Cars Land at Night

Welcome back to Disney California Adventure! The sun's down, the neon's lit and the music's playing as we take a nine photo stroll through nighttime Cars Land.

Fillmore's Place, home of black light, folk art, bootleg fuel and fresh fruit.

Outside Mater's Junkyard, looking down Route 66.

Ordering at Flo's -- The Lure of the Lightning Lunchboxes

A visit to Cars Land isn't complete without a relaxing break at Flo's V8 Cafe to enjoy the knock-out view of Radiator Springs Racers, the excellent food, the music, the backstory and the adjoining Doc Hudson Museum. Before you can rest your feet and drink up the atmosphere, of course, you need to pick up some "fuel." Fortunately, the quick and friendly crew make that chore a pleasure.

A waitress will hand you a menu as you reach the front of the fast-moving queue, and stand ready to answer any questions or make recommendations. You'll soon be directed to the next available register to place your order (I highly recommend the Citrus Turkey.)

The displays certainly help sell a ton of Lightning McQueen lunchbox/meal combos. Though intended for children, it's no surprise that nearly as many adults end up ordering one; They really are great, well-made souvenirs (a head's up to parents: the toy car rolls very, very well; make sure the food packed inside doesn't go flying during a daring off-the-table stunt!) The children's meals (turkey sandwich, roast beef sandwich or Mac and Cheese) are actually very good, considering they play second fiddle to the container.

The milk shakes, represented on the second shelf, are delicious, but I have mixed feelings about the "road gravel" candy floating on top; It's a cute detail, but the topping usually ends up blocking my straw. But, seriously, if that's my biggest problem on vacation, I think I can live with it...

The Perfect Cars Land Dinner

After trying nearly every menu item in Cars Land over the past few visits, I've definitely got a favorite recommendation: Flo's Citrus Turkey Breast with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Corn. To make it extra fantastic, add Red's Apple Feeze as the drink.

Yes, I know Red's Apple Freeze is only sold at the Cozy Cones, so this does involve going to the Cones first and then crossing Route 66 to Flo's V8 Cafe. But that Apple Freeze is mighty refreshing while you're waiting to order!

Flo's V8 Cafe gets our vote for the resort's best combination of great food, quick service  and reasonable prices. The place also features plenty of seating, great views of Radiator Springs Racers, and a non-stop playlist of 60's Motown Girl Group hits. Instant happiness!

Breakfast at Flo's V8 Cafe

I just returned from a fantastic two day trip to Disneyland Resort. I already aired my only complaint yesterday (the Oz promo bumping out MuppetVision). Everything else was E tickets and smiles.

One thing really hit home during this trip for my whole group: Cars Land remains incredible and lovable even after the novelty wears off. It remains the most jaw-dropping, mind-blowing creation we've ever seen in a theme park. The land holds up to repeat visits and -- less than a year after its debute -- it feels like it's always been there. It's almost impossible now to imagine DCA without it.

It's also impossible to imagine a morning in DCA without two or three trips on Radiator Springs Racers (the Single Rider Line is your friend!) and then breakfast at Flo's.

We've looked at the Mater Waffles before, but this time I went for the good old American Breakfast.

It's basic, simple and delicious. The potatoes turned out to be the star of the plate -- spicy with a rich salsa flavor.

The food, however, is only half the reason that Flo's is our favorite place in the whole resort. The other half is the location, for breakfast is twice as much fun when...

...this is the view out the window.

The Grand Californian Lobby: The Resort's Hidden Oasis

When it comes to picking a favorite "quiet spot" at Disneyland Resort, the huge, spectacular lobby of the Grand Californian easily wins top honors. Whether or not you're staying at the beautiful-but-pricey hotel, you can easily drop by for a visit without ever leaving the parks area (this is where the resort's compact nature truly becomes an advantage).

Tucked right between Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney, this calming, quiet paradise defines the term "Hidden in Plain Sight." Although it's easily accessed from both DCA and Downtown Disney, the entry points don't call attention to themselves. As a result, most resort guests never think to drop in for a mid-day break (which is a good thing for the lobby's peaceful atmosphere).

Strange Things 4: More Offbeat (and Epic!) Disney Tunes

Welcome to another crazy off-ramp on the Disney Music Highway! We've got banjos, dragons, Mickey Rooney as Pinocchio and amazing park music...but our first pick actually makes Disney history!

Track:  THAT'S WHAT HEROES DO
Album: Epic Mickey 2

Mickey and Oswald perform in a song together for the first time! Sure, they only get one line each (most of this song is performed by the Mad Doctor), but -- What a cool little moment in animation history! Spoiler alert: the lyrics give away the game's ending.

You don't need to play the games to enjoy the music of the Epic Mickey world; Jim Dooley wrote fun, atmospheric scores for both the games, and part 2 has the additional kick of being a semi-musical. With track titles like "Skeleton Dance" and "Autopia Exploration," this album's going to make a lot of Disney fans smile.

And now, Dragon meets Steel Drums...

Flo's Brioche French Toast (plus Fish Heads & Crumbs)

It's not the prettiest meal on the planet, but I do love the Brioche French Toast at Flo's V8 Cafe In Cars Land. It really tastes more like dense, warm banana bread, and it's topped with salted caramel sauce and cold bananas. The combination of hot, cold, sweet and salty makes it sort of like the breakfast equivalent of a tin roof sundae...if that makes any sense at all. Have some milk handy before you tackle this super-filling joy brick.

