WDW Speedway to Close June 2015

[KeithS]

Disney today announced that the speedway outside the WDW Magic Kingdom is to close in June to make way for "new transportation improvements" which I guess means a new car park.

This of course means the Richard Petty Driving Experience will also close down.

The speedway was originally constructed in 1995 by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway corporation to host races for the newly formed Indycar Racing League (IRL). It hosted the first ever race of the IRL in January 1996 (the Indy 200). There were always issues with the parking for the WDW events, with overcrowded car parks from people attending the IRL and the Magic Kingdom, and after 2000, Disney and the IRL could not agree to hosting further events and professional racing at the venue ceased.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience began operating at the venue in 1997, but will now move some of its staff to Daytona where they already operate. They are also talking about creating a new driving experience in the Orlando area based on road (track) racing rather than ovals.

[ajp]

I am disappointed that I didn't do this when we were there even though I planned too. It's a shame to get rid of it though. I too thought more parking when I read that article. I've seen MK at capacity on a Xmas day and the car park wasn't completely full, so not sure why they would want to do that.

This reminds me, next time we go, I have to play golf, which I didn't do either and I wanted to.

[KeithS]

Yep - I missed out on doing it too...oh well, I guess we'll have to do laps up at Daytona instead

[ColinA]

I am disappointed that I didn't do this when we were there even though I planned too. It's a shame to get rid of it though. I too thought more parking when I read that article. I've seen MK at capacity on a Xmas day and the car park wasn't completely full, so not sure why they would want to do that.

This reminds me, next time we go, I have to play golf, which I didn't do either and I wanted to.

I thought the same thing. Christmas to NY the car park is not full. The full signs go out before. These days many more people are coming by bus etc from the Disney resorts.

[ColinA]

Yep - I missed out on doing it too...oh well, I guess we'll have to do laps up at Daytona instead

You could always do the Indy Speedway in Magic Kingdom!

[KeithS]

You could always do the Indy Speedway in Magic Kingdom!

LOL!

I'm just wondering if bulldozing the speedway to build a car park means they'd like to use the current car park for something? Stick in a new resort or DVC Villas or something? Those new DVC apartments next to the Contemporary sold out pretty quick...