If there’s one thing we know about Disney fans, it’s that we always have opinions about what’s next for the parks, especially when it comes to aging attractions that feel a little stuck in the past.
Disney is in the middle of a massive era of expansion, and with construction already underway on huge new projects like the upcoming Piston Peak area in Magic Kingdom, fans are more energized than ever about what could come next. So, we took our curiosity to Facebook and asked you for your thoughts on the matter, and you had thoughts. Lots of them.
We recently asked our followers on Facebook: “If you could add one new land or theme to a Disney World park, what would it be?” And honestly, you all delivered.
As we said, plenty of you shared a lot of thoughts, but there was one response from Lisa that hits on an idea fans have been talking about for years and feels even more relevant as Disney continues reshaping Magic Kingdom.
Here’s what she shared:
“I would have re-themed Tomorrowland Speedway into a Cars theme, maybe with new electric vehicles; I honestly don’t know why this wasn’t done. Doesn’t it seem obvious?”
And honestly, she’s saying what so many guests have been thinking. Because here is the thing. As Disney builds out Piston Peak, a full Cars-themed land replacing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island over in Frontierland, it is shining a spotlight on the one place in Magic Kingdom where Cars theming has always seemed like a no-brainer. Tomorrowland Speedway.
Tomorrowland Speedway opened with Magic Kingdom on day one back in 1971, and while there’s no denying its nostalgia factor, the experience has not evolved much in over 50 years. The cars still run on loud gas engines. The track layout is simple. The theming is minimal. And most guests step off smelling like they just finished mowing their yard.
Meanwhile, Disney is over in Frontierland building an entire Cars-inspired national park.
If you missed it, Piston Peak is based on the world of Cars and inspired by real United States National Parks. The land will feature rugged mountains, waterfalls, a towering geyser called Old Tankful, and two brand-new attractions. One will be a family-friendly racer ride, and the other is a thrilling off-road rally adventure using a new ride system that Imagineers have been developing and testing by riding real off-road vehicles in the desert. It is a huge project, and fans have every reason to be excited.
So Lisa’s point feels especially sharp now. With Disney investing heavily in Cars storytelling, why has the Speedway, which is essentially a racing ride already, never received the retheme that seems so obvious?
Let’s talk about why her idea still makes sense.
For starters, Tomorrowland Speedway is one of the least futuristic experiences in a land that has spent decades trying to define what “tomorrow” even means. Guests go from sleek Space Mountain, to high-tech TRON Lightcycle Run, to gas-powered engines puttering around a track. Updating those vehicles to electric models would instantly modernize the attraction and help the land feel more cohesive.
And a Cars theme? It practically writes itself. Lightning McQueen. Mater. Cruz Ramirez. A queue reimagined as a tuning garage. A track that incorporates scenery and storytelling. Kids would absolutely lose their minds driving “real” Cars vehicles.
But the biggest reason this idea resonates is that Disney has officially shown they are ready to expand the world of Cars at Magic Kingdom, just not in Tomorrowland.
With Piston Peak rising next to Big Thunder Mountain, the Cars franchise is getting an entirely new land built from scratch. That is exciting, but it also puts even more pressure on Tomorrowland Speedway to justify its place in a park that is quickly changing.
It raises the question. If Cars now has a home in Frontierland, does that open the door for the Speedway to finally receive an update of its own? Maybe a Cars theme is no longer the answer, since Piston Peak fills that space. But a futuristic overhaul? A new story? A complete reimagining that better reflects Tomorrowland’s identity?
Something eventually has to change, and Lisa’s comment taps into the larger conversation happening among fans right now. With Disney refreshing so many parts of Magic Kingdom, perhaps it is finally time for Tomorrowland Speedway to take the checkered flag and move into a new era.
Well, those were just some of your thoughts about what you would like to see added or updated at Disney World, and now we want to hear even more of your best tips! In the meantime, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney news!
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If you could add one new land or theme to a Disney World park, what would it be? Tell us in the comments!
I was thinking Wreck-it Ralph too. Florida is the sunshine state so with solar energy and battery storage they could charge the electric cars for free, so it will be cheaper than the petrol cars and the cost of changing to electric would be recouped pretty soon.
I think taking away a Childs chance to really drive a car would be a complete shame!!! It’s why the ride has been so popular for so long. As for the re themeing, Why not the race cars from Wreck it Ralph.
My prediction since there will be a younger kids version of Cars when it opens TomorrowLand Speedway is on borrowed time. They will shut it down. Its a huge space and I bet we see a future major attraction in its location. No way they keep Cars ride open and TomorrowLand Speedway.