Best time to visit Cars Land?

[KLK622]

We will be visiting Disneyland from September 2nd-7th. We are planning on visiting the parks the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th (Wed-Sat) and are staying on property so we will have early entry. We have a 2.5 year old who is totally Cars obsessed (but obviously not tall enough for RSR)...we will want to hit up the Mater and Luigi rides, have a meal, see the characters, visit the shops, enjoy the atmosphere, ect. Based on this information what do you think our best plan for visiting would be? Is everything available (including characters) during early entry? Or would early evening be a better time? What about weekday vs. weekend?

We have never been to Disneyland and Cars Land is our main reason for choosing a visit to DL vs. DW so I just want to make sure we have a good plan.

Thanks!

 

[chabelita545]

If your DS is that Cars crazy, you'll probably want to visit multiple times. Carsland is really well done and looks a lot like the movie. We were there almost every day of our last trip and sometimes twice a day. Make sure to visit at least once in daylight and again at night with all the neon and DJ's dance party in the street. It gets crowded in CL, but what can you do? Maybe it's a bit less crowded during early entry? We've never been there then. The only time I'd avoid is the heat of mid-afternoon, when your DS is likely to be ready for a rest anyway.

Make sure to do a rider swap so you can still ride RSR. As you exit the ride, you can see the cars on the racetrack as they whiz by, but your DS wouldn't be allowed in that area. I wonder if you can see them on the street behind Flo's that leads to Pacific Wharf? I hope so. I bet your DS would love watching them even if he can't ride the ride.

 

[Epek]

As you exit the ride, you can see the cars on the racetrack as they whiz by, but your DS wouldn't be allowed in that area. I wonder if you can see them on the street behind Flo's that leads to Pacific Wharf? I hope so. I bet your DS would love watching them even if he can't ride the ride.

I have actually taken my ds through the exit to watch dh cross the finish line several times. No one has ever said anything to me. Dh texts me the color car he's in as he loads so we know how to find him. I think being able to do this makes it a little easier that he can't ride.

Op- my ds is totally Cars obsessed and we spend a lot of time in Carsland every time we go. It is a very busy land, but I've found the lines for the other rides and characters move pretty fast. I agree that you need to visit both during the day and at night. Don't miss DJ's dance party or the lights coming on. The lights are especially magical for big fans. I would say after Labor Day you don't really need a plan of attack for Carsland beyond FP's for RSR. Crowds should be pretty tame.

 

[Tyggress]

My son (3) is Cars-obsessed as well....we have APs and go often (we'll be there the same time-frame as you! Sept. 4 - 7).

Anyhow...yes, CL can get busy, but during that week it should be pretty mellow. You can meet Red in the street, usually almost all day. McQueen and Mater rotate every 1/2-hour in front of the Cozy Cone. My son goes and visits them both EVERY TIME WE GO TO DL. The line to see them is not very long usually, and definitely won't be long during the time frame you'll be there...however, they are not out during EMH that I am aware of...just during normal park hours.

Your son won't be tall enough to ride RSR, but I would definitely let him see the cars racing by (behind Flo's is a good place to see this...take a break and eat a meal there maybe, and let him watch from there!).

Every hour or so in the afternoons, DJ comes out and has a dance party in the street...that's a lot of fun. The other two rides (Luigi's Flying Tires and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree) are a ton of fun and the lines move very quickly or are darn-near non-existent...ESPECIALLY during EMH in the morning. You could ride them several times. Note that the height requirement is 32" on those.

Definitely visit both during the day and at night. The detail is amazing (as only Disney can do!). The yellow stop light even blinks slower/longer every third blink! LOL.

Have a great time!!

 

[KLK622]

Thanks all-very helpful! We will for sure plan to visit during one of our mornings in the park and then for another evening. I am still trying to decide if my son would think it is cool to see us on RSR or if it will just make him mad-being 2 we are never quite sure what he will think

Glad to hear you all think there will be light crowds-that is why we choose that week.

 

[LostGen]

When we went recently, we used our Magic Morning early entrance for Cars land, which should be called Radiator Springs, right? How did they miss that? Come on, Disney!
Anyway, it was great in the cool of the early morning and without any real crowds.

 

[emily94]

I agree that that week should be pretty mellow. Cars Land is great to walk around and I'm sure you will be back multiple times. I think the earlier the better, it is obviously a very busy and popular area! Especially if you want to ride the other two rides (stand by only)

Last time I was there, they did character interactions with Lightning McQueen and Mater, but I do not remember what time they were at...

I would suggest dinner at Flo's V8 Cafe! Cars Land gets even more beautiful at night and the food at Flo's is delicious and a good value, I split an entree with a friend that was enough for the two of us! They have a great outdoor patio that over looks RSR.

The walkway from Pacific Wharf is great to take photos, take in the atmosphere, and watch the racers go speeding by.