Tomorrowland Speedway

“Don’t bump the car in front of you!”

Fulfilling every child’s dream of what the future holds, the Tomorrowland Speedway seems like an odd fit for the section of the park it’s named after, but it’s easy to forget looking forward from your own childhood and the endless possibilities that awaited if only you’d a sweet set of wheels to get there. Over the years, most theme parks have included a similar type of ride, be it cars, taxis, trains, etc. but this attraction has been in place since the Magic Kingdom’s opening day and even though a strong case could be made for razing the land and constructing something new in its large footprint, Disney has held fast to the idea that this is one of the things that kids want to experience. When available, they can even get a driver’s license right there at the Speedway.

Climb into your car behind the steering wheel and get ready to set off on a short journey around the track, featuring some great views of Tomorrowland itself, as well as Space Mountain, TRON Lightcycle/Run and the Storybook Circus section of Fantasyland. To reduce the risks to everybody involved on the track, each car follows a single rail track that also keeps the car from meandering off into unknown territory. Your main risks are drivers in front or back of you keeping a consistent speed. Fender benders are the name of the game here, so don’t be surprised when you wind up playing a little bit of unplanned bumper cars. For this reason, it is important to remember that sudden jolts, bounces, and stops are quite frequent on the track, so be observant and you should be able to avoid any serious incidents.

Behind the Schemes:

When the Tomorrowland Speedway opened along with the park in 1971, it was known as the Grand Prix Raceway. This was followed by two name changes, including Tomorrowland Indy Speedway which was then shortened to Tomorrowland Speedway. The track’s length has varied over the years, mostly due to areas being refurbished or full-on reconstructed, such as the creation of Mickey’s Toontown Fair, the addition of TRON Lightcycle/Run, and a few other nips and tucks along the way. 

Because Disney is laser focused on safety matters, the track is often filled with Cast Members policing the drivers to intercept and cease and form of tomfoolery. Bumping cars is strictly forbidden and it’s a full-time job at times to make sure that everyone is following the rules. Maintenance crews are constantly bombarded with vehicle problems ranging from engines sputtering out, fenders being worn down by constant friction/bumping into other cars, and typical maintenance issues that are multiplied by having an entire fleet of cars to maintain.

Reality Check:

Goodyear was the original sponsor for the pavilion and provided tires for all of the cars found on the track.  Artwork of different types of races can be found in the queue area. 

From 1955—1965, Disneyland’s original version of the attraction (Autopia) did not have a guide rail in the center of the track. Drivers were able to steer the car wherever they wanted to – and often wound up stranded in the landscaping – before management wised up and made the necessary addition to keep things from being dangerous. (Was this the first time a park Guest made the grumbling statement, “The magic is gone?”)

The car engines smell and you are going to get a whole lot of that stench stuck in your nasal cavities while you wait in line.