Before the official grand opening, we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at Cars Land in Disney California Adventure during an Annual Passholder preview. And boy, were we blown away! Get ready to dive into the daytime portion of our six-hour adventure in Radiator Springs, a land brought to life straight from the beloved Disney Pixar “Cars” movies. This is just part 1 of our experience, so buckle up as we explore every detail, from the stunning landscapes to the thrilling rides, in this incredible new Disney destination.
We opted for the 6 PM to 11 PM preview slot, a slightly pricier but longer option that included reserved viewing for World of Color. Despite the excitement, the information about the show was surprisingly vague. Rumors swirled about incorrect showtimes, with many passholders potentially missing out. However, our focus was solely on immersing ourselves in Cars Land, and World of Color could wait for another day.
Picking up our wristbands was a breeze, and by 5:15 PM, we were already inside DCA, whisked through construction walls and onto the newly unveiled Buena Vista Street. But that’s a story for another time (and another blog post!). We were directed towards the wharf area, where the line for 6 PM preview holders was already massive, stretching across the bridge and past Ariel’s Grotto.
Despite its length, the line moved quickly. Within five minutes, we found ourselves at the “back door” entrance in Pacific Wharf. Or so we thought. Stepping through that doorway was like entering another world entirely.
The sheer scale and immersive detail of Cars Land were instantly breathtaking. Both of us audibly gasped. It was hard to believe that this existed within California Adventure.
Having followed online updates and seen previews, we thought we were prepared. But nothing could have truly prepared us for the reality of stepping into a full-fledged Arizona-esque (or should we say, California-esque?) valley within the park. The Imagineers had truly outdone themselves.
Every single detail was captivating. If the crowd behind us wasn’t gently pushing us forward in the perceived line, we could have easily spent ages just photographing every nook and cranny. The level of theming was astounding.
Rounding the corner into the heart of Radiator Springs was a sensory explosion. We were overwhelmed, unsure of what to focus our cameras on first. It seemed like everyone around us was experiencing Cars Land through their camera lenses, a testament to its visual appeal. It was almost comical to imagine real cars navigating this space amidst all the captivated guests.
Our first practical stop? The restrooms! Even the restrooms in Cars Land were themed, although perhaps the design budget didn’t stretch quite as far here as it did in the main areas.
With necessities addressed, we continued our exploration. Surprisingly, we didn’t immediately rush to Radiator Springs Racers. Hunger pangs led us to Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel for a snack.
The Cozy Cone Motel, a series of cone-shaped stands, offered an array of warm, savory snacks – perfect for the Radiator Springs desert climate. Think popcorn, churros, and pretzel bites. These were classified as “outdoor vending,” meaning no Annual Passholder discounts, unfortunately.
Keen to experience a Disney snack novelty, I opted for the Chicken Verde cone from Cone-Coctions, recalling tales of the legendary Handwich from Walt Disney World.
Unfortunately, the Chicken Verde cone was a major disappointment. Overly salty and strangely seasoned, it ended up in the trash after just a couple of bites. The cone itself was dense and tough, nothing like the fluffy delight I had hoped for.
Seeking deeper immersion, I recalled a fascinating blog post detailing the real-life Route 66 inspirations behind the “Cars” movie characters and locations. It blurred the lines between fact and speculation, but it added another layer of appreciation for the incredible detail in Cars Land.
As we made our way towards Radiator Springs Racers, we encountered Lightning McQueen himself! He was rumbling down the street, bringing even more of the movie magic to life.
Radiator Springs Racers boasted three queues: Single Rider, FASTPASS, and Standby. Disappointingly, FASTPASSes were already gone for our preview window, a bit frustrating considering the premium price of the evening.
While Buena Vista Street felt almost too pristine, Radiator Springs was masterfully aged and weathered. Rust stains on signs and water damage in the ride’s loading area added incredible authenticity.
The Standby queue began deceptively innocently in a pleasant cactus garden overlooking the stunning valley. “This line doesn’t look so bad,” we initially thought – classic Disney queue trickery!
The first glimpses of shade came courtesy of the two bridges that the ride vehicles race across – a tantalizing hint of the ride to come.
Further into the queue, we encountered Stanley’s Oasis, the “original” spring that gave Radiator Springs its name – a fantastic touch of backstory and detail.
However, Stanley’s Oasis also served to highlight the lack of drinking fountains in the queue, conveniently countered by roaming vendors selling pricey bottled water. Smart, Disney, smart.
Beyond the oasis, we entered two massive carport-like structures, each filled with switchbacks. Reality began to set in – this “not so bad” line was actually quite long.
The detailed queue theming was impressive, reminiscent of the elaborate queues found at Tokyo Disney, offering some distraction from the wait.
To our left, we could see the final three-switchback queue leading to the loading platform – a tantalizing glimpse of the ride’s end goal, still seemingly miles away from our current switchback purgatory.
