theme.

I think the desire for a new theme is because it's in "Tomorrowland" but it has no futuristic elements to it. I absolutely agree that the theme should still be racing, but just maybe with futuristic looking cars and a few track embellishments to make it a little more sci-fi.

 

[DOOM1001]

As others have said,it definitely needs to be updated with some newer eco friendly cars but the theme of the ride is always going to be popular with kids and even adults like me who enjoy doing it every so often.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Yes, please.

It doesn't at all involve the "Tomorrowland" theme. I have no clue why it was ever a ride, actually.

 

[hookedonears]

I found an old map today on-line and was looking at some of the rides that I went on when I was a kid:

http://disney-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mk_map_old.jpg

It's pretty crazy to think about how much MK has changed. Some of my most vivid memories include the riding the Skyway, 20,000 Leagues, Mr. Toads... anyway, it got me thinking about what other rides might next to go. We were at the MK in December and I rode the Speedway with my 9 year old - I'm not sure it holds up in today’s go-kart and scooter world. A lot of kids have some sort of vehicle that goes faster and I was pretty disappointed after riding it all these years later. Plus, when you look at the amount of space it takes up in the park that could be used for new rides, I think it would be on the short list to go if they are looking for space for some new rides.

What do you think? What ride could you see being eliminated in the next ten years or so?

With this post, you'll always get the "It's our kids/families favorite attraction" by someone. No it shouldn't be replaced. Major technology update maybe, but not replaced.

 

[Crystal824]

I wouldn't mind so much if it went. It is smelly and loud IMO, but my DH would be crushed. He loves to ride it with our DD. It reminds him of when he rode it with his grandfather and father as a child. I would be a little sad for him. Out of all the attractions in MK, I have others I would prefer they revamp first.