Disney Finally Sets 2027 Start for Autopia Modernization
Disney has confirmed that Autopia, the opening day attraction that fulfills the wish of small children to drive cars, will be electrified at some point in 2027. This post shares details, closing and likely reopening timeline, former Imagineer Bob Gurr’s take on overhauling the ride, and what should be done with this ride at Disneyland and Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom.
The latest development in this years-long saga comes via the Orange County Register, which reports that Disneyland Resort has signaled the start for its replacement of Autopia’s gas guzzlers. The new report confirms that Disneyland is finally moving forward with plans to replace the gas-powered cars at Autopia with a fleet of fully electric ride vehicles.
The OCR indicates that Disneyland has reached an agreement with the California Air Resources Board to retire the attraction’s current gas-powered engines in early 2027, and replace them with fully electric vehicles. The Autopia change is being pitched as part of the Walt Disney Company’s broader environmental initiatives. Specifically, net-zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 at Disneyland Resort, with company-wide efforts focused on cleaner energy usage and reducing its overall carbon footprint.
This move will mark arguably the biggest changes in the history of the iconic attraction, which debuted alongside Disneyland in 1955. Autopia has undergone multiple refreshes over the years, the attraction’s gas cars have remained a constant that has anchored the ride to its Walt-era roots.
Walt Disney Imagineering is currently developing, engineering, and testing a prototype for a fully electric Autopia vehicle according to Disneyland Resort officials. Frankly, I’m not sure just how much development, engineering, and testing of prototypes is necessary. They’ve been at this (allegedly) for over 2 years, so the wait until early 2027 seems more about Disneyland running out the clock on the current incarnation of the attraction–and perhaps more importantly, it’s sponsorship deal.
Not only that, but Imagineering has already done this at Hong Kong Disneyland, which had (past tense) a version of Autopia that used electric vehicles! So it’s not as if Disney would really need to reinvent the wheel on this one…just do what they already did back in 2006.
Disneyland has not yet announced specifics about the closure date, refurbishment or reimagining timeline, and reopening date. It’s possible there won’t be a closure at all; that this will truly be a phased project that happens while the attraction is operational. That’s what it sounds like based on OCR’s reporting.
Personally, I would strongly bet against that. It seems likely that Autopia will need infrastructure updates and that Disneyland and Imagineering will take this opportunity for a lengthy refurbishment, and changes to give the attraction a marketable refresh with those (presumed) sponsorship dollars. A veritable “new car smell” if you will.
We also wouldn’t be surprised if it’s taken offline for an extended period of time for some operational cost-savings as an offset, of sorts, against the upgrade costs. Disneyland and even Walt Disney World have gotten away from this approach, but it’s still within the realm of possibility, and what almost happened with Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue over at DCA earlier this year.
My guess is that the gas guzzler version of Autopia closes in early 2027, as opposed to the new version debuting then.
The agreement between Disney and the California Air Resources Board would revolve around the phasing out the gas-powered vehicles, not introducing the electric ones. The state doesn’t care whether Autopia is electric or closed for refurbishment; that side of the equation would make no difference to the California Air Resources Board.
I’d further guess that this ends up being a multi-month closure, starting after the holiday crowds subside in early January 2027 and debuting around the start of Summer 2027. For reference, the last big closure started January 11th and ran through April 28, 2016. Purely speculative, but I’d look at that as the minimum timeframe for a project of this nature, and wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it takes much longer than that.
If this news sounds familiar, it’s because the original announcement came via a long-winded piece from the climate columnist for the Los Angeles Times back in April 2024. At the time, the author mentioned “several weeks of my prodding the company for answers on the future of Autopia” before publication. Finally, he received the following statement from Disney:
“Since opening with Disneyland park in 1955, Autopia has remained a guest-favorite most popular with young kids experiencing driving for the first time,” spokesperson Jessica Good said in an email. “As the industry moves toward alternative fuel sources, we have developed a roadmap to electrify this attraction and are evaluating technology that will enable us to convert from gas engines in the next few years.”
Back then, Disney provided no timeline or other details–only a vague statement that they’ve developed a roadmap, are evaluating technology, and it will enable them to convert from gas engines in the next few years. To me, it read less like a concrete plan by Disney and more a way to assuage the author’s concerns while still being fairly non-committal to anything.
Disney Legend Bob Gurr is the original designer of the Autopia cars, and perhaps the most prolific living former Imagineer. (Gurr is basically a rockstar, and you should make every effort to hear him speak about…anything…if you have the opportunity.) Gurr was blunt about what Disney should do with Autopia: “Get rid of those God-awful gasoline fumes.”
In speaking with the LA Times, Gurr also expressed a grander vision for Tomorrowland as a hub for stories about renewable energy, public transit and other sustainable technologies that will help us create a better tomorrow. He says it’s time for an Autopia where guests “don’t smell the fumes, don’t hear that racket of the little motor going putt-putt-putt.”