At this point, the ride experienced a 20-minute breakdown. Patrick, ever the photographer, used the downtime to capture even more queue details, contributing to the extensive photo documentation of our Cars Land day.
Finally, reaching a point where we could see the ride vehicles again offered a morale boost. The anticipation grew as we edged closer to the loading area.
Even the cacti in the queue were impressive, adding to the overall desert ambiance.
Finally, we were “sorta almost there,” as the queue signage jokingly indicated. The end was in sight!
At long last, we reached the loading area. Thematically designed as Sally’s mountain hotel from after the first “Cars” movie, it featured garage doors with “suite” names, adding another layer of story to the experience.
The loading process mirrored Test Track, but we learned a valuable tip: request the back row (even numbers). The front windshield is low and obstructs the view, diminishing the ride experience.
Despite technological advancements, Disney still hasn’t cracked the code for ride vehicles that allow disco dancing, a humorous observation about ride vehicle limitations.
Patrick put the camera away for the ride itself, so you’ll have to imagine the thrills! (Spoilers ahead!). The ride shared similarities with Test Track, including a near head-on collision moment. However, the initial story setup was lost in the noise of the cavern, leaving Patrick slightly confused about the narrative.
Despite the unclear story, the characters felt incredibly authentic, and transitioning from Radiator Springs outside to the ride’s interior Radiator Springs was surprisingly seamless. The ride offered replayability with its randomized Luigi’s tire shop or Ramone’s paint shop sequences, though the mirror effect was subtle and easily missed. The strong “spray paint” scent, however, was definitely noticeable, and not in a good way – more like public restroom air freshener!
Patrick enjoyed the racing element, finding it a significant improvement over Test Track, but felt the ride was too short. I personally loved the extended outdoor racing portion, a highlight comparable to the thrilling outdoor sections of Test Track and Journey to the Center of the Earth, even if slightly less intense.
Analytical thoughts aside, my first ride on Radiator Springs Racers was pure joy. I had the same genuine grin as the models in Disney Parks commercials, simply relishing the experience of a brand-new, incredible ride. It instantly became the best ride in DCA, a must-do on future visits. And, as we discovered later that night, it’s even better after dark!
Exiting the ride was slightly confusing. None of us in our vehicle could immediately identify the exit door amidst the identical green doors. We ended up milling around like confused tractor-cows until a Cast Member guided us towards the stairs.
It’s almost a shame to rush through the exit queue, as it’s beautifully themed as well!
We had heard that the main merchandise shop, while seemingly unique, primarily sold generic Disney merchandise. We opted to skip it for this preview visit, prioritizing further exploration of the land itself.
The front of the Cozy Cone Motel seemed to double as a character meet-and-greet location, preventing closer inspection of the office windows.
Despite generally lower expectations for counter-service dining at Disneyland/DCA, we joined a 25-minute line at Flo’s V8 Cafe, hoping for a pleasant surprise.
The ever-changing ceiling lights inside Flo’s V8 Cafe were mesmerizing, a detail that could captivate for hours (though thankfully, we moved on!).
Contrary to some reports, Flo’s operated as standard counter service, not a hybrid model with table delivery.
The food displays at the cashier stations initially looked like Japanese-style fake food, but turned out to be real – just extremely visually uniform.
While waiting an eternity for our food, I noticed the enormous, car-sized jukebox, dwarfing the cast members – a humorous reminder of the Cars universe scale and the implied human labor behind it all.
Flo’s V8 Cafe boasts extensive seating, likely the largest restaurant in Disneyland/DCA. While some seating areas are less themed, the best spots offer views of Radiator Springs Racers.
The decor personifies car elements, blending objectification and character into the restaurant’s design.
The exterior of Flo’s V8 Cafe even evokes the feel of a classic roadside diner chain.
Most menu items at Flo’s involve choosing a meat and two sides. Patrick opted for the New York strip loin with peas and carrots and pasta salad. Standard counter-service roast beef, elevated slightly by gravy, but overall deemed “pretty dang good.”
I chose the Pork Loin with Coca Cola barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes, and vegetarian baked beans. The baked beans were essentially barbecue sauce with unidentifiable bits. The pork loin, thin and bland, relied heavily on the overly sweet sauce. Everything was either intensely salty or sweet. The promised Texas toast was absent, but the salty mashed potatoes, salty gravy, and sweet, buttery Parker House roll more than compensated for starch.
For dessert, Patrick tried the apple-cheddar “ugly crust” pie. The cheddar slice was flavorless and the crust tough, but the filling was surprisingly good. Best enjoyed fresh, as the cheese gets crunchy when cold.
I had the chocolate mud pie, thankfully coffee-free. The chocolate crust was pointless, but the filling was a rich, dense, flourless brownie – quite delicious!
That wraps up part 1 of our Cars Land adventure! Stay tuned for Cars Land After Dark! where we explore Radiator Springs under the neon glow of night.
