A look at Red From Radiator Springs Racers

It's a calm, relaxing Sunday evening here at Mouse Troop, so we're taking this moment to pay tribute to brave, gentle old Red the fire engine. Amongst the wild, careening craziness, tractor-tipping and fleeing from rampaging harvesters inside the dark ride portion of Radiator Springs Racers, Red provides a moment of serenity as he waters the tail light flowers. The special effect of the water spraying out is terrific.

Chili "Cone" Queso at the Cozy Cone Motel!

In Cars Land, halfway along Route 66 through Radiator Springs, the Cozy Cone Motel serves up unusual and terrific food, all served in cones of one sort or another.

This is one of our favorites, the Chili "Cone" Queso. Yes, it's chili in a bread cone topped with Fritos and cheese. It's spicy, brilliant and delicious. No, you can't have it, this one's mine.

There are no burgers, fries or hot dogs in Cars Land. Everything about the place engages the imagination and pulls the rug out from under the commonplace, and that includes the dining. Now, what drink should we get to go along with this? How about Pear Soda? Apple Freeze? Wild Grape Tonic?

Strange but true; some of the best take-out food in California is being cooked up inside giant orange traffic cones. Long live Cars Land!

DCA's Makeover is Working. It's Really Working.

 

Those record-breaking crowds flocking to Cars Land this summer are discovering something extra as a bonus: Disney California Adventure -- as a whole -- is becoming an incredibly beautiful theme park. The potential's always been there; Grizzly Peak is stunning and California Screamin's classic coaster profile looks great against the Southern California sky. The rest of the park is finally catching up to the promise.

Disney's spent the money to truly turn DCA into a magical, full-day park and rework original 2001 elements that never quite met guests' expectations. We've seen the removal of bland, cheap shopfronts and jarring, out-of-place structures like the Maliboomer tower and the giant peeling orange. We've witnessed the arrival of classic architecture, shade trees, a healthy dose of great Disney-quality rides and detailed, story-driven theming. After exploring the amazing Cars Land in the morning, guests are wandering out to discover a renewed DCA that's blossoming like a butterfly spreading its wings. Corny, but true.

Some areas still have minor problems; the Wharfside end of Paradise Pier needs more shade. Goofy's Sky School isn't fooling anyone, but a lot of folks enjoy it (including me -- I love Wild Mouse coasters). When you take all the improvements, however, then add in the comforting joys of Buena Vista Street and the mind-blowing wonders of Cars Land, you've suddenly got an outstanding park that's unlike anything else in the Disney lineup.

Disney California Adventure finally has an identity to be proud of. Across the way, Disneyland finally has a worthy companion to share the crowds with.

The Only Things Missing are Bees (Car Bees)

I've seen Cars (the movie) more times than I can count, yet somehow never noticed the flowers in Radiator Springs look like tail lights. Cars Land opened my eyes to that detail with its whimsical light-up flowerbeds, which look spectacular at night.

Watching the film after visiting Cars Land, I had to smile; the perfect match between the animated plantlife and the real-life counterparts at DCA is just one more example of the care that went into this amazing fantasy world.

Don't Let This Happen To You

You see this? This is the line for the Radiator Springs Racers Fastpasses on June 30...five minutes after park opening!!!!!

The fastpass machines are located at the entry to A Bugs Land, and the line stretched from there back around the Carthay Circle Theater and nearly all the way down Hollywood Blvd.

This is insanity. It's also completely unnecessary. These people are spending their precious morning time standing in a slow-moving line for an hour or more to get a reservation they probably don't need.

If there's one piece of advice I can leave you with regarding Radiator Springs Racers, it's this:

SINGLE RIDER LINE.