Autotopia: Kids really get a license to drive
Written: Feb 04 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Kids can drive their own cars, long driving time, nice scenery
Cons: Long waits sometimes.
The Bottom Line: A fun attraction where kids get to drive their own cars.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Autopia - Disneyland |
My kids love the idea of getting to drive and are pretty flexible on the type of car and even whether there is a track to guide them. Thus, of course, they love Autotopia.
THE WAIT
There are fastpasses available for this attraction. The wait here is out in the open in lines with cement floors and metal railings. Some of the line overlooks the ride itself so you can see people getting in and out of the cars. At one point the line wraps around what looks like a large pole. This part is covered and a little dark. There are some cool 3D dioramas built into the pole. These scenes feature cars that talk and have little ten second or so interactions. As you get closer to the end of the line, there is an electronic billboard that changes. It has jokes and scenes to look at. All in all, this isn't one of the worst queue areas in Disney but it does get boring at times.
We have noticed that the line here is longest in the morning. This is probably because the monorail makes its one stop in Disneyland just behind this ride. All the people arriving in the morning from Downtown Disney must flood this ride all morning. My suggestion is that, if you see a line here in the morning, try again in the afternoon when there might be less waiting time.
DRIVER'S LICENSES
A cast member hands out paper driver's licenses as you get toward the end of the line. There isn't a lot to them, they are just a piece of yellow cardboard with the name of the ride on them. Still, my kids loved getting these licenses and they make nice, free souveniers.
BOARDING
According to Disney, expantant mothers and children 12 months and under should not ride. You must be 52 inches to ride alone. However, you can be over twelve months and under 52 inches to ride. My five year old is well under 52 inches and he was allowed to "drive" as long as I rode with him.
Boarding this ride is a little chaotic. The cast member at the end of the line asks how many people in your party. You are directed to a numbered area and, eventually, a car pulls up and the other driver gets out and you get in. However, there is a lot of noise and sometimes confusion about exactly where you are supposed to be. Plus, people get in and out of the cars in the same small space, so there are a lot of people coming and going without, sometimes, clear direction.
Only two people can ride in a car so, if there are more than two in your party, you will be separated for the ride. The cars themselves are like little toy cars. They are small and low the ground. They can be awkward to get in and out of if you have any back, neck or leg problems.
THE RIDE
This ride is very long which makes it enjoyable. The concept is pretty simple: you are out driving your car. There are no costumed characters or elaborate stories which is a refreshing break from many of the other rides. The best part of this ride, in my opinion, is plenty of pretty landscaping, some cute billboards and other props.
The cars themselves are actually controlled by the driver. There is a steering wheel that works and an accelerator. You push the pedal down to go and take your foot off to stop. There is a track on the road to guide drivers and keep the on course but, if you don't make an effort to steer, you get some pretty serious jolts as the track corrects your course. There are multiple signs everywhere throughout the attraction that you should not bump the car in front of you. If your kids are daredevils, you might not want to unleash them in this ride.
One thing you may immediately notice is that the monorail tracks are just overhead from the Autotopia driving tracks and, sometimes, the monorail is just feet above where you are driving. This is either cool or scary depending on who you are and where you are when the monorail passes overhead.
There are two tracks for the ride and you could, in theory, be driving next to another car for most of the ride. However, the cars were well spaced and we never felt rushed or crowded. Plus, you control your speed, so you can influence your experience.
For the most part, the driving is not too strenuous. The curves are gentle and there are minor hills but nothing difficult or challenging. There is one cute part where you go off road and the cement road disappears as you drive through some mud. This part is a little bumpy but you don't get dirty or wet. There is also a part where you go under a bridge which is fun. Overall, this is a mellow ride that my kids really enjoyed.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
This is a fun, basic ride the Disney does really well. My eight year old and five year old got a kick out of driving the cars and mom got a break to look at the scenery. One of the nicest parts is that you get to ride for quite a while, so you get a great reward if you had to spend some time waiting in line.
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Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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modernmarvel
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