In this post we give an overview of Tomorrowland Speedway, a driving ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Tomorrowland Speedway, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in depth. The Magic Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Magic Kingdom.
Tomorrowland Speedway Basics
Tomorrowland Speedway is a go-kart style ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with small children, this one is a bit tricky, as Tomorrowland Speedway has multiple height requirements. First of all, if they’re under 32” they can’t ride at all. If they’re at least 32”, kids can ride accompanied by a rider who is 54” tall. Once they’re 54” tall, they can ride on their own.
The ride also:
offers rider switch
is a Tier 2 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass
does not have a single rider line
is a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 6 minutes long
Disney warns that expectant mothers and persons not in good health should not ride.
Where is Tomorrowland Speedway located?
Tomorrowland Speedway is located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World.
It is on the border of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Entering the park, you can go straight to the hub and take either of the bridges on the right. If you take the first one—directly into Tomorrowland—you’ll see Tomorrowland Speedway on your left when you get to the middle of the land. If you take the second bridge, into Fantasyland, you’ll see Tomorrowland Speedway on your right when you get to Mad Tea Party.
How to Ride Tomorrowland Speedway
There are a few notable things about Tomorrowland Speedway.
First, it has two height requirements. Under 32”, a guest cannot ride. If they’re at least 32”, kids can ride accompanied by a rider who is 54” tall. Once they’re 54” tall, they can ride on their own. Note that even at only 32”, kids are allowed to drive. Nearby PeopleMover, Astro Orbiter, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Mad Tea Party, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Under the Sea, and Dumbo all have no height requirements.
Second, the queue can be exhausting—by which I mean it can be really hot and filled with exhaust fumes. We basically never wait standby for this one, the main exception being during holiday parties if the ride has an overlay.
In terms of Lightning Lane strategy, Tomorrowland Speedway isn’t exceptionally popular. Usually I’ll just try and book it around the same time as another Tomorrowland ride or as part of my Fantasyland block, covering Dumbo, Barnstormer, Under the Sea, and Mad Tea Party.
Since Tomorrowland Speedway is a relatively long ride (and you might wind up waiting extra time to unload), it’s usually not a great use of time early in the morning. I’ll usually only head there once I decide I’m okay with all the 5-minute waits I’m ignoring turning into 20-minute waits by the time I’m off Speedway.
An Exhaust-ing Ride Around Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland Speedway is a driving ride around a track near Space Mountain and TRON. The cars seat two people and typically one drives while the other enjoys the ride, but if you’re letting your little one drive then probably you won’t just be sitting back enjoying it (trust us).
Our bottom line for this one is pretty simple—it’s a chance for Zoe to drive. Kids love the novelty of it, and that’s reason enough to ride most days. When I’m solo I basically never ride it (other than for content purposes). Between the queue and some waiting at the end, I just don’t find the ride to justify the amount of time I’ll be sitting around idling vehicles.
Tomorrowland Speedway FAQ
Can a 2-year-old do Tomorrowland Speedway?
As long as your child is 32” tall, they can ride Tomorrowland Speedway accompanied by a rider who is at least 54” tall.
How can I get a Tomorrowland Speedway License?
Facing the ride entrance, there is a photo booth to the right. For about $5, you can get a novelty license printed. This isn’t required for the ride.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.