As Disneyland prepares to mark its 70th anniversary this July, many of its original attractions are still going strong. Rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, Mad Tea Party, and Autopia have managed to outlast dozens of others, offering guests a glimpse into the earliest days of the park — and, in some cases, the earliest vision of the future.
Autopia, in particular, has always promised a look ahead. The ride debuted in 1955 as a preview of America’s growing freeway system, inviting children and adults alike to cruise through Tomorrowland in small gas-powered vehicles. Its design has changed little in the decades since — and that may be part of the problem.
On June 4, one of Autopia’s red cars derailed mid-ride and ended up lodged in the shrubbery next to the track. The ride was immediately shut down and evacuated. Videos posted by guests showed Disney cast members guiding parkgoers out of the area as they examined the scene.
No injuries were reported, according to local coverage, and Autopia reopened later that day. Still, the derailment was unusual enough to draw attention — even from former employees.
First time I’ve actually seen a car derailed on Autopia. Attraction is completely shut down. #Disneyland
First time I’ve actually seen a car derailed on Autopia. Attraction is completely shut down. #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/9HNKxIKUdR
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) June 4, 2025
“It’s very rare but I have seen a fully derailed off-the-tracks car before,” one former Autopia cast member wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Most likely to happen around the off-road area. Before you take the big U-turn a car if hit hard enough from behind CAN derail from the first turn. The little hill helps pop it off the track.”
What Happened to Tomorrowland?
Autopia has long been criticized as an outdated feature of Tomorrowland. Gas-powered cars no longer feel futuristic, and fans have questioned the ride’s place in a land meant to reflect progress. Disneyland recently confirmed the cars would be converted to fully electric vehicles by fall 2026, part of an effort to modernize the attraction without removing it entirely.
The track itself remains largely unchanged from earlier designs. While the cars are equipped with bumpers and a guide rail, incidents like Tuesday’s show that even small malfunctions can quickly gain attention — particularly on rides that have outlasted their era.
Disney has not issued a formal statement on the derailment, but the rapid reopening suggests the issue was addressed quickly. Given Autopia’s long history, that may not come as a surprise.
Past Problems, Present Pressure
Autopia is not the first Disneyland attraction to derail. In April, a Space Mountain train reportedly came off the track. In 2003, a deadly accident on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad resulted in one fatality and 10 injuries. At Disneyland Paris in 2011, a slower-moving Big Thunder train derailed, injuring two.
These moments, though rare, continue to put pressure on Disney to modernize aging infrastructure — especially as the company celebrates its past while trying to build the future.
Have you ever experienced a scary incident at a theme park?
