A look at Cars Land, the new expansion to Disney California Adventure - A 1UP classic from Jun 14, 2012

The largest expansion in Disneyland Resort history is finally ready. Between Buena Vista Street which I previewed yesterday and Cars Land which we will look at today the park has opened up around 12 acres for visitors. Cars Land is completely unlike the other portions of any other Disney park. Save for the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, this is the first time that the park has recreated a location from a film into a permanent attraction. For Cars Land the fictional town of Radiator Springs, set in Ornament Valley, from the feature film Cars is as close to perfect as you could imagine.

Cars Land actually has two major entrances, the main drag starting at the end of Buena Vista Street and one side entrance from Bug’s Land.

The entrance from Pacific Warf takes guests underneath a realistic stone archway.

There are three attractions in Cars Land. The first one is Tow Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. This ride is meant more for kids than adults. Parents can join their little ones as the small tractors tow guests around and dance to the music.

As you walk down the main street all of the locations shown in the movie are reproduced to scale. Some of the spots are shopping areas.

Just like Buena Vista Street there are many exclusive items that can only be found in this area of the park.

The attention to detail is amazing as the Imagineers did a great job at creating physical objects out of CGI data. The Cozy Cone Motel is a good place to get food for example, it is also the place to go if you want to get your picture taken with one of the Cars.

My mom and I got a picture with Mater. The tow truck actually interacts with guests, his exposed engine rumbles and he can look around and crack jokes. What is even more amazing is that the cars actually take turns posing with guests, as the mascot characters would in Disneyland.

When Mater’s turn was over hamming it up in front of the Cozy Cone, Lightning McQueen rolled over from backstage to give him a reprieve.

Eagle-eyed fans to the Cozy Cone could probably find a nod to another classic Pixar film…

Luigi’s Casa Della Tires is actually the location of the second attraction. The soon-to-be famous Flying Tires. The ride is actually an homage to a classic attraction, the Flying Saucers no longer in Tomorrowland. Unfortunately for us there was a problem with the air compressor and the ride was unavailable during our visit. I can’t wait to give it a spin though.

Right across from Luigi’s is Ramone’s Paint and Body Shop. This is the larger store for gearheads. Lots of clean automobile inspired designs on clothing and cool collectables can be found here.

More odds and ends can be found in Lizzy’s shop, and at the end of the street is the Fire Dept. and the fountain dedicated to Stanley, the town founder.

The major attraction for the expansion is Radiator Springs Racers. This attraction is part dark ride and part coaster but more on that later.

The queue is great as visitors get to see the original settlement in Ornament Valley and the actual bubbling Radiator Springs that the town was named after.

Guests buckle up six at a time in brightly colored cars with smiling faces.

Guests drive all over Radiator Springs and get a close look at the memorable locations featured in the film.

Suddenly visitors are plunged into the story of the ride. They experience almost point-for-point the same things that Lightning did in the movie. The animatronics on the cars themselves are breathtaking. The mouths move convincingly and eyes dance around as the massive vehicles bounce around just like they did in the movie.

Guests get warned by the Sheriff to stay out of trouble as they sneak out to go tractor tipping with Mater.

The ride then turns right down the middle of main street where full-sized vehicles talk to guests and each other.

The ride then takes one of two possible turns. Riders that go into Luigi’s tire shop are treated to a change of tires on their ride. The car lifts up and bounces around as the tires are swapped out. A mirror shows off the newly installed white wall tires before you are sent to talk to Doc Hudson.

The alternate route has guests go into Ramone’s where some mechanical arms “paint” the cars. It actually smells like paint as the mechanical arms spray a mist of water at riders. After the paint job riders see Doc Hudson giving them a final pep talk before they have to race against another car filled with guests. The race is pretty spectacular as both cars race side by side on banked turns and over large bumps. The race is rigged to create the illusion that riders are always in the winning car by the time they cross the finish line and end up back at the beginning.

The real charm of Cars Land happens at night. In a scene right out of the movie the town springs to life and tons of neon lights illuminate the streets as the song Sh-boom plays over the PA system.

 

I thought that scene was the best part in the film and it was humbling to see that it could be recreated for guests night after night.

Even the neon blacklight of Fillmore’s Organic Gas Hut and Sarge’s military surplus neon are just like they are in the film.

Expect to see a record turnout this weekend as locals and international travelers set their site on DCA.

The wait was absolutely worth it!

