A small group of journalists toured Cars Land at Disney California Adventure before it officially opens on June 15. The Orange County Register was one of them.
Cars Land is patterned after the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, as depicted in the Disney-Pixar animated films “Cars” and “Cars 2.”
According to the newspaper:
“When you walk into Route 66, you feel like you’ve stepped into this movie, but it’s real,” said Mary Niven, vice president of Disney California Adventure. […]
The Mater and Lightning McQueen characters will move and talk, unlike the static cars that now are staged in Disney California Adventure. Mater and Lightning McQueen mostly will be based at the Cozy Cone Motel, but also will travel down Route 66. […]
A neon lighting, including the illumination of the mountain range, will be held each night.
A popcorn bucket shaped like Lightning McQueen and a drink cup shaped like a Cozy Cone Motel will be sold at the motel food stands.
Flo’s V8 Cafe is based on MidPoint Cafe in Texas, famous for its “ugly crust” pies.
Flo’s has retro light fixtures, 1950s music and juke boxes by the cash registers. Checkered flags line the windows. Artwork includes mechanic licenses and a diagram of a healthy combustion chamber.
Alas, the newspaper didn’t post many photos with the report. However, a fellow with a video camera captured images of Cars Land last week:
Really looking forward to this. We are headed for the Rt 66 Festival in Victorville then on to LA to visit our son. Planning to hit Disney and see Cars Land then. So excited.