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from the Orlando Sentinal
Quote:
Walt Disney World plans to demolish its speedway for an expansion of the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
Reedy Creek, the Disney-controlled taxing district, has filed paperwork with the state about its plans.
The speedway is currently home to the Richard Petty Racing Experience, which will be closing there this summer.
Disney would not give details about how many spaces it will add with the new parking area.
The MK parking lot is already so huge to me, but I know they need the space.
My boys always loved passing the speedway and listening the zooming race cars. I'm not really familiar with how well it does though. Was it not bringing in much anymore? Or is it being relocated?
When it was originally announced that the RPE was closing it was rumored that they may be relocating somewhere in Orlando but for the time being some of the employees were being moved to Daytona.
Some of the rumors on the lot expansion is that they may be taking a piece of the current MK lot for use of the Poly DVC but that's not confirmed.
:beer: Here's to hoping that the parking lot is being expanded due to expected demand for a new attraction, or land.
To coincide with the increase in parking prices.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedy1998
They originally hoped and really thought they would get a Nascar race and maybe one or two other major races yearly at the speedway when it was built but it never happened. I would venture to say that they probably never came close to recovering what it cost to build.
After the accident where someone was killed a few months ago, I figured it wouldn't be long and the speedway would be closed. I didn't foresee it becoming a parking lot though. lol
The raceway was announced to be closed long before the accident happened. And once it was most people expected the MK parking lot to be expanded. They need it during the Holidays.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1DisneyNut
Don't get your hopes up... MK needs more capacity, yes... but it is also the most flushed out park they have... DHS, Epcot need the love first...Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedy1998
It was parking lot before they built the Speedway. It's just the great circle of life. :mickey:Quote:
Originally Posted by 1DisneyNut
Somehow I missed that the entire speedway was closing but I do remember the announcement about the Richard Petty Driving Experience ending. I probably just didn't care enough to read the entire story. I have never so much as stepped foot in the speedway and didn't foresee having any need to in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by DonaldDuck1117
There was plenty of 150+ mph driving on interstates and open highways back in the day. I would have been bored stiff driving one of those cars around and around a track at controlled speeds so I was never interested.
Oh well, I don't think it will be missed by very many.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1DisneyNut
Gotta strongly disagree. Driving on a banked race track oval in a real stock car is quite different than driving down the PA turnpike in your sedan.
Said it before and will say it again... The day Gary and I got a chance to drive the track (thanks Disney) was the most fun I have ever had period. It was scary, exhilarating and incredibly cool all wrapped up in one.
Now, that being said - the location was lousy and the original intention of having regular races there was a huge fail as it was a nightmare getting in and out.
Doomed by terrible planning. They found space for a track and built it, but didn't consider the other logistics (the stands and the parking for both race guests and park guests primarily). They really blew it.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
very much agree. No track can survive without permanent grandstands and bathrooms. Did they really think this could work? They were lucky to get more than one IRL and Nascar event if you ask me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tekneek
I have driven a personal Z28 (with over 500hp) I used to have on an oval track......no one else in the car. I laid it out there. lol I have also driven said Z28 on open highway/interstates.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
That has been a while back but that car would exceed 160mph without any problem.
Like I said, driving one of their cars around the track with someone telling me what to do would be more irritating that exciting to me.
I could easily seem them building Poly DVC on that front parking lot there and shifting that parking back to where the speedway is now. Be interesting ... you'd have to cross the road to get to the resort, but maybe they'd do a bridge or a tunnel or something.