Government Officials Force Permanent Closure of Original Walt Disney Attraction
A public records request has revealed that California has given Disneyland Resort a legal deadline to retire the gas-powered version of one of its oldest attractions: Autopia.
What the Records Show
Climate journalist and X user @Sammy_Roth uncovered the order after submitting a request under the California Public Records Act, sharing the finding on the platform formerly known as Twitter:
Plus a little scoop for Disneyland fans like me: Autopia is legally required to close by February 1, 2027. Learned via the California Public Records Act!
cc @ScottGustin @DisneyScoopGuy
Plus a little scoop for Disneyland fans like me: Autopia is legally required to close by February 1, 2027. Learned via the California Public Records Act!
cc @ScottGustin @DisneyScoopGuy https://t.co/uOdLnCZgX4
— Sammy Roth (@Sammy_Roth) June 11, 2026
The documents reveal that Disneyland Resort quietly entered into a legal agreement with the California government — reached around the same time the original Disney park publicly announced its plans to electrify Autopia — committing to shut down the gas-powered version of the Tomorrowland attraction by February 1, 2027.
The order targets the gas-powered engines, not the ride itself. If Disneyland Resort completes the transition to electric power before the deadline, Autopia can continue operating without interruption. If the Disney Park attraction is still running on gasoline on January 31, 2027, it will be required to close until the conversion is finished.
The Regulatory History Behind the Deadline
The legal agreement traces back to a fine issued to Disneyland Resort by the California Air Resources Board in August 2024. The $56,250 penalty was tied to violations involving small off-road engines and evaporative emissions requirements connected to the Autopia attraction.
Disneyland Resort acknowledged that ride equipment had been delivered or imported into California in a way that “was not materially the same as equipment certified under Disney‘s executive order.” A portion of the fine was directed toward the Cleaner Air Greener Schools initiative, which funds air purifiers and air quality sensors for California public schools.
The agreement with the California government appears to have been part of the resolution to that enforcement action, with a hard shutdown deadline attached to ensure the modernization actually happens on schedule.
The Current State of the Ride
Autopia opened alongside Disneyland Park on July 17, 1955, making it one of the few remaining attractions that can claim a direct connection to Walt Disney himself. It is currently open and operating on its original gas-powered engines.
Disneyland Resort has stated publicly that Autopia will reopen with new electric engines in late 2026. Some unofficial sources have suggested that the timeline may have slipped to early 2027, but the resort has not confirmed any change to its previously announced schedule. What has been confirmed — through the public records — is that the gas-powered version of the attraction has a legal expiration date of January 31, 2027.
Are you happy that Autopia will run on electric rather than gas-powered vehicles? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!
