An Opening Day attraction at Magic Kingdom, the Grand Prix Raceway debuted on October 1, 1971, offering guests the thrill of driving their own gas-powered race car through a winding track in Tomorrowland. Unlike its Disneyland counterpart, Autopia, which imagined futuristic highways, Florida’s version was themed to an international road race, complete with Goodyear sponsorship and a more grounded motorsport aesthetic.
The original track stretched an impressive 3,118 feet, making it one of the longest ride experiences in the park. Guests navigated four lanes of curves and straightaways, flanked by Goodyear-branded signs and surrounded by views of Skyway buckets, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and eventually Space Mountain.
The Raceway’s layout has been shortened multiple times over the decades to accommodate new attractions:
1973: Slight expansion to improve flow and capacity
1974: First major reduction to make room for Space Mountain
2012: Adjusted again for the New Fantasyland expansion and Dumbo’s relocation
2019: Modified once more to accommodate TRON Lightcycle / Run
Despite these changes, the core experience—driving a car along a guided track—has remained largely the same. The vehicles, designed by Bob Gurr, echoed the sleek lines of a Corvette Stingray, and were built in tandem with Disneyland’s 1967 Tomorrowland remodel.
🟡 Grand Prix Raceway (1971–1994)
Sponsored by Goodyear
Focused on international racing, not futuristic highways
Featured Goodyear tires and signage
Guests received Grand Prix Racing Team licenses, sometimes signed by Goodyear CEO Charles J. Pilliod Jr.
🟠 Tomorrowland Indy Speedway (1994–2008)
Renamed during the New Tomorrowland overhaul
Partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway began in 1999, adding racing banners and branding
Despite the name, the track and vehicles remained unchanged
🔵 Tomorrowland Speedway (2008–Present)
Renamed after the Indy partnership ended
Minor aesthetic updates, but core ride experience preserved
Continues to operate with gas-powered cars, offering a nostalgic, hands-on driving experience for younger guests
Though often debated for its fit within Tomorrowland’s futuristic theme, the Speedway has remained a rite of passage for generations of kids—many experiencing the thrill of “driving” for the first time. The smell of gasoline, the roar of engines, and the bumpy guided track are all part of its enduring charm.
Guests 54 inches or taller can drive solo, while younger riders (32 inches and up) can ride with an adult. The cars top out at 7 mph, but the excitement is real—especially when you’re behind the wheel.
A numbered kiddie car moves through Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
A blue and yellow kiddie race car marked 68 moves along a track at Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, with a child seated inside. The scene reflects the playful carnival styling of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Colorful gondolas pass overhead as race cars follow the winding road below.
A grassy park stretches beneath a line of colorful cable cars, with two race cars turning along a curved road nearby. Trees, a low building, and a cloudy sky frame the Grand Prix setting.
Grand Prix cars sweep around the banked track beneath the overhead walkway.
Several vintage-style race cars follow the banked Grand Prix track beneath a white overhead walkway, with passengers and spectators visible around the sunny amusement park setting.
Colorful cars line the Grand Prix track beside the flag-filled pit area.
A wide Grand Prix raceway bends through landscaped grass beside a white pit complex, with rows of colorful cars, tall flagpoles, and a few vehicles on the track.
Colorful cars race through the Grand Prix track under open sky.
Colorful ride cars move along the Grand Prix track on a broad paved course bordered by hedges, trees, and lamp posts. Cable cars and a waiting crowd appear in the distance.
Skyway gondolas glide over the roadway as open cars curve through the scene.
Skyway gondola cars hang from cables above a winding ride track, with colorful open vehicles passing below. Trees, lamp posts, and a cloudy blue sky frame the Disney attraction scene.
Grand Prix cars circle the track with riders leaning into the turns beneath a bright sky.
Open-top Grand Prix cars curve around the track in a wooded park setting, with riders turning through the bends and overhead cables visible above the roadway.
Two race cars speed past the stands as spectators gather in the Grand Prix area.
An elevated view of a Grand Prix track shows two small race cars on the striped pavement, with spectators packed behind barriers and shaded stands in the background.
Colorful go-karts line up as riders circle the Grand Prix track at Disney.
Families gather along the railings while yellow and red go-karts move around the Grand Prix track. The outdoor Disney attraction shows riders, attendants, and a landscaped backdrop.
Guests move through Disneyland’s Grand Prix attraction beside colorful race cars.
A crowded Disneyland Grand Prix track shows small race cars lined up along lanes as guests walk by, with railings, flags, and trees visible in the sunny outdoor park.
Guests wait along the Grand Prix queue while a child leans on the railing.
Crowds stand along metal railings at the Grand Prix, with a child in a red shirt and white cap leaning forward in the foreground. A small green ride car sits below the elevated walkway.
Grand Prix glows at night above a busy Disney dining area.
The Grand Prix sign shines over a nighttime Disney dining location, with bright interior lights, seated guests, and dark silhouettes gathered in front of the entrance.
Colorful Grand Prix cars wait on the Disneyland track while visitors gather nearby.
Visitors crowd around a vintage Disneyland Grand Prix track, where colorful race cars sit in line beneath tall poles and painted signs. Trees and railings frame the lively outdoor scene.
Colorful race cars line the Grand Prix grid beneath rows of flags and pit buildings.
Dozens of colorful race cars stand in neat rows on the Grand Prix starting grid, with flagpoles, pit walls, and white track buildings stretching along the course.
Grand Prix Raceway 1981 Vintage Home Video Walt Disney World POV
