Midget Autopia Monday

The popularity of the Tomorrowland Autopia led to Junior Autopia in 1956 on an unused piece of land across from Storybook Land. The third (and smallest) Autopia track, The Midget Autopia (shown in the above February 1966 image), designed for the youngest drivers, featured a ride system similar to the Fantasyland dark rides. The child-size cars ran along a center bus bar through tunnels, along straightaways, and through a barn. Located next to Storybook Land, the Midget Autopia ran from April 23, 1957 to April 1966 to make way for the wide path up to it’s a small world. As you can see from the detail below, it required a “B” ticket. No adults; only children under 12 (I wonder if they carded guests?).



Here are a few black and white images from my collection of the Midget Autopia:



These two look like they could be pushing the age limit!



A color shot showing one of the barns that the tots would drive though.



Watch the road!



Winding road is right! This attraction looks like the outdoor version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.



From September 1964:



Walt Disney donated the ride to his boyhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri, where it was installed in a park named in his honor. Unfortunately, the cars were too difficult and expensive to maintain. You can still see a Midget Autopia car in Marceline. A green car is on display in the town’s Walt Disney Hometown Museum, based on the website, which also states:

Gifts from Walt Disney, himself, to the city of Marceline, including remnants of the original Midget Autopia.

See more Disneyland Midget Autopia photos at my main website.