At a glance
The name Autopia blends automobile and utopia: the ride captures the hopeful 1950s vision of the highways of the future, inspired directly by the cartoon Magic Highway, U.S.A., which aired in 1958, and following in the tracks of the original Tomorrowland Autopia that Walt Disney himself created for Disneyland in California.
You get behind the wheel of a small stylized hybrid Astrocoupé and follow a winding course through the fictional city of Solaria, a retro-futuristic metropolis where city, nature, and highways live side by side. The line snakes between metal structures that look like Art Deco skyscrapers, topped with turquoise and purple neon. Along the route, 1950s-flavored billboards dot the road, including an animated sign where a hand seems to move on its own, plus a nod to the Rocket Café near Space Mountain.
For safety, a center rail keeps the car on track and the speed is capped, which puts the ride within reach of young kids: you need to be 81 cm tall to ride as a passenger and 1.32 m to drive alone. The cars have bumpers and come in more than sixty different Art Deco-inspired designs.
Discoveryland’s retro-futuristic driving track. Small hybrid cars guided by a rail, which kids drive themselves around a landscaped course. The ride is very gentle and a hit with little ones taking the wheel for the first time. Waits can climb at busy times because capacity is limited.
History
Autopia has been running at Disneyland Paris since April 12, 1992, the park’s opening day. This driving ride traces its roots to Disneyland Anaheim (1955), which had it on day one. Versions also exist at Tokyo Disneyland (1983) and Hong Kong Disneyland (2005). In Paris, the Discoveryland track has kept the same route since it opened.
Sponsored over the years by Mattel, Esso, Ford, and then Avis since December 18, 2023 (since that date, drivers can ask for a commemorative driver’s license), it was renovated in 2019 (6,000 m³ of track concrete replaced, lighting switched to LED, and power use cut by a factor of ten). The cars switched to a hybrid version in 2025.
Technical specs
- Duration
- 5 min
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Car
- Opening date April 12, 1992
- Duration 5 min
- Height requirement 81 cm
- Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering
- Sponsor Avis (car rentals)
- Inspired by Autopia (Disneyland California 1955)
- Speed 12 km/h
Theme & world
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact moderate
- Perceived wait moderate
- Height requirement 0.81 m
- Recommended age kids, tweens, teens, adults
- Wheelchair access must transfer from wheelchair
- Open to pregnant visitors
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the standby line whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes past 60 minutes.
This ride has no Single Rider line. If you want to cut your wait, rely on Premier Access or get there at park opening.
No PhotoPass on this ride.
This ride stays closed during Extra Magic Time and only opens when the park does.
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- Perfect for a first time behind the wheel
- Hybrid version of the cars
- Cars with beautifully detailed designs
The downsides
- Low hourly capacity
- Not much to see along the route
- Weather-dependent (no cover when it rains)
My verdict
Autopia is the track of little cars that kids steer themselves along a center rail, in a retro-futuristic Art Deco setting. The height requirement is 81 cm to ride as a passenger, which makes it one of the few thrill-style rides open to very young kids. It’s the fifth Autopia in the world, following in the footsteps of the original that Walt Disney himself dreamed up in 1955.
I find it a perfect first driving experience, and a must if your child dreams of getting behind the wheel. Hourly capacity is low and there’s no shelter if it rains, so aim for early or late in the day. A little-known tip: since December 2023, drivers can ask for a commemorative Avis driver’s license. And don’t forget the free photo spot in an Astrocoupé at the entrance.
Best time to go
Based on this ride’s wait time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
You’ll find Autopia in Discoveryland, between Orbitron and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long lines for the most popular rides?
To skip long lines at Disneyland Paris, I mix several strategies. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille, and Spider-Man, as long as you don’t mind boarding apart from your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that guarantees you priority entry on the headline rides. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and that’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without waiting. Last, heading to the busiest rides during a parade or a big show empties the lines dramatically.
02 Are the wait times posted in the park accurate?
Yes, the wait times shown in the app or on the park’s screens are generally accurate. They’re often equal to or slightly longer than the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be under refurbishment during my vacation?
Disneyland Paris posts the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website several weeks ahead of time. Since the parks are open year-round, maintenance crews sometimes work on days the park is open, which leads to temporary closures. My tip: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before you book, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 What are the height requirements for each ride at Disneyland Paris?
Here are the minimum heights for the thrill rides at Disneyland Paris. In Disneyland Park: Autopia at 0.81 m, Star Tours and Big Thunder Mountain at 1.02 m, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain at 1.20 m, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril at 1.40 m. In Disney Adventure World: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop at 0.81 m, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at 1.02 m, Crush’s Coaster at 1.07 m, and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer at 1.20 m. All the other rides have no height requirement, which families with young kids love.
05 Which rides might scare young kids?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can be a bit much for young kids, even with no height requirement. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, in Fantasyland, has dark scenes with the witch that can catch them off guard. Les Voyages de Pinocchio also has some unsettling moments. La Tanière du Dragon, beneath Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, leans into its ghostly mood and stays pretty intense for little ones. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful scenes and darker ones. I recommend watching how your child reacts before you board.
