|
 The superhighway of Tomorrowland opens this summer at Hong Kong Disneyland as guests of all ages take the wheel on Autopia, a new driving attraction that features sleek, electric convertibles cruising along an out-of-this-world landscape.
No driver's license is required on the highways and byways of the futuristic landscape; the road is open to anyone who meets the attraction's minimum height requirement (137 cm tall to drive alone and 81 cm to ride).
Autopia-style attractions have long been a favorite of Disney theme parks guests dating back to July 17, 1955, when Disneyland in California opened. That day, Autopia started its engines and has been on a roll ever since.
Presented by Honda, Autopia at Hong Kong Disneyland features three tracks with lushly landscaped grounds. Drivers begin their journey in the finely manicured byways known as the "cityscape" before crossing over the bridges and overpasses into the untamed "alien" landscape.
The planning and development of Autopia at Hong Kong Disneyland make it one of the most intricate Autopia-style attractions at any Disney theme park in the world. Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative geniuses behind all Disney parks and resorts, created a multi-sensory experience that combines driving fun with Disney's famous attention to detail.
After drivers and their vehicles leave the boarding area, they immediately enter a cloverleaf highway landscaped with flowerbeds, shrubs and trimmed hedges. Columnar trees – such as Italian cypress and ficus – provide rhythm, geometry and screening for this parallel and picturesque area known as the "cityscape."
As drivers pass under the railroad spur bridge for the first time, the landscape changes from formal gardens to a more untamed "alien" wilderness.
Moss, camellias and a variety of perennials provide a blast of unexpected color to the stark, spare surroundings, which are lined by nine-meter-tall ficus trees.
Topiary-like trees suggest otherworldly forms, as do the brachychiton rupestris – trees with bulbous lower trunks two meters in diameter that narrow as they reach more than 10 meters skyward (hence, their common name: bottle trees).
When drivers wheel their Autopia cars back under the railroad spur bridge, they return to the “cityscape” and its more formalized setting: rows of ficus trimmed in shapes that resemble holiday trees and light poles, along with super-size bonsai trees that are more organic and irregular than the formal, regular ficus.
In addition to landscape, lighting design plays a key role at Autopia. When the sun drops behind the mountains surrounding Hong Kong Disneyland, the night brings a distinctly different feeling to the space-age superhighway.
More than 215 light poles, echoing the design of the lights designed for the original Autopia at Disneyland in California, line the lengthy highways and byways. Each scale-model pole is outfitted with different color-fluorescent lights that provide a dramatically distinct and colorful glow to the attraction – perfect for night driving.
Drivers also can keep track of their progress with the gauges on the vehicle's dashboard. A "speedometer" provides a visual readout of the car's current "speed" and revs up when the forward pedal is depressed by the driver.
About this Attraction
Location: Tomorrowland
Type: Driving attraction
 Fastpass:
No
Tips & Fun Facts
 More than 215 light poles, echoing the design of the lights designed for the original Autopia at Disneyland in California, line the lengthy highways and byways. Each scale-model pole is outfitted with different color-fluorescent lights that provide a dramatically distinct and colorful glow to the attraction – perfect for night driving.
All of Autopia's battery-operated cars feature the same body style, combining elements of a classic car with the rounded forms of a futuristic space vehicle. Each car has its own "engine noise" and colorful LED lights along each front fender. In fact, the lights will trace according to the different speed that each car is going.
Additional Information
 Guests must transfer from their wheelchair/ECV to board the ride vehicle.
 Minimum height for driver 137cm, minimum height for passenger 81cm.
 Reviews |
 |
Recommended For
 Pre-Schoolers
Children
You May Also Like
Orbitron
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
Nearby Dining & Shopping
Comet Cafe
Starliner Diner
Star Command Supplies
Related Links
 photos
|
|
<
|
