Time to remove Indy speedway

[Accident]

I wouldn't mind seeing it go but I do have really fond memories of riding with my father and then later with my daughter. It's one of the few things I actually remember from my young trips.

 

[Robo]

You've inspired me to start a new forum topic: "Attractions you were sad to see go, but happy with their replacements/upgrades".

Could be an interesting topic.

Likewise, the OPPOSITE of that would be (and has been) a major discussion.

 

[ErinCat]

I can't handle the fumes. It made me sick. I would not wait in along line for it. I would not mind if it was replaced with another ride. However, I am still mourning Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

 

[tlmadden73]

I am looking forward to taking my 3 year old on it. Able to (sorta) drive his own car? Yes please!

That being said, it does take a lot of real estate and really isn't "Tomorrowland" ish .. but then again so does Jungle Cruise.

It just isn't unique anymore .. any theme park has a similar ride (or had). You can find REAL go-karts in any tourist destination without tracks.
We could say things about the other "lame" (for adults) rides at Magic Kingdom. Teacups, Barnstormer, Carousel ... all these are nothing unique that can be found at your local carnival or Six Flags ... but they have that Disney polish and that makes them special.

 

[dkrauss]

This ride like some others in TomorrowLand needs an update. You could make this ride more relevant by adding a Cars theme to it. All I know is this was a "must do" ride when we took our children back in the day. For the younglings this is very popular.........for many older folks its nostalgia. I'd hate to see it gone forever.........although to be honest my wife and I haven't taken a ride in our past 3 visits

Doug

 

[DisneyFive]

I totally understand the mentality of how the Speedway doesn't really fit an major WDW theming.

It's the same HUGE gripe I have with the whole carni area in AK, which I think is much MORE out of place. (and yes, I know all about Walt's love for the circus/carnival...)

Having said that, I want the Speedway to stay. It was a HUGE hit for us our first couple of years. I still remember the excitement on my oldest daughters face when she was tall enough to drive on her own!!! I also remember banging back and forth on the rail as I let my younger daughter steer. . My son had a great time driving with grandmpa... So it still holds a special place for us and I'd hate to see it go.

Dan

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Time to go for sure. I'd like to defend my lungs from that horrible out of place smell and way out of place sound. Especially next to teacups etc.

 

[Tomh]

As for the electric verses gas argument, well true enough, there will be no emissions at the raceway if they switch to electric vehicles, but you aren't getting rid of the carbon emissions, you are just relocating them to a power plant which makes the electricity, in many cases burning oil or coal. That electricity is then transformed to a much higher voltage to move it across the electric grid. That process makes heat, and wastes electricity, thereby burning more oil / coal. There is some more waste / loss as the electricity travels from the power plant to the Orlando area, then it goes through another transformer to drop the voltage again, more loss. The electric motors in the cars will also have some loss. Add that all up, and it is going to be hard to say that the electric cars won't in fact cause more carbon emissions than the gas engines do. The only difference is that those emissions are at the power plan, not at the race track in Disney.

 

[JimmyV]

As for the electric verses gas argument, well true enough, there will be no emissions at the raceway if they switch to electric vehicles, but you aren't getting rid of the carbon emissions, you are just relocating them to a power plant which makes the electricity, in many cases burning oil or coal. That electricity is then transformed to a much higher voltage to move it across the electric grid. That process makes heat, and wastes electricity, thereby burning more oil / coal. There is some more waste / loss as the electricity travels from the power plant to the Orlando area, then it goes through another transformer to drop the voltage again, more loss.

Or......there is always.......

 

[kydisneyfans]

To fit in the future theme, I think the cars should have the engines removed and pedals added. The track should be 1 way and dead end into an organic tofu bar. Otherwise, leave it alone.

 

[alicat8]

The future=hoverboards. I've decided that I'll accept nothing less than this for an upgrade. And I want it done before avatar.

 

[danny1649]

LOL I thought man this has to go when I read OP original title. I lived 50 miles from Indianapolis 500 race track.Why does he want to get rid of Indy 500 which would mean Brickyard 400 would go to. PS I think if age limit placed on WDW speedway might improve it.DW and I love to sit and watch little ones and see their excitement.Also see so many adults without children ride, that I don't understand.I don't have slightest idea on how to implement age policy.

 

[Lesverts]

Tomorrowland was the area of the park I was most looking forward to before my first trip. I thought it would be the area of the park I enjoyed the most because of the type of rides and the overall sensibilities of the idea and themeing. While I was not completely disappointed I thought Tomorrowland needed the most TLC out of any area in the Magic Kingdom (and for me arguably the whole WDW complex). So I am a little disappointed that the current rumors are that Adventure/Frontierland are the ones up next for an upgrade. I did have a conversation with two cast members about future things in the park and while they knew nothing concert. They both speculated that Space Mountain would be the next ride to go down for major rehab. The cast member added that it might be dangerous because of the lack of other major attractions in that one area of the park. She mentioned that if they did the full Disneyland treatment it could take the best part of a year.

