Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
snapping sensation similar to vintage whip carnival rides. Mater's may look like a simple
kiddie ride, but it supplies an unexpected kick that draws us back for repeated spins.
TOURING TIPS
Mater is the breakout hit character of the
Cars
franchise, and his namesake
ride is visually attractive but slow loading. Still, it typically has the shortest queue of the
three Cars Land attractions.
Radiator Springs Racers
(Fastpass)
What it is
Automotive dark ride with high-speed thrills.
Scope and scale
Super-headliner.
When to go
The first 30 minutes the park is open or use Fastpass.
Special comments
Must
be 40" tall to ride;
switching-off
option provided. Not to be missed.
Duration of ride
About 4
minutes.
Average wait in line per 100 people ahead of you
4minutes.
Loading speed
Moder-
ate-fast.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
To the right of the Radiator Springs Courthouse at the
end of Route 66 lies the entrance to the most ambitious attraction built at Disneyland Re-
sort in more than a decade. Disney's Imagineers have wedded an enhanced version of the
high-speed slot cars developed for Epcot's Test Track with immersive sets and elaborate
animatronics. The ride, which covers nearly 6 of Cars Land's 12 acres, mixes slow in-
door sections with thrilling open-air acceleration in a way that appeals to every end of the
demographic spectrum.
You begin your road trip by walking through Stanley's Oasis, the town's original
1909 settlement, and end up in a cavernous loading station. There you board a six-passen-
ger convertible, each with a smiling face on its front grill, and you're off on a scenic tour
of stunning Ornament Valley, on your way to compete in today's big race.
After a leisurely drive past massive rock formations and a majestic waterfall, you
enter the show building for a series of indoor scenes depicting the residents of Radiator
Springs.Theseenvironmentsdon'tquitematchtheawe-inspiringscaleofscenesinPirates
of the Caribbean or Indiana Jones, but they are a big step up from the old-fashioned Fanta-
syland dark rides and feature movie-accurate animatronics with impressively expressive
eyes and mouths (achieved through a combination of digital projections and practical ef-
fects). Along your tour, you'll be sidetracked by a tractor-tipping expedition with Mater,
which leads to a run-in with an angry harvester. Before reaching the starting line, you'll
need some new tires or a fresh coat of paint. Then it's time to line up alongside another
carload of guests as you await Luigi's countdown. The last third of the ride is a flat-out
race over camelback hills, under outcrops, and around banked curves, with a randomly
chosen car crossing the finish line first. Radiator Springs Racers's top speed of 40 miles
