A long rumored change is FINALLY coming to an opening day Disneyland attraction. 

Autopia

Autopia opened with Disneyland on July 17, 1955 and the attraction – in one form or another – has been part of the park since then. Thanks to it’s sleek, Bob Gurr-designed, ride vehicles and giving many children their first experience “behind the wheel” of a car, Autopia has become a popular right of passage for millions over the last near-70 years. However, one issue has plagued the attraction until now. 

As first revealed to the Los Angeles Times, Disney is planning on replacing the pure gasoline engines that have powered Autopia’s cars since its inception with new electric or hybrid power sources. 

Disneyland’s Autopia

Disney Spokesperson Jessica Good told the Times, “Since opening with Disneyland park in 1955, Autopia has remained a guest-favorite most popular with young kids experiencing driving for the first time. As the industry moves toward alternative fuel sources, we have developed a roadmap to electrify this attraction and are evaluating technology that will enable us to convert from gas engines in the next few years.”

Many Disney fans have long waned the company to transition the Autopia vehicles to an electric power source, both for environmentalist reasons, as well as improving the park environment by eliminating the smells and sounds associated with the engines. 

Gurr himself is in favor of the decision, telling the paper that he looks forward to a version of Autopia where riders “don’t smell the fumes, don’t hear that racket of the little motor going putt-putt-putt.”

Bob Gurr c/o @bobgurrofficial on Instagram

No timetable for the Autopia changeover has been given as of now, and it’s left us wondering what this might mean for Disney World’s similar attraction — the Tomorrowland Speedway. As of now, nothing has been announced about swapping those gas vehicles to electric ones, but we’ll be on the lookout for updates. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news!

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Are you excited about Autopia’s move to electric engines? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for further updates on this change.