Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The challenge of seeing Toy Story Midway Mania! without a horrendous wait was
a hot topic among
Unofficial Guide
readers. But since Cars Land's debut, waits have be-
come much more manageable, especially in the early morning. Still, you should make this
a priority after securing Radiator Springs Racers Fastpasses. If you've experienced the ex-
treme waits that always accompany the Orlando clone of this ride, rest assured that Ana-
heim's operations keep the line here moving much more swiftly.
CARS LAND
CARS LAND IS THE CROWNING CAPSTONE
on DCA's transformation, and the first major
“land” in an American Disney theme park devoted solely to a single film franchise.
Tucked in the park's southeast corner on 12 acres of repurposed parking lot, Cars
Land's main entrance is across from the Golden Vine Winery, though there are
secondary gateways in a bug's land and in Pacific Wharf (the vista through the
latter's stone archway entrance is especially scenic). A massive mountainous back-
drop topped with 125-foot-high peaks patterned after 1950s Cadillac Pinnacle tail
fins, known as the Cadillac Range, cradles Ornament Valley, home to a screen-ac-
curate re-creation of Radiator Springs. That's the sleepy single-stoplight town along
Route 66 populated by Pixar's anthropomorphized automobiles. Along its main drag,
in addition to three rides, you find eateries themed to the film's minor characters,
such as
Fillmore's Taste-in,
serving fruit drinks and snacks;
Cozy Cone Motel,
with
chili, ice cream, and popcorn, all served in conical containers; and
Flo's V8 Café,
serving creative takes on classic comfort food with a Southwestern twist for break-
fast, lunch, and dinner. Souvenir shops include
Radiator Springs Curios
(collectible
pins and Route 66 postcards),
Ramone's House of Body Art
(car-themed artwork
and clothes), and
Sarge's Supply Hut
(
Cars
-branded toys and games).
Cars Land represents a considerable investment in capital and creativity for the
Disney company, resulting in a rare example of complete entertainment immersion.
Walking through the aesthetically astounding area is uncannily like stepping into the
cinematicuniverse,andwellworththewaitevenifyouweren'tparticularlyenamored
of the merchandise-moving movies. Since opening, the area has attracted massive
crowds all day and has dramatically increased DCA's overall attendance. As striking
as Cars Land is by daylight, it is even more stunning after sunset; the nightly neon-
lighting ceremony set to the doo-wop classic “Life Could Be a Dream” is a magical
must-see (showtimes are not publicized and vary seasonally, so ask a Cars Land cast
member and arrive early).
Luigi's Flying Tires