I definitely think that Tomorrowland needs a complete re-imagining. Every ride that is currently in that section of the park needs a rehab. Stitch's Great Escape needs, well it just needs some lovin' to be a lot better representation of Stitch. The hardest part of Tomorrowland though is that there is not a lot of Disney IP that fits into the idea of Tomorrow. Tron being the only major one that I can think of off the top of me head. So a version of the Tron cycle coaster from Shanghai would be an outstanding edition. But I think as a fan of the rides like ToT, SM, JC, POC and HM I would also like to see new, original rides take shape in Tomorrowland that reflect the best in Disney Imagineering. Disney has ample space in other areas of the MK, HS and Epcot to insert attractions and shows based on recent and not so recent hits. I just want to see some true Disney magic come back to Tomorrowland. Can someone say Jetpack coaster?

 

[dizzyinwdw]

Okay, who here would complain about losing the Speedway (which is definitely not THE FUTURE) if it meant getting something like the TRON lightcycle coaster from Disneyland Shanghai?

Almost no one.

This would be so cool! If they make it so the little ones can ride I would be all for it

 

[JimmyV]

The future=hoverboards. I've decided that I'll accept nothing less than this for an upgrade. And I want it done before avatar.

At the current pace of Avatar construction, this might be entirely doable.

I definitely think that Tomorrowland needs a complete re-imagining.

I would settle for an "un-imagining" where they take Tomorrowland back to its original state. With the waterfall!!

If they make it so the little ones can ride I would be all for it

I think this misses the point. The ride loses all appeal if it isn't an E-Ticket ride.

 

[MrKnight]

This is a tough one, I feel that this attraction is definitely old and tired, takes up too much space in a park with limited space, and feels borderline tacky (holding my breath), but as some have stated above it is also a nostalgic classic that was hand selected by Walt Disney himself, so I understand why Disney would tread lightly with making major changes in this area.. I believe the best course of action would be a major rehab of the existing attraction, not just the ride itself (cars, track, etc.) but also the queue area needs some major TLC, I also think integrating a new theme wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea as long as the basic concept is not altered, I just don't think Cars is the right theme, especially since there is already a potential Cars attraction in the works at DHS, this would be overkill...

 

[BrianL]

Like many I don't have a real love for it, but I understand that the little ones sure do and it really is a classic. I do think they should rehab it, make the scenery more Tomorrowland-esque and switch to electric cars to eliminate the noise and vapors. I really can't imagine there not being a Speedway though.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do I like it? Nope. But, my dd did when she was younger. And, obviously, so do many, many other youngsters! As already noted, that attraction has always got a huge line.....I can't imagine what the other attractions would be like if those people weren't in line, or riding the Speedway. Not classic Disney? I guess I'm unclear as to what, exactly, 'classic Disney' means.
And the statement that it would fit better at a Six Flags? Geez Louise....not our Six Flags NE! That place is chock-a-block full of thrill rides! Seems to have very few things for really little ones to do.

WDW is all about things you can do as a family. There are going to be some things that just don't appeal to adults. I rode that darn thing once, just to say I had done it. I hated it. But, it isn't meant for me!!! It would be great if they could redo the cars...use electric cars. Perhaps add some CARS theming. But, remove it completely? Nope, not a great idea IMHO.

Oh you are so right! We used to love Riverside Park and went all of the time. We gave Six Flag NE a try twice with my DGD, and hated it. Thrill rides from stem to stern!

One of the best aspects about WDW is that as a family, we can enjoy so many attractions. The foks who cannto handle spinning, racing, speed, iversion....there is still plenty for them. Plenty for littles, and plenty for fraidy cats. I fit the bill for most of these descriptions, and love WDW. I may not enjoy the racers, but my DGD did and now my DGD's want this experience. If it was replaced with something I would not miss it, but I know a lot of people who would.

 

[Pbeh]

Maybe they could replace it with a few extra attractions, then open up a go-kart complex somewhere else in WDW. Still maintain it is not a fit with the MK. Just my thoughts.

I am impressed with all the responses though, I never knew it was so beloved by anyone. It is a highlight that someone suggested I be removed instead of the cars, that made my day!

 

[goofyernmost]

This is a tough one, I feel that this attraction is definitely old and tired, takes up too much space in a park with limited space, and feels borderline tacky (holding my breath), but as some have stated above it is also a nostalgic classic that was hand selected by Walt Disney himself, so I understand why Disney would tread lightly with making major changes in this area.. I believe the best course of action would be a major rehab of the existing attraction, not just the ride itself (cars, track, etc.) but also the queue area needs some major TLC, I also think integrating a new theme wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea as long as the basic concept is not altered, I just don't think Cars is the right theme, especially since there is already a potential Cars attraction in the works at DHS, this would be overkill...

The problem with your theory is that it is not in a park that has limited space. There's enough room there to add an equal number of new attractions. 27000 acres is a lot of land, all they have to to do is utilize more of it. As I stated earlier, I don't want to hear about the evils of pollution and the "smell" if any of you took a motor vehicle to the parks, you added more of a footprint then that small attraction does. So either be concerned about that if you are not personally a major offender otherwise you are picking and choosing things that are OK as long as you want to do them and not OK if someone else does. Very hypocritical.

I think it would be a good idea to re-theme it to a cars type set up and even go to electric if they can completely copy the sound of an actual running engine. If not an important part of the sensory experience is gone. Besides, right now, WDW has much bigger problems that must be addressed.