Cars Land: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Ally, Melisa, and Mike at the races!

As a young kid growing up in Utah, going to Disneyland was a dream that I thought would never come true. I had a few friends whose families had made the trip to Anaheim and had entered the gates of the Magic Kingdom. They told tales of the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. They bragged how they had consumed mass quantities of cotton candy and caramel corn while Mickey and Minnie signed their autograph books. They recounted how they swam all night in the motel pool after a day of frolicking in the ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.’ Oh, how I longed for just one chance to venture to Walt’s Wonderland! Finally, when I was 12 years old we went to Fullerton to visit our cousins AND we went to Disneyland. Over the ensuing 40 plus years I have visited the Magic Kingdom countless times. My wife was even a Disney Cast Member for a time, employed as a set designer/prop buyer for Walt Disney Imagineering. Her fingerprints are all over Disney’s California Adventure (DCA). Through her connection, our family was part of many sneak previews, private screenings, scavenger hunts, exclusive Christmas Parties, and back stage passes. We were Silver Pass Holders and part of Walt’s inner circle! Those were the days! Now my wife is retired, so we are merely Annual Pass Holders. But we still love everything Disney! On Saturday June 9^th, we had the opportunity to catch a sneak preview of DCA’s new Cars Land. Here is my review: This new part of DCA includes 3 new attractions, a new street, a few new shops, and a new restaurant and a few snack stands. Walt’s Imagineers have really hit the ball out of the park with this new land, BUT it falls short of perfection.

Entrance to Racers

Racers Backdrop

Shady Queue

Old oil bottle tops in the wall

Official Racers Cast Member

Getting ready to go!

We're off!

Great place to eat!

Gas is only 19c a gallon at Cars Land!

Along Buena Vista Street

Our view from Flo's Terrace

Buena Vista Street

Entrance to Cars Land via Buena Vista Street

The Good: The Racers at Radiator Springs! This new attraction will be the new main draw at the Magic Kingdom.. We only had to wait 45 minutes to get on this thing. When DCA finally officially reopens on June 15^th, expect long hours waiting for this magnificent creation. The queue was well done, providing shade from the summer sun and includes many artifacts from the automotive world of the past. The landscape reminded me of Lake Powell. Very cool!! The ride vehicles seat six (3 in the front 3 in the back) very comfortably. For the most enjoyable ride, get a front seat. The experience starts off slow inside the mountain and concludes with a breathtaking race outside! In my Walt Disney Ranking, I would put this ride No.3 behind my all-time favorite at No.1, The Haunted Mansion, and Soarin’ Over California a close No. 2. Don’t miss this ride! Also very good was the new Buena Vista Street. This street provides an attractive entrance to Cars Land, framed by shops and foliage. Flo’s Café proved to be an excellent eatery. We had lunch there, dining on turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy and BBQ beef. Flo's also had pulled pork, shakes, desserts, and drinks, both soft and hard. We found pleasant seating on the patio overlooking Radiator Springs. Also very good was the 2^nd attraction, the Tow Mater. This ride is kinda like the Tea Cups, but instead of a cup you are in a trailer behind a tow truck that whips you around. The engineers got smart on this one, installing multiple ride vehicles on two separate tracks. This should keep the lines moving and customers happy. Take your little ones on this one.

These tires are flat!

The Bad: Luigi’s Flying Tires. This ride is a complete bust and a total waste. I guarantee that it will suffer a similar fate as befell DCA’s SuperStar Limo. Within 6-12 months, this ride will be gone. They will probably try to revamp it, but that won’t help. You ride on a giant tire over a cushion of air. The problem is, these things just won’t move around. So, if you want to wait in line for an hour, and then sit in the sun on a giant stationary tire, this attraction is for you. My advice, skip it!

Say 'Hi' to the Tow Truck

Twin Pylons frame the Tower of Terror

The Ugly: The Cozy Cone Motel. This really isn’t a motel; it is character meeting place and a front for 3  stands selling churros, popcorn, and ice cream. In front of the motel you can meet the various car characters from the movie Cars, which is pretty cool. The buildings selling the treats are giant orange pylons that have to be the ugliest structures ever, but they fit well with the theme of the land. We waited in a very short line over 30 minutes for churros. However, they were very tasty dipped in milk chocolate sauce, once we got them. You can also buy a souvenir cup that is a small orange cone for you soda. All in all, Cars Land is a must see and a must do. Put a visit on your to-do list this summer!

P.S. Disney has also made some major changes to the entrance of DCA. The signature structure is the new Carthay Circle Restaurant tower. Sadly, they have removed the old California Zephyr train and replaced it with a functioning street car. My wife bought the Zephyr and had it installed, so we are sad to see it go. 

DCA entrance Ally and Melisa

Starbucks are everywhere!

Off to Hollywood