As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Dream Suites, part 4, the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite - A 1UP classic from July 21, 2011

Yo ho, yo ho it's the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite for me! This installment of the Disneyland Dream Suites brings us to the last in the series. What has been considered the greatest dark ride ever built has one of the nicest hotel suites even sharing the name. Pressing the doorbell queues up the song from the attraction. Past the heavy wooden doors guests are greeted by a poster from the most recent pirates movie.

The living room is ship shape, pardon the pun. The entire suite is layered with details from both the attraction and movies that shared it's name. A model of the Wicked Wench sits inside a glass case, this was the ship before it was turned into the Black Pearl. Other props, models and replicas from the movies and ride adorn the walls.

There is nothing dainty about the rooms. Wood and iron rule the furnishings just like they did the old ships from legend. A classic pirate map from Disneyland designed by Xavier Atecio, whom served as the voice of the pirate at the start of the ride, as well as the script writer and lyricist for the Pirates and Haunted Mansion attractions was featured in the guest room. Character designs from Marc Davis were also featured in the rooms.

Just like the other rooms in the Dream Suite the bathrooms all tell a story. Take the shower that looks like a bricked archway that could be found in New Orleans.

Each room in the Dream Suite, with the exception of the Mickey Mouse Penthouse, had a view of the newly refurbished courtyard complete with view of Trader Sam's, Tangaroa Terrace, the pool area and water slide.

I consider Adventureland the best of the Dream Suites but visiting each room was a treat in and of itself. I hope that my Disney friends get a chance to spend some time in the park and hopefully even spend time in these rooms. As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Dream Suites, part 3, the Adventureland Suite - A 1UP classic from Jul 14, 2011

Hello friends, we have made it to another Friday and another look at the Disneyland Dream Suites. Today we feature the Adventureland Suite, the one which I consider the best of all the Dream Suites.

Like the other rooms featured thus far there is a unique sound when you press the doorbell. For Adventureland there is a sound of beating war drums. When you open the door there is a short red hallway with masks from around the world lining the walls. This hallway leads right to the living room. The centerpiece for this room are enormous ornamental carved tusks surrounding a vintage globe. Also, like the other rooms featured thus far this room is supported by details helping ground visitors into some exotic far off location. There are paintings, maps, trophies and artifacts mounted on the walls and sitting on tables.

There is a nook layered with comfy pillows recessed into a wall in the living room. A closet hidden behind a faux bookcase is right next to it.

Each room contains a writing desk that is appropriately themed as well. Imagine the artifacts hiding in the drawers of this desk. Plus some of the paintings in the rooms are based on the Disneyland attractions the rooms are themed after. Such as the Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room.

The master bedroom and guest bedrooms were works of art. The master bedroom had a floor of tiles with ornate rugs over it and a fully functional bathtub! Talk about living in the lap of luxury! The guest bedroom was decorated as if it were built inside a tent. The walls and ceiling were covered in canvas and held up by tent posts. The cabinets looked like stacks of steamer trunks and the only element that broke the illusion of roughing it in a lost jungle was a flat screen TV.

As if the bedrooms were not amazing enough, each bathroom was breathtaking. Both had showers but the master bathroom had a sauna big enough to fit four people easy! The sauna was made up of smooth tiny stones. Talk about exotic!

If I ever win the lottery this will be a suite I'd love to spend a week in. What do you think? As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!

The Dream Suites, part 2, the Mickey Mouse Penthouse - A 1UP classic from July 8, 2011

Today brings us another look at the Disneyland Dream Suites. This blog will feature the Mickey Mouse Penthouse.

The colors and themes in this suite are very animated. With lots of pop styling and bright, bold colors symbolic of the iconic character. Forget about searching for "Hidden Mickey's" in this room as even the furniture itself is a nod to the character.

Each room is filled with figures, art and memorabilia celebrating Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Some of the items are rare collector pieces and others are original works of art.

Inspirational quotes from Walt Disney are painted into the walls.

The master bathroom is very classic and luxurious. There is even a television behind the mirror! The guest bathroom is more colorful and playful.

The guest room is themed with kids in mind. In addition to the flat screen television in the room there is also a light table in the room for budding artists and animators. The master bedroom on the other hand is nothing but class. Easily one of the nicest rooms in any Disney hotel. If you ever fall into some big money and want to treat yourself or your family to a weekend stay at Disneyland might I suggest the Mickey Mouse Penthouse? As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!