Gurr contends that guests would enjoy a Tomorrowland with brighter colors and more kinetic energy, where they could “hear these whirring sounds like little tiny jets and turbines all over the place.” Gurr added that he’d “love to have really sexy-sounding electric cars.” None of this is the least bit surprising if you’ve ever talked to Gurr or even heard him speak. Even today, he’s very forward-thinking with eyes on the future rather than the past.
Turning to commentary, I’m fully on board with converting to EVs in Autopia and Tomorrowland Speedway and have been since first riding the far superior attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland over a decade ago. Even then, it seemed so obvious that the versions of the ride at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom were stuck in the past. Not necessarily from an environmentalist perspective, but in terms of the guest experience. Autopia at HKDL was actually enjoyable!
We’ve often “joked” that Tomorrowland Speedway is a great way to enjoy loud noise, vehicle exhaust stench, and incur some mild brain damage. I suppose that’s all part of the fun–everyone knows cognitive abilities are overrated. (This blog is proof positive of that!) We barely even ride either version of the attraction anymore, save for the holiday overlay.
Given that, we’re not exactly in a rush to get Megatron on the attraction. Thanks to the tucked away location of Autopia at Disneyland, we’ve managed to steer her clear of it despite weekly visits to Disneyland (somewhat against all odds given regular visits to the adjacent Tomorrowland lounge). The only Autopia she’s been on thus far is the one at Disneyland Paris, the central location of which makes it completely unavoidable.
Back when it was announced that Tomorrowland Speedway would be closing ahead of TRON Lightcycle Run construction in 2018-2019, our hope was that Imagineering would take the opportunity to convert the attraction to electric and use the HKDL Autopia fleet and other props that had been salvaged from that extinct attraction. Obviously, that did not occur.
Autopia is one of many attractions that’s better at Disneyland, thanks to its more engaging track, lush environment and interconnectedness of Tomorrowland. It also received new life back in 2016, with the addition of ASIMO and Bird–two characters who now appear in show scenes thanks to the Honda sponsorship. Even then, I remember rumors/wishful thinking that Autopia would be converted to EVs.
Back when the LAT report was published in Spring 2024, I guessed that Autopia would be due for another update around 2026-2027, which is likely also when the current Honda deal ends. That either they’d reup and commit to funding an EV overhaul, or Disney would find a different sponsor for the attraction. The most likely outcome is Honda returning as sponsor–the company has a long partnership with Disneyland and is probably one of the resort’s biggest corporate alliance deals.
It seems like this take has aged like fine fossil fuel, as over 2 years later, the timeline is finally starting to form, and it turns out it’s going to come to fruition in 2027. All of the above is also our basis for expecting that this is not an overnight switch. Since Autopia is still on the sponsorship model, Disney will extract a bit more than just electric vehicles from the agreement, and the automaker sponsoring the attraction will want more in terms of advertising for its investment.
What I’d instead like to see instead is Disneyland partner with an upstart EV maker. For the longest time, Tesla was the target among fans; it was all wishful thinking, no actual rumors. And that made sense, as the brand was the darling of Southern Californians and there was a sea of Teslas in Burbank and Glendale lots. It’s safe to assume there’s no longer any chance of that happening given Elon Musk’s past remarks (etc.) about Disney.
Personally, I’d love to see a partnership with Rivian, the newer EV maker with an eye-catching design. It’s an acquired taste that isn’t for everyone, but it would translate really well to Autopia cars that you aren’t going to buy and drive daily.
This company is based in nearby Irvine and has a strong presence in Laguna Beach, where their flagship showroom is located. Rivian is actively involved in Southern California communities, too. Disney has started to tout working with local businesses more frequently, making this a good match.
Beyond that, what I like to see happen is Autopia shortened. The ride takes up a ton of valuable real estate at Disneyland, and at least some of that could be put to better use when the old Innoventions building is inevitably demolished.
I don’t know to what extent Autopia could be condensed since the monorail winds above it (and I wouldn’t want to lose any of that), but I’d imagine its entrance could be moved to accommodate a larger plot for expansion.
When it comes to Walt Disney World, my dream is for Tomorrowland Speedway to bite the dust entirely. I know this is a controversial opinion or hot take that’s often criticized by parents as overlooking how important the ride is as a rite of passage for kids.
Now that I’m a parent, I feel like I have more latitude to say: yes, it’s a rite of passage, and also a massive waste of space. And at Walt Disney World, it’s also going to be a bit redundant when Piston Peak Cars Land opens. It’s been my assumption since that was announced that it was the precursor to replacing Tomorrowland Speedway and unlocking that parcel of land for Fantasyland and/or Tomorrowland redevelopment and expansion.
