EDITING: Bad news as the rumor pointing to the possibility of Tesla and Disney working together to electrify the Tomorrowland Speedway at the Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando was debunked by WDW saying that the informations provided by Just Disney were untrue.
The week starts with a great rumor as Tesla is reportedly in discussions with Disney to sponsor and make for WDW Tomorrowland Speedway electric cars in a new partnership with Disney to promote electric transportation.!
According to a report from Just Disney: "Sources inside the company are giving us whispers of Elon Musk meeting with top execs on how Tesla would truly put visitors behind the wheel of all electric vehicles. Tesla would sponsor the speedway and surrounding stadium and give guests the true vision of “driving in the future". The gasoline powered go-karts would be replaced with all electric versions with child friendly driving opportunities still available. We’re hearing that the vehicles are going to have a Tesla emblem on the front of each vehicle."
If the rumor is true, which i hope, this is an extremely smart move from Elon Musk, he couldn't have a best promo for his cars, not only for now but also for the future when kids who will drive the cars now at WDW will grow up. Not to mention that electric cars will be much better for kids than to drive a gas-powered car along WDW Tomorrowland Speedway scenic track. Also, the cars will be quieter too in addition to the zero emission or smell, and will make for a much better experience for the kids.
According to an Elektrek article: "Over the last few years, Tesla has been working with Radio Flyer to make toy versions of the Model S for kids", and in both cases the good idea "is to get the kids into electric cars when they’re young, a great way to convert kids into Tesla fans and EV enthusiasts at a young age and make electric powertrains the norm for them." And let's not forget we're in Tomorowland so electric vehicles are definitely better in every way for the Tomorrowland Speedway ride.
Here is a video of the electric car for kids done by Radio Flyer in collaboration with Tesla. The ones for Tomorrowland Speedway will not of course look the same and will be bigger, if the deal happen, something we will know most probably at D23 Expo next month.
My suggestion is this: turn the WDW Autopia into a "CARS Driving School" or some similar title. The story would be that young cars (as in "Cars", the movies by Pixar) are going to school to learn driving skills and you get to be part of their training. Of course they'd be electric, and could be programmed to talk to you as you drive the course using pre-programmed phrases or even rudimentary AI (like, "Whoa there!" when you accelerate too quickly, etc.).
ReplyDeleteCars could also showcase intelligent auto-driving features like anti-collision braking, or even be selected to auto-drive the whole course! This would be a great way to introduce the public to these ideas. (What EPCOT should be doing, instead of all this IP character overlay nonsense).
Kudos to Musk if this rumor is true. Kudos to Disney if they act boldly and use this chance to once again be innovative and forward-thinking. This attraction is alongside TOMORROWLAND, after all!