The Autopia Loading Dock	Children Drive "Off-Road" in What Was Once The Fantasyland Autopia Loading Dock

vital stats

personal preference

stars: 3 (out of 5)
The new expanded track is nice - some of added Chevron features, though, are a little cheesy and the cars still burn fossil fuels.

free association

. . . I admit that this ride was more fun when I was younger. Nowadays, driving slowly, inhaling exhaust fumes, and languishing in traffic is merely reality; just a part of the commute into LA. . .

. . . Of course, the 110 does not have the nice scenery that the Autopia has. . .

. . . I was disappointed that Disney did not change the Autopia cars to electric during its 1999-2000 renovation. Of course, Chevron is the attraction's sponsor but if Disneyland wanted to affirm its support for the environment and make the attraction more "futuristic" at the same time, then cleaner, electric motors would have been the way to go. . .

pointless trivia

• Rat Pack members, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, were among some of the first guests to ride the Autopia on Opening Day, 1955. (Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland USA)
• Walt Disney wanted the Autopia to be up and running for the Disneyland opening day ceremonies because he thought that celebrities riding in mini roadsters would makes great photo ops. (Disneyland, Dreams, Traditions and Transitions ) - search for it on amazon.com
• Walt conceived the ride as a way to teach young children to drive carefully when they grew up. Unfortunately, most kids treated the experience more like bumper cars than driver's ed. (Ibid)
• The Autopia closed in September 1999 for a major remodel. It reopened on June 29, 2000 as a belated entry in 1998's New Tomorrowland. New features in the ride include completely redesigned cars, a new, two-story queue building, and a more extensive track that encompasses the old Fantasyland Autopia route.
• Two of the movies playing at the cinema inside one of the queue's Chevron dioramas are "Carzan" and "The Hatchback of Notre Dame."
• In an homage to the old Peoplemover, its familiar 60's-era music can be heard in the background of the pre-ride safety announcements.
• The Autopia highway is Disneyland Route 55, referring, of course, to the year that Disneyland opened.
• TEST:How much horsepower can an Autopia car generate? Answer Below

Answer: Seven HP

		honey, i shrunk the audience