Just look at what Tokyo Disneyland did, replacing its Grand Circuit Raceway with Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast and the Happy Ride with Baymax. In fairness, those attractions occupy more than just the former speedway plot, but there’s also more to that expansion than just those two rides.
The point is that it’s a massive amount of real estate in Magic Kingdom that could not only become a couple of attractions, but also offer a better transition from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland and open up more pathways to TRON Lightcycle Run so it doesn’t feel isolated from the rest of the park.
Finally, I’d love a modernization of both Tomorrowlands. For me, this simply looks like rolling the look back to the mid-century Space Age design of old. Bring in Googie architecture, and add flourishes of biomimicry and the end result is a design that’s retro-futuristic and timeless.
Disneyland announced the above new entrance back in 2019, and almost 7 years later, all that’s been accomplished is construction walls. This type of modernization would work well on both coasts, and address the perpetual Tomorrowland problem. This has been on my wishlist for the last few D23 Expos…we’ll see if 2026 is the year it finally gets announced. Or rather, if it gets announced and actually happens this time.
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of Disney ditching the Autopia gas guzzlers for electrified vehicles? Hope that it’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to Tomorrowland changes? Would you like to see Autopia or Tomorrowland Speedway replaced entirely, condensed, or remain untouched? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
If they keep Autotopia at DLR they would be shrinking it since part of the current footprint will be getting absorbed into Fantasyland during the Tomorrowland remodeling and the only attractions they will be keeping 100% will be the Monorail, Railroad, and SpaceMountain while the rest of the land has been approved to be bulldozed. Matterhorn was already released from the land so you can use it as a boundary line idea of how much of the current Autotopia footprint could be heading to Fantasyland and since the Subs Show Building is built under the Autotopia track with walls thick enough to be labeled stronger than a bomb shelters, it is paet of the reason they been holding off starting the major land project even though it was listed to be the next major project after the completion of SWGE and Phase 1 of Avengers Campus. The statement about bulldozing the land aside from the 3 attractions was made during a engineering walk to see if the old people mover track woukd be able to be structurally repaired and if not how they can be safely removed since it goes through other attractions. The engineer was also walking the land to begin the planning stage for the New Tomorrowland so when the park official was told only portions of the track that wouldn’t need to be removed would be the portions already inside the other attractions as long as they seal off the wall openings it made it clear that the only portion of the track the park would leave in place would be inside SpaceMountain, but on the other hand looking at footprints of each attraction they could opt to go the route of Tokyo Disneyland and build a new SpaceMountain while tearing down the old one in the footprint of the old innovations building since they have identical footprints, would also allow them to have the 3 attractions that will not be removed from the land next to eachother so could be the first to be opened during construction of the land since guests just need a pathway connecting the 3 in the shape of a T coming out of the train station so guest can ride SpaceMountain and the Monorail after exiting the train. Before talks of having a whole Tronland woukd have thought putting in a Tron light cycle attraction in the Innoventions footprint would make sense and keep SpaceMountain where it is now, other option is to build a 2nd SpaceMountain track in that footprint and move the entrance and exit to be in-between the 2 buildings and then they could bring back the escalators again. They could move the Star Tours into SWGE and Buzz Lightyear Asto Blasters to Pixar Pier opening the door for new attractions without loosing that many attractions at the resort that are currently there. If they are dead set to bring the all electric autotopia they can implement it under a new name in one of the new lands they are building in the Disneyland Forward project.
I wouldn’t cry if it went away completely and was replaced with someone altogether different. It was always boring and smelly. Isn’t it enough that they are putting in the cooler Cars stuff? Out with the old, in with the new (and hopefully) much better!
please God not tesla…
10 years ago, sure! But now, no way. Elmo is way too toxic.
Tom,
I always thought WDW Autopia would be RIPE for a TRON Style EV to complement the rollercoaster and add the new style (sweeping canopy) to autopia. This would modernize and create an IP (which is Disney’s only play now) ride that is stale. You keep it a “rite of passage” ride while improving the vibe in that area…. Thoughts?
Mike
Something like that sounds awesome, and I wish it were integrated into the TRON area from the beginning. I think it’d be more difficult to pull off now, but could still work.
I also think shortening the track and adding the Baymax flat ride from TDL would be a huge hit and work well with this area.
I’d have rather the Speedway become the Cars IP and spared Rivers of America. But since that steamboat has sailed (huh?), maybe a Sugar Rush retheme could save the attraction
I don’t understand the idea that Piston Peak is somehow redundant with TomorrowLand Speedway. The reason TS is a childhood classic that kids love is because they get to actually drive the cars; the gas pedal and the steering wheel work and directly control the car! Nothing that I’ve seen proposed for Piston Peak is similar to that. Please correct me if I am wrong.
