My experience with a tour of Cars Land!

[mrsxsparrow]

So yesterday I got to take a tour of Cars Land. I was one of 33 people picked after a post on the Disney Parks Blog a week or so ago (which can be found here).

I can't even begin to explain how amazing this was. It's now my number one Disney experience.

There wasn't really a chance to ask many questions though, so I'm sorry I wasn't really able to get many answers for you guys.

We started by meeting in the Blue Sky Cellar where we checked in, handed over our electronic devices, and got earpieces. Once everyone was checked in, we headed over to Cars Land! We entered through a backstage area behind the beer truck in the Pacific Wharf area. We walked under a rock formation and all of the sudden, there we were, standing right in front of Radiator Springs Racers!

Here we met with our tour guides, Kathy Magnum and Kevin Rafferty, Sr. The 66 of us were split into two groups, and my group went with Kathy Magnum. If you've seen the Cars Land video in the Blue Sky Cellar then you've seen her before! She's the executive producer for Cars Land and was a great guide.

We stopped for a quick photo before continuing:

I'm in the blue jacket in the first row all the way on the right!

We learned that the mountain range is the largest Disney has ever built in America, second only to some mountains in Tokyo. They did build an overlook here, because the Imagineers knew people would want to be able to stop and look at the mountain range. It IS a beautiful sight, especially watching the cars zoom by. If you've ever been by Test Track in Epcot, you know the cars don't really sound like cars... But here, they hid speakers in the brush so when the cars go by, the really do sound like race cars.

None of the ride vehicles are based on characters from the movie. There's a couple different models -- I forget how many she said. There's a boy and a girl for each model and they come in different colors.

I don't think there was really much more insight on this ride....

From there we headed to Flo's V-8 Cafe! I'll post more in a few minutes!!

 

[Judy from Boise]

how exciting !

 

[elaine amj]

can't wait to hear more

 

[jacs1234]

You lucky thing. What a great experience. I can't wait to hear more.

 

[All American]

Ka-chow!!!!

Looks like a great day! Thanks for sharing your experience. I can't wait to see it for myself!

 

[CrazyDuck]

From there we headed to Flo's V-8 Cafe! I'll post more in a few minutes!!

It was a few minutes an hour ago.... C'mon already! J/K take your time!

 

[lulubelle]

Wow, I can't wait to read and see more! Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[canadadisney]

Tell us more!!!!!! (please)

 

[Rhonna]

you know the cars don't really sound like cars... But here, they hid speakers in the brush so when the cars go by, the really do sound like race cars.

You just KNOW for years in the future there will be people that insist the cars run on real gas because they sound just like the real thing! LOL

 

[Susie63]

 

[Susie63]

Did you happen to notice if there were any other entry points into Carsland or was it just down the main street...other than behind the beer truck

 

[Pesky]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to hear more!

 

[DisneytheKid]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[mrsxsparrow]

Did you happen to notice if there were any other entry points into Carsland or was it just down the main street...other than behind the beer truck

Yes! There will be a regular entrance where we came in. Somewhere from the Pacific Wharf area... I assume they won't make you go around the back of the beer truck into the backstage area haha. But somewhere else around there, not sure of the exact location.

Also, I think there's supposed to be an entrance from Bug's Land. We didn't head over there except to look at Luigi's Flying Tires though, so I'm not sure where that really goes.

As a side note, I HIGHLY recommend the Pacific Wharf entrance. Although walking down the main road (Route 66) is going to be really cool, I think this entrance is going to be my favorite. They specifically had us enter on the side because, to paraphrase on of the CMs I was speaking with before we entered, when you enter there the mountain range suddenly surrounds you. And it's true. You can't really see the land, then you walk underneath a rock arch, and BAM!! It feels like the mountain range reaches out and hugs you.

Okay I'm working on another part now!! Had a slight change of plans tonight, thus the delay, but I'm back now!!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Amazing! Glad you had such a great time and I can't wait to hear more!

It's funny you mention about the entrance by the Pacific Wharf area. Two weeks ago I was at DCA and ended up walking behind Disneyland President George Kalogridis who was with another gentleman and a lady. We followed them to the Pacific Wharf area because we were headed to lunch. They ended up entering back stage right behind the beer truck. I thought they ended up going to the Ghirardelli ice cream shop, but nope, they were going to Cars Land! Thank you for sharing that, I would have never figured it out.

 

[rowan1813]

Fantastic!

 

[RuthieT]

so exciting! Cant wait until our trip this fall to check it out!

 

[mrsxsparrow]

So the next stop was.... Flo's V-8 Cafe!!

First of all, the gas prices here are like $0.61!! Fill up here if you can

Flo's is set up like many other quick service places... Similar to Hungry Bear or Pinocchio's or Taste Pilot... You walk into a lobby, wait in line, order, then move forward to wait at the window.

The premise here is that Flo used to be a glam-a-rama girl. So the seating area has some gold records she has recorded and of course, the song titles have some word play (everything has a "street" or "route" or something in it). Songs like the ones she'd sing will also be playing throughout the restaurant. The chairs are all vinyl, and the tables are formica with the V-8 logo on it. There's a couple of chandeliers made out of tail lights (the main one in the lobby looks great!)

The menu boards still weren't the final boards yet, which I thought was interesting. But the menu was set. Someone asked about it so I tried to remember as much as possible!! However, it's pretty much exactly what's been reported before.

There was turkey, pork loin, strip steak (or loin??), and the cheesy veggie tater bake. With all of them you get a choice of sides, like mashed potatoes, veggies, beans, coleslaw, and pasta salad. There was also an entree salad, but I couldn't see what was in it. There were milkshakes and the ugly crust pies, as well as beer and wine. There was also a special iced tea with some tropical fruit foam on the top? Apparently this foam thing is a recurring theme in this land... Personally, I don't get it, but whatever.

BTW, the best write-up I've seen so far about the food at Flo's is here.

So after you order, there's inside eating on the left and on the right. The left is still decorated as Flo's. TRY TO SIT ON THE LEFT. It has the most AMAZING view of RSR and the mountain range. There's only two smallish rooms on this side though. Kathy said they tried to evoke the feeling of being in a high-end car showroom, because that's where Flo has spent most of her time and would feel the most comfortable. And indeed, the last room really does feel like that. It has huge diagonal windows that I THINK are more than a story tall. Through which you can see the beautiful mountain range. (Have I mentioned how pretty I think the rock work is yet??) There's also a huge rearview mirror hanging on the wall opposite RSR, which I thought was helpful, so that if you're sitting with your back to RSR you can still see the ride.

Kathy mentioned that there's also outdoor seating on this side, but we didn't see it.

There's two more seating rooms on the right as well, that I think are a little larger than the left side. These are themed as Doc Hudson's exam room and waiting room. In the exam room are his medical degrees and diagrams of cars, as well as an x-ray of Mater. In the waiting room are you can see all of his Piston Cups, as well as a view of the Cozy Cone Motel across the street.

I think Flo's V-8 Cafe looks fun and is totally in theme. And in the summer, I could definitely see myself sitting and eating a long, slow lunch in the showroom part watching all the RSR riders!

More in a bit. I'm trying to put in every detail I remember for you guys and it's taking longer than I thought

 

[Disney Dreams]

What a fun opportunity. Thanks for sharing.

- Dreams

 

[Astylla]

What an awesome experience ! Thanks for taking the time to share such first person insight with us !