Disney World Cars Ride: A Look at the Potential Ride System

Hey Disney Vacationers! Imagine cruising through the rugged terrains, dodging geysers, climbing steep trails, and splashing through muddy pits, all while hanging out with Lightning McQueen and Mater. Sounds incredible, right? Well, Disney is about to make that dream a reality. At the D23 Expo, Josh D’Amaro surprised fans with the announcement of a brand-new Cars Land set to hit Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, bringing the Cars franchise to life in a way we’ve never seen before. That’s right, there will be a Disney World Cars ride.

This ride isn’t just another attraction; it could be one of Disney’s most ambitious projects yet. Let’s dive into all the juicy details and explore the potential groundbreaking ride system that might be heading our way!

Breaking Down the Announcement

Disney has always had a knack for creating jaw-dropping, immersive attractions. We’ve seen it with Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland in California, Test Track at EPCOT, and Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea. All of these rides use high-speed, slot-car systems that keep you zipping along tracks designed to simulate fast-paced racing action.

But here’s where things get wild. When Disney dropped concept art for the new Disney World Cars ride, eagle-eyed fans noticed something missing: tracks. Yep, there were no visible tracks or guide slots. While concept art can sometimes be just a tease, it often gives us a sneak peek into Disney’s imagination, and this absence of tracks has everyone buzzing.

A Ride System Like Never Before

What makes this Disney World Cars ride different? From the looks of it, Disney might be leaning toward a cutting-edge ride system developed by Dynamic Attractions. They’ve got something called the Automatic Guided All-Terrain Vehicle system that could be a game-changer. This system is built for exactly what Disney is teasing: rugged terrain, rapid accelerations, and thrilling near-miss elements, all while keeping you completely off the rails.

Here’s the best part: this system can handle steep climbs, outdoor conditions, and multiple cars racing and interacting with each other. That’s right—you could be dodging geysers while another car flies past you. The vehicles can seat six people and offer an experience that’s immersive and unpredictable.

Dynamic Attractions isn’t new to the game either. These folks have partnered with Walt Disney Imagineering on massive projects like Test Track, Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin’, and even Avatar Flight of Passage. And if you’ve ridden The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Orlando, you’ve already experienced their work. Basically, they know how to deliver the kind of jaw-dropping experiences Disney fans love.

Why This Ride System Makes Sense

Now, you might be wondering, “Why not just clone Radiator Springs Racers?” Well, Florida’s weather might have something to say about that. According to Len Testa, co-host of the Disney Dish Podcast, the Radiator Springs Racers system struggles in rainy conditions. Florida, as we all know, has its fair share of rain, which could make maintaining a ride like Radiator Springs Racers tricky. With the new Cars ride promising wild elements like mudholes, Disney needs a ride system that can handle the great outdoors, rain or shine. Enter Dynamic Attractions’ all-terrain vehicle system.

Not only would this solve the weather issue, but it also gives Disney the freedom to push the envelope and design an attraction that’s unlike anything they’ve done before. It’s exciting to think about how this ride could evolve beyond the slot-car systems we’ve seen at other Disney parks.

When Can You Expect to Ride?

Here’s where things get a little speculative. While Disney hasn’t given us a specific opening date yet, word is that construction will begin in 2025. Considering the complexity of building a new, state-of-the-art ride system, we’re probably looking at a few years of development before this Cars ride officially opens to the public. That said, Disney has been known to move fast, when it would like to, when it comes to building attractions, so fingers crossed for an opening sometime around 2027 or 2028.

What’s Next?

At this point, the ride system and many details are still speculative, but that’s part of the fun! What we do know is that Disney has a history of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in theme park attractions. If this new Disney World Cars ride comes anywhere close to what I’m imagining—rugged terrain, off-the-rails adventure, and incredible interactivity—it’s going to be a must-ride experience at Walt Disney World. I can’t wait to see what Disney has in store for us, and you can bet I’ll be following every update as this attraction races toward the finish line.

So, buckle up—it’s going to be one wild ride!

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!