Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom With Toddlers and Young Kids
My 5-year-old has been riding Tomorrowland Speedway for years. He loved it from the very first time he got behind the wheel, and it remains one of his favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom. We recently were able to bring our toddler on with us as well, which was a really special moment.
Tomorrowland Speedway is one of Magic Kingdom’s original opening day attractions and remains a popular stop for families with young kids. Your little ones will have the opportunity to “drive” their own car around the track while getting some fun views of Tomorrowland along the way.
In this post, we’ll share more information about Tomorrowland Speedway, what the ride experience is like with toddlers and young kids, and whether it’s one you might want to add to your Magic Kingdom day.
Ride Stats
Location:Tomorrowland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Height Requirement: 32 inches
Ride Duration: About 4 minutes
Ride Type: Driving ride
Ride Vehicle: Gas-powered car; seats 2 with a single seatbelt
Lightning Lane: Available
The Queue
The Tomorrowland Speedway queue is entirely outdoors and partially covered by shade. There aren't any interactive elements, but you do get some great views of the track as you progress farther in line.
Just like with other popular rides at Magic Kingdom, wait times can vary throughout the day. Typically, we try not to wait more than 15 or 20 minutes for most rides, as the kids tend to get restless waiting much longer than that. We’ve often tried to make this one of our first stops of the day or utilized Lightning Lanes to minimize how long we wait.
If you’re wondering whether or not Lightning Lanes are something your family should purchase for an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, you can read more about how they work and our family’s experience using them here.
The Ride Experience
As you make your way to the front of the line, a Cast Member will direct you to an available car. There is a slight step down to get inside, but once you’re in, there’s enough room to keep a bag on the floor by your feet. Each car has one seatbelt that goes across everyone riding, and I’d say two people can fit pretty comfortably.
I did see a few families trying to fit one adult and two small kids in a car, or two adults and one small child, and honestly, it looked a little cramped. If you can, I would stick with no more than two people per car just to give everyone a little more room.
My 5-year-old is still not quite tall enough to reach the pedal, so he steers while I push the gas for him. The pedal does take a little effort to hold down, but even with it all the way to the floor, you’re only going a few miles per hour. The car is also attached to a guide rail, so your little one can steer from side to side a little bit, but you can’t actually change lanes or leave the track.
A few other things to keep in mind are that the cars are gas-powered, so you will notice a bit of a gas smell, and they can be a little loud. If your little one is sensitive to smells or sounds, I would watch the cars for a few minutes before getting in line just to get a better idea of whether they’ll be okay with it.
There is a 32-inch height requirement for Tomorrowland Speedway, and there’s usually a Cast Member near the front of the queue who will double check that your kids are tall enough. For the longest time, I had it in my head that the height requirement was 38 inches, and then one day we realized it was actually 32 inches and our toddler could ride! So definitely double check the signs or the My Disney Experience app if you’re not sure. You can always ask a nearby Cast Member too.
Once you’re in the car and ready to go, a Cast Member will let you know when you can start moving. They’ll ask you to leave some space between your car and the one ahead of you, and bumping the other cars isn’t allowed.
One thing that’s a little hit or miss for us is how much “traffic” we run into on the track. Since all the cars follow the same path, if someone ahead of you is going slower, you’re going to be moving slower too. There’s really nothing you can do about it, so at that point we just enjoy the views around Tomorrowland until things start moving again. On our most recent ride, we got lucky and had plenty of space in front of us, so we were able to go as fast as we wanted the entire time.
Something else to keep in mind, especially during the summer, is that there’s really no shade once you’re out on the track besides an occasional tree. On a hot, sunny day, you definitely feel it by the time you’re done. I would make sure everyone has sunscreen on, and hats and sunglasses aren’t a bad idea either if you’re riding in the middle of the day.
As you make your way around the track, you’ll go around a few gradual turns and get some fun views of nearby attractions like Space Mountain and TRON. Tomorrowland Speedway also typically gets a Christmas overlay with lights, trees, and other decorations. We’re excited to come back and ride it later this year during the holidays.
At the end of the ride, you’ll make your way back into the loading area and follow the Cast Members’ directions as the cars ahead of you unload. There’s another slight step to get back out of the car, so that’s something to keep in mind with smaller kids.
As you head toward the exit, there’s a small set of bleachers covered by shade where you can sit for a few minutes and watch the cars go around the track. You’ll need to go down a set of stairs on your way out as well.
Just after you exit, there’s also a fun photo booth where kids can take a picture and get their own “driver’s license” souvenir for an additional cost. We haven’t tried this yet, but I think it could be a cute souvenir, especially if your kids really liked the ride.
Final Thoughts
Tomorrowland Speedway is a great option for families with toddlers and young kids. My 5-year-old and 2 ½-year-old both really enjoy the experience. With a little help from an adult to push the pedal, they get a chance to see what it’s like “driving” their own car. Our family had a lot of fun on our most recent visit now that all four of us can ride, and it’s something I know we’ll keep heading back to on future visits.
If your little ones are fans of cars and pretending to drive, I would definitely recommend adding this to your Magic Kingdom itinerary. Aim for less than a 15-20 minute wait by heading there early or using a Lightning Lane. I hope you found this guide helpful and that your family enjoys Tomorrowland Speedway as much as ours does.