Ultimate Guide to Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure

One of Disney’s most immersive lands is Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure Park. In this Ultimate Guide to Cars Land, we will explore the must-visit attractions, delectable treats, tips, and hidden surprises around every corner.

Cars Land: A Little History

Cars Land is a meticulously designed and immersive land within Disney’s California Adventure Park that opened to the public on June 15, 2012. The creation of Cars Land was inspired by the successful Disney-Pixar animated film franchise, Cars.

The concept for Cars Land originated from Disney Imagineers’ desire to bring the enchanting world of Radiator Springs to life. They aimed to recreate the iconic landscapes and charming atmosphere of the Cars movies, providing guests with an opportunity to step into the world of Lightning McQueen, Mater, and their friends.

The development of Cars Land required careful attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of the land mirrored the film’s aesthetics and captured its essence. The Imagineers embarked on extensive research trips along Route 66, the historic highway that served as inspiration for Radiator Springs. This allowed them to immerse themselves in the Americana culture and capture the authentic feel of the roadside attractions and small towns along the route.

The construction of Cars Land began in 2009 as part of Disney California Adventure Park’s extensive expansion project. The land covers approximately 12 acres and is located in the area previously occupied by the park’s parking lot. The scale of the project was immense, involving the meticulous recreation of iconic locations from the Cars movies, including Radiator Springs, Ornament Valley, and the Cozy Cone Motel.

Cars Land Attractions

Radiator Springs Racers: This ride, which covers nearly 6 of Cars Land’s 12 acres, mixes slow, dark, indoor sections with an exhilarating outdoor track, offering a memorable experience for visitors of all ages. This ride is somewhat similar to Epcot’s Test Track ride system.

There is a 40″ height requirement for this attraction. This ride is plus-size friendly though you do have to get down low to get yourself in and out of the ride. You do have something to grab onto if needed to help boost yourself up.

Radiator Springs Racers is a very popular ride and wait times can get very high.  The attraction regularly sees standby waits of 60 to 90 minutes; even the single-rider queue can run 45 minutes or more. The best way to ride this ride is to purchase the Individual Lightning Lane for this attraction. If time permits, try to ride once by day and again after dark; evening illumination makes outside scenes breathtaking!

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree: Tow Mater’s voice sings the ride’s square dance songs, but he does not have a physical presence at his namesake ride. As you board one of Mater’s tractors, hold on tight as you spin and twirl to lively music. In Mater’s Junkyard, guests get to ride in trailers being pulled and whipped around by baby tractors. Mater’s voice comes out of a “junkyard jukebox” singing songs and conducting a big hoedown, encouraging the baby tractors to drive around. This attraction is very similar to Alien Swirling Saucers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

There is a 32″ height requirement for this attraction. This attraction is plus-size friendly, but you may slide into your smaller family/friends as your get swung around.

During the Halloween season, the ride transforms into Mater’s Graveyard Jamboree, featuring playfully spooky decorations and a new set of songs, such as, “Monster Truck Smash.” For the Holiday Season, it becomes Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.

Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters: Get ready for a dancing extravaganza with Luigi and his fleet of Italian roadsters. Each vehicle has a mind of its own, moving and grooving to traditional Italian tunes. Prepare to be amazed as the cars glide and twirl across the floor, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

There is a 32″ height requirement for this attraction. This attraction is plus-size friendly.

The line for this ride moves quickly and never gets too long. During the Halloween season, the ride transforms into Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, featuring playfully spooky decorations and a new set of songs. For the Holiday Season, it becomes Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl.

Cars Characters to Meet

In Cars Land, you can meet Lightning McQueen, Mater, Cruz Ramirez, and Red the Fire Engine. Lightning, Cruz, and Mater, all meet in front of the Cozy Cone Motel, while Red meets behind Luigi’s Rockin’ Roadsters.

What to Eat at Cars Land

Flo’s V8 Café: Fuel up at this classic roadside diner, designed in the spirit of Flo’s V8 Café from the Cars movies. Indulge in delicious 50’s style comfort food such as burgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes, while enjoying the vintage Americana atmosphere. Fried chicken is the star here and is easily shareable. Mobile ordering is available and recommended.

Cozy Cone Motel: Step into the Cozy Cone Motel and experience a range of tasty treats served in cone-shaped containers. From churros to soft-serve ice cream, you’ll find a variety of delightful snacks that are as fun to eat as they are delicious. Mobile ordering is available and recommended.

Cars Land Easter Eggs

Keep an Eye on the License Plates: Throughout Cars Land, you’ll notice numerous license plates on display. Many of these plates contain hidden references to Disney and Pixar characters, films, and even Imagineers involved in the creation of Cars Land. Challenge yourself to spot as many as you can!

• Historical license plates from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, representing the states that Route 66 passes through, in order, decorate a wall along the queue of Radiator Springs Racers. 
• License plates on the baby tractors have letters that represent the initials and birthdays of the key contributors to the Cars Land project from Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios.

Stanley’s Bride. If you look closely at Stanley’s Bride picture you will see that her Tiara has a classic Hidden Mickey.

Find Buzz Lightyear, Hamm, and Rex: Cozy Cone: This Hidden Disney·Pixar Detail is in the Cozy Cone Office, visible from the windows facing Route 66. Buzz Lightyear, Hamm, and Rex are hiding under orange cones, replicating the street crossing scene from Toy Story 2.

Radiator Springs Curios – Knick Knack Snow Globe: Radiator Springs Curios: There are several snow globes topping one of the sales displays inside the curio shop. One of the snow globes features Knick, the little snowman from Nome, Alaska, who starred in the award-winning Pixar Studios short, Knick Knack.

Slow Blink. Every third blink of the yellow traffic light is slower, just like Fillmore said.

Cars Land Top Tips

Arrive Early: To make the most of your time in Cars Land, arrive early in the morning. Lines for popular attractions tend to be shorter during the first few hours of the park’s opening.

Watch the Lights Come On. Every night immediately after sunset the lights go on in Cars Land. Since that time varies due to the time of sunset, I can’t give you an exact time. Sometimes you can ask a Cast Member and they might know. If not, check the sunset time on your phone and position yourself in front of Flo’s V8 Cafe approximately 5-10 minutes prior to that time. Typically, the enchanting lighting spectacle occurs within 1-5 minutes after sunset. By selecting this spot, you’ll find yourself right in the heart of the action, ensuring an optimal viewing experience.

Stay for the Night: If possible, try to experience Cars Land both during the day and at night. The land undergoes a captivating transformation as the sun sets, with the neon lights illuminating Radiator Springs. It’s a sight not to be missed!

Disney’s Cars Land offers an extraordinary experience for fans of all ages. From the thrilling attractions and delectable dining options to the hidden easter eggs and immersive environment, this land captures the essence of the beloved Cars movies. So, buckle up, grab your friends and family, and embark on a journey through Radiator Springs that you’ll cherish forever.

Thank You for Spreading the Pixie Dust!