I never noticed before, but the bananas sort of resemble walrus tusks. And, yes, that was the worst segue to a comic strip ever...

Mater Waffles at Flo's

Mickey pancakes will always be a classic, but the Mater Waffles at Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land are my new favorite smiling breakfast food.

They're listed as a kid's menu item, but one glance around at breakfast reveals just as many adults enjoying these crazy little specials-of-the-house, and no wonder; for $5.99 you get waffles, bacon, fruit and a beverage. It's just the right amount of food to get you energized for a day in the parks.

My other favorite breakfasts in Cars Land are Flo's Brioche French Toast (which tastes a lot like banana bread with hot caramel sauce) for $6.99 and the Bacon Scramble bread cone at the Cozy Cone Motel for $5.49. These give you more food for your dollar, but don't include a beverage.

And, of course, neither of those items make you laugh the moment they're set down in front of you. Mater waffles win!

The Things Cars Eat at Flo's V8 Cafe

Mater cruises happily past Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land while commenting on the great food. Flo's, naturally, offers two separate menus -- one for humans and one for Cars. Humans get delicious pork loin, citrus turkey, milk shakes and apple cheddar pie. The citizens of Radiator Springs, on the other hand, might go for the items advertised on the cafe's exterior:

The ever-popular Lugnuts...

 Grease (one of their 4 basic food groups)...

And maybe Dip Sticks for dessert.

I think I'll stick with the Citrus Turkey and Mashed Potatoes. By the way, the photos above reveal the way the central order area of Flo's keeps smoothly changing color at night. It's a charming effect that adds even more magic to the 60's-themed restaurant, our choice for Best Night-Time Relaxation Spot at Disney California Adventure.

Memorabilia at Flo's V8 Cafe: Jeep Date

Before opening a diner in Radiator Springs, Flo performed as the lead singer of the Motorama Girls. The group's album covers can be found in Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land, in a music-themed room facing Radiator Springs Racers. Every single one of these back-story albums features wonderful art and car puns galore. It's tough to pick a favorite, but "Jeep Date" is definitely up there.

A Cars Land Song List Update

We'd sure love to hear some actual Motorama Girls music, but until Pixar, the Imagineers and Jenifer Lewis decide to create these tunes in the studio, we'll just have to make do with the wonderful selection of Motown hits playing in Flo's V8 Cafe.

A lot of Mouse Troop readers have been checking out our Cars Land Song List; it's good to know there are so many Cars music fans out there!

We just realized that, when we updated the stand-alone page for our list, we neglected to add the new songs to the original archived post. That's been fixed; both links now carry the same updated list of Cars Land Songs.

If you've visited Radiator Springs recently and enjoyed any tunes we haven't noted yet, please drop us a comment, and we'll add the information. The internet certainly has turned out to be an info cornucopia for Disney park fans!

Flo's V8 Cafe - Our New Favorite Spot at Disneyland Resort

From the Blue Bayou to the quiet far side of Tom Sawyer Island, we have a lot of favorite spots to relax and enjoy the scenery at Disneyland resort. Until recently, they all resided in Disneyland Park itself. Since June 15, however, Disney California Adventure has claimed the top honors with Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars Land.

It offers a whimsical 50's atmosphere, terrific food, and a wonderful staff. The music is great fun, whether you're listening to the indoor playlist of Motown hits or the outdoor Route 66 tunes. Inside and out, the place is packed with clever details relating to Flo's showbiz past (and Doc Hudson's two-sided career if you head into the next-door seating area).

Flo's handles large crowds very well with smart, friendly service; even long lines move quickly.

Best of all, if you grab a table on the Radiator Springs Racers side of the cafe, you'll  be treated to an incredible view of the ride, with the desert landscape and mountain range spreading out before you...and towering above you. Mater and Lightning McQueen drive past frequently as they head to and from their meet-and-greet location at the Cozy Cone Motel. Everyone around you is in a great mood. It's immersive, magical and very, very relaxing.

Although you can order excellent milk shakes, you'll find no burgers, hot dogs or fries; Flo's offers delicious comfort food based around the kind of diner fare you might find on the real Route 66. We're talking Barbecued Pork Loin with Coca-Cola sauce. Citrus Turkey and Mashed Potatoes. New York Strip Loin. Amazing Veggie Tater Bakes. Apple Chedar Pie. Seriously, just thinking about the food at Flo's makes me want to drop everything and head to DCA for dinner!

The children's meals at Flo's are well designed, with a choice of Mac and Cheese or sandwich (turkey or roast beef), plus fruit and beverage (milk, juice or water). The optional Lightning McQueen lunch boxes are awesome, and cause many adults to order the kids' meals for themselves!

Speaking of Children's meals, the child's' waffles at breakfast (stamped with Mater and Flo portraits) are a big hit with all ages, though adults might also enjoy the Brioche French Toast or Chicken Tamales.

The breakfasts at Flor's taste fine, but lunch and dinner are much, much better. We can't choose a favorite between the NY Strip Loin and the Pork Loin; both are fantastic. You can pick two of six side orders; all taste great, but don't miss the excellent mashed potatoes

When you visit Cars Land, be sure to unwind and spend some time at Flo's. It may end up being one of your favorite spots as well.