Tomorrowland Speedway is a mini race car ride for Guests of all ages in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom theme park.
Drivers! Start your engines for a pint-sized race car ride geared especially for young children. Guests who are at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall can strap in and drive their own gas-powered race car! Guests under the height requirement can ride along as a passenger.
Fashioned in the spirit of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Tomorrowland Speedway attraction looks and feels like a mini race track with photos, images and other racing icons. There's even a covered observation bridge where spectators can watch the race from the stands.
This .4 mile-long speedway has 4 lanes, each with rails that guide the cars around the track at speeds of up to 7 miles per hour. World famous announcer Tom Carnegie calls the race as the cars make their way around the track.
While waiting in a long, winding queue, guests are directed past replicas of Indianapolis 500-style race cars. Along the way to the loading area, there's a history of Indy racing, captured in photos. There are images of the Yard of Bricks, the Scoring and Timing Pylon, Gasoline Alley and the unmistakable wing and wheel logo.
The loading area of the attraction features panels of the three annual Indianapolis Motor Speedway races, the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Other panels depict races around the moon, Saturn and other outer space destinations.
Riders are strapped into their cars and travel along the 4/10 mile track, with banks and turns, while hearing the calls of world famous announcer Tom Carnegie from sound speakers positioned around the track. As you cross finish line, the checkered flag is waved and you arrive in Victory Circle. The area is marked by the Indianapolis 500 logo and the display of a winning race car. Spectators can experience the attraction from the observation bridge, or from outside the attraction along the route.
Touring Tips
- There is a height requirement at this attraction, you must be 54 inches minimum to drive alone. Shorter children (minimum 32 inches) may be passengers.
- The queue for this attraction is long and winding, up and down stairs. In addition, the wait is often long, even though the line moves steadily. The best time to visit is early in the morning.
- When lining up in the outside queue, turn right at the first loading area, this line is usually shorter.
- This attraction is open one hour before regular park opening time on selected mornings as part of the Magic Kingdom's Extra Magic Hour. This is a great opportunity to try this ride with a manageable wait time.
- Cars follow along a guiding track and are somewhat difficult to steer. Be aware that inexperienced drivers may stop suddenly in front of you, or inadvertently ram you from behind.
Facts
- Tomorrowland Speedway is one of the original Walt Disney World attractions, dating back to the opening of the Magic Kingdom theme park on October 1, 1971.
- It takes about 5 minutes to make the circuit around this Speedway.
- Cars reach a maximum speed of 7.5 mph with the Briggs & Stratton 9hp engines.
- Previously known as the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, the word Indy was dropped in 2009.
- The attraction features 146 authentic Autopia Mark VII race cars that travel around a 4/10-mile track.
- Tomorrowland Speedway features include an engine governor, belt restraints and shock absorbent bumpers.
History
An opening day attraction, the Grand Prix Raceway was based on an international car race rather than the futuristic roadways of Autopia. The original sponsor was Goodyear, as it supplied all of the tires on the Mark VII vehicles.
The ride was expanded in 1973 and remained unchanged until the 1994 remodel of Tomorrowland. Part of the track was also shortened to make room for Mickey's Birthdayland sometime between late 1987 to early 1988. The Grand Prix theme and name was dropped in favor of Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, but the track and vehicles remained the same, as new theming to coincide with the "New Tomorrowland" overlay was installed.
On December 20, 1999, Walt Disney Company and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway partnered to change the theme of the track. The ride was changed to add items from the famous Speedway, such as the famous Yard of Bricks, the Scoring Pylon, Gasoline Alley and the wheel and wing logo. The loading area featured panels with the three Indy events: the Indianapolis 500, the Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix.
The name was changed in 2008 to Tomorrowland Speedway, resulting in the drop of the Indy portion of the title.