It is going to be at least a bit redundant by virtue of the automobile overlap.
It could be fully redundant if there’s an interactive element, or the appearance of one. Recent patents have suggested that possibility.
You can ride ancient noisy stinky go karts at any family fun center in the country. And the people running those don’t care if you bump each other
Tom I assume you do not ride with Megatron due to the conditions guests are exposed to on the ride. What I rarely hear discussed is how the ride impacts the cast that works there for hours every shift across multiple days. My daughter did the DCP in 2022 at Tomorrowland Speedway. Between the noise level, the fumes, and the summer sun and heat with no shade it was a very hazardous attraction to work at. I have heard that in California, Autopia cast get hazard pay due to protections for workers (this is not the case in Florida). Electric is the right answer for the health and safety of cast and guests as well as being better for the environment.
I totally agree. Being on the ride is bad enough. Walking past it with all the fumes is disgusting. Agree with Tom, just remove it from WDW and build something better. Also agree with Tom re Gurr. We met him at a Club 33 event in Disneyland. So interesting and what a gem!
Yeah, I cannot imagine being a Cast Member on that attraction. That has to be one of the worst–if not the worst–roles in the parks.
At this point, I would actually support cutting Autopia in half AND reducing the monorail beam. I’d much rather use that real estate for a Fantasyland expansion, and it would significantly shorten the amount of time it takes to get into the park on the monorail in the morning.
A complete overhaul of Tomorrowland has been needed for 20 years at this point. It’s the only land in Disneyland that I feel doesn’t measure up now that Toontown and Critter Country have gotten their facelifts. A brand new Tomorrowland would make the park basically perfect in my book.
I’m not necessarily against shortening the monorail if it’s strictly necessary for opening up a large expansion pad, but I am against shortening it for the sake of getting into the park faster.
We actually just took first-timer family to Disneyland this week and opted for the monorail approach. They sat in the front and loved the approach, weaving its way into the park. I think there’s something special about that meandering quality that gives it a greater attraction-like quality. To each their own, though!
The fact that they already did this in Hong Kong Disneyland 10 YEARS ago, and yet are marketing this as some amazing new thing…is just so…Disney.
Even worse. They did this in Hong Kong 20 years ago. And marketing it as a new thing isn’t even just a Disney thing. It’s an American thing. But I don’t think Disney is marketing this as never having been done. At least, I haven’t seen anything from them like that for this project.
Yeah, I agree with Fred that they’re not really marketing it as anything here. Just probably a case where ‘less is more’ in terms of comms, and they probably didn’t need to include the lines about testing, engineering, etc., because it’s not like they’re reinventing the wheel. That might sound good to an uninformed audience, but for fans who know that they’ve already done this elsewhere, it sounds silly.
I think a partnership with Tesla is fine, as long as they add the requisite “We bought this before Elon went crazy” bumper stickers to the back of each ride vehicle. (Stretching the truth a bit but certainly the most accurate depiction of driving in modern LA)
“I suppose that’s all part of the fun–everyone knows cognitive abilities are overrated. (This blog is proof positive of that!)”
Hilarious.
Part of the irony is that Autopia and Disneyland is a microcosm of car culture in American society: driving a car at Autopia is undeniably a huge rite of passage, but the speedway takes up way too much valuable real estate in the park. The kids even get to simulate what it’s like sitting in traffic. I’d love to see Bob Gurr’s vision re: Tomorrowland more fully fleshed out – it could really be a source of edu-tainment that could help people realize the benefits of renewable energy, public transit, etc.
I wonder how long it’s going to take for Disney or specifically in this case Disneyland to acknowledge that the raceway is a waste of space and that probable costs driving it way over budget and nearly all refreshes like this do, and replace the race way with either a new mini land or a really cool new attraction. I contended even at the original announcement that the electric version of the raceway would never actually see the light of day. At this point, due to the nebulous announcement that I’m still not convinced that I am wrong.
I was skeptical back then, wondering if they were just running out the clock until a big announcement at D23. At this point, I don’t believe that’s the case. Why give a 2027 start date if they’re going to announce a new land back here in a few months?
If this is just a routine refurbishment and ride vehicle swap, I don’t see it going way over-budget. Since they’ve done this before, costs should be a fairly known quantity. And this will probably retain its sponsorship, so someone else will foot much/most of the bill, anyway.
My children rode Tomorrowland Speedway for the first time a couple months ago. They loved it, but it’s time to go. I agree completely. Tomorrowland needs to be re-done. Im hoping they do it after Piston Peak and/or Villains open. That would give them enough rides to support massive changes. I also would like to see them go back to that mid-century futuristic look. It is timeless, and they could do ot really well. Improve the space, improve the ride or put something else that takes inspiration from the current speedway.