by: Chet McDoniel, Owner, Off to Neverland Travel
The story of our visit to Cars Land in Disney California Adventure® Park began a couple of weeks prior to the media event scheduled for June 13th and 14th. I was sitting at my computer doing the everyday work of running a travel agency when an unexpected email arrived. I opened that email to find an invitation for my wife and me to “Inside Track” which was to be the media/VIP preview of Cars Land. Of course, it did not take long to accept that invitation and soon we were off to Disneyland® Park for the event.
Wednesday night began with a travel industry reception. We were treated to a live interview with the Imagineers who designed Cars Land along with a preview of the new Red Car News Boys show performed on the all new Buena Vista Street. Buena Vista Street is a re-imagined entrance to Disney California Adventure® Park, and it is designed to resemble what Los Angeles looked like when Walt Disney arrived in 1923. This new street feels like a Main Street, U.S.A.® Area but for Los Angeles in 1923. Buena Vista Street also features a brand new restaurant, Carthay Circle Theatre. This restaurant is modeled after the theatre where
Walt Disney premiered Snow White. The chef from the ever popular Napa Rose restaurant has moved over to Carthay Circle Theatre, and the restaurant is already getting rave reviews.
Soon, the reception ended, and we were walked over to Cars Land. Entering Cars Land for the first time is nearly indescribable. The town of Radiator Springs has been brought to life in such a way that you immediately feel sucked in. I lost all feeling of being in a theme park, and truly believed I was in Radiator Springs. Cars Land at night is by far the best way to view the town. The neon lights and attention to detail will dazzle you.
Our first ride was on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree a gentle spinning style ride. I would term it to be a “light” version of the Mad Tea Party in Disneyland® Park. Mater sings the square dance song as you ride around in “baby tractors” that travel in figure-eight circles. It is a great family ride, and Mater will have you laughing as he tells his jokes. He invited us to grab all of our “junk” before leaving the attraction and we headed deeper into Cars Land.
All of the shops and restaurants in Radiator Springs have been re-created in Cars Land, and it somehow makes it much more enjoyable to shop and eat when you are in a place you have seen in a movie. Grabbing a milkshake at Flo’s V-8 Cafe was a blast, and the Cozy Cone Motel sports many snack options in each cone.
Our journey further into Cars Land finally took us to Radiator Springs Racers, the main attraction in the new land. We jumped in line, and meandered our way to the loading dock. I will warn you that this line continues on for quite a long way. Our wait was about an hour, and that was without the FASTPASS® Service up and running, so wait times could be very long. Finally it was our turn to ride.
***** SPOILER ALERT ******
Our Radiator Springs Racers journey began by progressing through several seat belt checkpoints, and then we left the dock to head out into the ride. The first section of the ride is a very peaceful journey through the twists and turns of the area just outside of Radiator Springs. This section felt much like the scene in the movie Cars where Lightning McQueen and Sally take a drive through the same area. The music reached a crescendo just as a beautiful waterfall came into view, and then we entered through a cave to go into the “ride building.”
Our car then took on the characteristics of a hot rod by narrowly missing Mack (the eighteen wheeler), two other cars and a train. After we got caught by the Sheriff, he asked us to head into town with Mater. Mater came out to get us, but first, he wanted to take us “tractor tipping,” one of his favorite activities. Of course, we were too loud, and Frank (a very large, overprotective tractor) saw us and gave chase. After successfully leaving Frank in the dust, we arrived into town. Many of the characters of Radiator Springs were there, and spoke to us as we drove by. Sarge made sure to call Fillmore a “hippy” as we continued through the town, and Red the fire truck was watering his precious flowers. It was then that we arrived to the prep area for the big race, in which we were to compete.
At this point, Lightening and Sally will send you one of two ways. The door to the left leads to Luigi’s where your tires get changed. It is a very creative process during which your car feels like it is raised up for each tire to be changed. At the end of the process, a curtain is opened to show that you now have whitewall tires since Luigi believes those to be the best. The door to the right leads to Ramone’s where you get a new paint job. This option isn’t quite as innovative in our opinion as it is simply the same robot from the “corrosive test” in the Test Track® Attraction in Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. Either way you go, you come out to meet Doc Hudson up on a car lift giving you instructions for the race.
You enter the starting line area and notice that you are now side-by-side with another car full of riders. Luigi begins the race with a countdown, and off you go. The ride dramatically speeds up at this point as you whip around tight corners and speed over little hills. During the race portion, you jockey for position with the car next to you, and as the on-ride camera flashes in your face, you cross the finish line. If you win, Doc Hudson congratulates you on your win, and if not, he still tells you how you ran the course very well. The ride comes to a conclusion as you enter the unload area where Lightening and Mater tell both cars how fast and well you ran the race.
***** SPOILER END *****
All-in-all, this ride is absolutely incredible. It is a family ride, a dark ride, and a thrill ride all at the same time. Disney really outdid their selves on this ride, and we continued to get back in line over and over again as it was so incredibly fun. For the foreseeable future, though, be sure to utilize FASTPASS® Service for this attraction as soon as the park opens as we are currently hearing about the stand-by line being over three hours long.
We concluded our evening by riding Luigi’s Flying Tires. This ride is a great concept of a mixture of bumper cars with flying saucers. You ride on a large tire that is lifted off the ground by air coming out of the attraction’s floor. Imagine riding on a giant air hockey table and you will have the right idea. Unfortunately, the concept simply is not very fun as the tires often bunch up in one corner of the attraction leaving the riders with nothing to do until others get out of the way. Also, the ride depends on you leaning in the direction you want to go, and this poses a learning curve that lasts for much of your first ride. Overall, while a neat concept, skipping this attraction won’t cause you to miss much.
Cars Land is a wonderfully detailed creation of the town of Radiator Springs, and you will want to devote several hours to not only riding the attractions, but also to simply walking through the land itself. You’ll find many hidden hints to Cars the movie and to other Pixar movies. I rarely say this, but you NEED to visit Cars Land. It is a game changer for Disney California Adventure® Park, and along with the new Buena Vista Street, you’ll want to spend more than one day in this park.
So, plan a visit today with a Magic Maker® so that you don’t miss a minute of the fun of Cars Land.
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