Disney Reveals Trackless All-Terrain Ride System for New Magic Kingdom Cars Attraction at D23 Brazil

Nov 09, 2024 in "Cars Land Magic Kingdom"

Gallery / 3 Photos
Frontierland Concept Art Aerial View

Posted: Saturday November 9, 2024 11:10am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

At D23 Brazil, Disney offered a glimpse into the new Cars-themed attraction planned for Magic Kingdom's Frontierland by showing a test video of the ride system.

The video (see below) appears to confirm our previous report that the attraction will use a trackless, all-terrain ride system. This marks a significant departure from the traditional slot-car approach seen in other Disney car attractions like Test Track at EPCOT and Radiator Springs Racers in California.

The concept art released earlier raised questions about how this new ride would function, as the images showed cars navigating rugged outdoor terrain with no visible track or guide slots. This led to speculation that Disney Imagineering might be using a different, possibly more advanced, ride system to deliver the promised experience of "climbing mountain trails, dodging geysers, and splashing through mudholes."

Cars Concept Art

The test video presented at D23 Brazil seems to confirm these speculations, showing an all-terrain ride system that bears similarities to Dynamic Attractions' "Automatic Guided All-Terrain Vehicle." This ride technology allows vehicles to handle steep inclines, declines, rapid acceleration, and navigate challenging terrain—all without the use of fixed tracks. The test footage demonstrates cars crossing paths and maneuvering independently across rugged terrain, providing a glimpse of the immersive and unpredictable ride experience Imagineers are aiming for. Here is a look at a demonstration of the ride system from Dynamic Attractions.

Dynamic Attractions, a long-time collaborator with Disney, has previously worked on high-profile rides like Test Track, Radiator Springs Racers, and Flight of Passage. Their "all-terrain" technology, with its ability to operate indoors and outdoors seamlessly while supporting near-miss elements, seems well suited for the kind of experience hinted at in the concept art and Disney's description.

Cars Concept Art

The new Cars attraction, set against the backdrop of Frontierland, aims to deliver a ride experience where guests feel as if they're truly racing across rugged landscapes. The trackless ride system, with its adaptability to various terrains and dynamic ride paths, looks set to give guests an unpredictable and exciting adventure, unlike anything currently at Disney World.

Stay tuned for more updates as Disney continues to refine and reveal details about this upcoming addition to Magic Kingdom.

Cars Concept Art

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UNCgolf1 minute ago

It's very bad, but at least the plan is to replace it with something else focused on a natural environment (at least to an extent... Cars isn't exactly the best option). To be comparable to Zootopia at Animal Kingdom, at least IMO, they'd need to fill in Rivers of America and then replace it with something like Avengers Campus.

Agent H10 minutes ago

this would be worse

LittleBuford17 minutes ago

As someone who doesn’t go to Animal Kingdom, I won’t comment on the comparisons being made here, but it’s difficult for me to imagine a decision more detrimental to any of the parks than the filling in of the Rivers of America. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

Agent H33 minutes ago

That’s understandable I loved dinoland and I hope maybe under future leadership they come back around to dinosaurs for one of the expansion pads anyway we should probably get back on topic Tom bricker said they might be retheming pecos bill to cars too what does everyone think of that?

JackCH36 minutes ago

I wouldn't say that. It fits fine. The loss of dinosaurs is sad I agree, but with a "Tropical Americas Land" I am totally fine with having a Mayan temple being used as the premise to an Indy attraction. Doesn't feel much different from how DisneySea does its "ports" and everyone feels that is very well themed. But, alas, we have "veered away" from Cars.

Agent H38 minutes ago

The ip of the lion king wouldn’t be found in Africa either the ip doesn’t exist in universe Indiana jones is an actual person in this context presumably this will end up being a story like expedition Everest

James Alucobond40 minutes ago

What? Even one of the main films (Crystal Skull) centers on a Mesoamerican artifact that sees him travel to Peru and explore the grave of a conquistador. Perhaps slightly more Inca-focused than Maya, but next door nonetheless.

Incomudro40 minutes ago

I'm sure it will be very well done. It actually looks like the ride is superior to Dinosaur. But it is always going to annoy me that Dinosaurs were removed from the park. I'd have liked them making Dinosaur better and putting the Indian Jones ride in Hollywood Studios next to - Indiana Jones. Two wins.

Incomudro45 minutes ago

EE exists because Mt. Everest is located in India. It's part of one of the countries represented. It's a real location, and the Yeti is real part of the culture. Indiana Jones has nothing to do with animals and the IP of Indy would not be found in Mayan culture. Again, they are hammering a square peg into a round hole to make it fit.

McMickeyWorld1 hour ago

I really don’t see much difference between Indy and Beastly Kingdom. I know BK is often compared to Pandora, but I feel like it’s actually more similar to Indy. BK used fantasy to represent Greek mythological creatures, while Indy will represent Mayan mythological beings. And to be honest, I’d much rather see a real culture represented than aliens from a Hollywood movie. In the end, what really matters is how well they develop it. I think the queue will be the strongest part, just like with Everest.

Agent H2 hours ago

I guarantee when Indiana jones opens it will be like avatar all over again people complained when they first heard of it but It will be fine when it opens

Grantwil934 hours ago

And a Mayan temple with a creature based based on Mayan mythology doesn't represent central America, it's animals(yeti isn't a real animal either), and it's people? Im not sure i follow how it's a different concept other than Indy being there vs us just going to the temple by ourselves (which is what we do in everest)

Incomudro6 hours ago

Expedition Everest fits as part of India. The country, it's animals and its people. They are forcing Indy to work because "Old crumbly buildings and stuff." I agree that visually it's a fit.

Brer Panther7 hours ago

Don't worry, apparently Disney is making plans to do that (specifically by replacing Animation Courtyard). Which makes putting it in Animal Kingdom even more pointless.