California forces Disneyland’s Autopia to change or get shut down

If the noise and exhaust fumes of crawling through traffic on the way into Disneyland aren’t enough, parkgoers have always been able to mimic the experience on one of the oldest (and smelliest) rides in the park. But one way or another, Autopia is set to become both greener and much quieter.

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According to independent theme park news blog MiceChat, Disneyland must replace the attraction’s gas-powered mini cars by Feb. 1 with a clean-vehicle alternative or shut it down completely. The ride debuted with the park’s 1955 opening and has gone through many changes in the decades since.

In August 2024, the theme park paid $56,250 to the California Air Resources Board after disclosing that the Honda-built engines in the Autopia’s vehicles had been “operating without certified emission controls,” the Orange County Register reported in May.

The engine issue happened “due to an administrative error,” according to documents obtained by Climate Colored Goggles, a Substack covering climate solutions in pop culture.

As part of the 2024 settlement, the theme park agreed with the California Air Resources Board to shut down the current cars’ engines no later than 30 months after the settlement. The park is testing an all-electric prototype, according to Disneyland officials.

“Since opening with Disneyland park in 1955, Autopia has remained a guest-favorite most popular with young kids experiencing driving for the first time,” Disneyland spokesperson Jessica Good told SFGATE by email in 2024. “As the industry moves toward alternative fuel sources, we have developed a road map to electrify this attraction and are evaluating technology that will enable us to convert from gas engines in the next few years.”

The change also contributes to the Walt Disney Co.’s environmental goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.