What time for Car's Land Neon Lighting Ceremony?

[amlc]

We'll be at our happy place in two weeks (yay!!!) and I really want to make sure to see when they turn on all the neon lights in Car's Land. We've been there before but never timed things right to see it. Does anyone have any idea around when this takes place this time of year? I'm trying to coordinate dinner reservations to make sure that we don't miss it again Thanks!

 

[disneychrista]

Officially it is "sunset." So you will have to look up when sunset it during your visit and be there at least 5 minutes earlier than that.

 

[PirateRedhead]

We asked a CM near RSR for the lighting time. He checked a schedule and gave us the exact time for that evening. We showed up when he said, and it happened a couple of minutes afterward. So I'll always ask a CM!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We use Google to check the time for sunset on our given day (you could check in advance now). Then we give ourselves about 15+ minutes to get a snack at the Cozy Cones and to find a nice spot on Rte. 66. You're going to love this! Absolutely magical!

 

[B3rlingirl]

I was wondering the same thing... so thanks for asking and thanks for answering...

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Just be aware that sometimes, rarely, the lighting can be delayed by a few minutes. So don't worry if the Google designated time comes and goes, and the lighting still hasn't happened. Keep waiting -- it will!

 

[amlc]

Thanks everyone! We can't wait!!!

 

[gelatoni fan]

I was getting dinner at Flo's on Tuesday and walked out with my salad 5 min before sunset. About 3 minutes later, I saw CMs handing out flags to kids to help in the lighting ceremony. I think the actual ceremony stared around 5 minutes after that. Just look for CMs handing out flags around the intersection when it's close to sunset. No cars or dancers when I saw it but I got a couple of Cars Land buttons. It was pretty close to 8PM so basically just headed over to get a spot for Paint the Night right after.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... It was pretty close to 8PM so basically just headed over to get a spot for Paint the Night right after.

Where did you find your spot for PTN? Was it very crowded?

 

[azdisneylover]

We use Google to check the time for sunset on our given day (you could check in advance now). Then we give ourselves about 15+ minutes to get a snack at the Cozy Cones and to find a nice spot on Rte. 66. You're going to love this! Absolutely magical!

I am partial to the Pear-O-Dice drink and the dill popcorn from the cones. Usually, two of us grab the grub while a third person saves the bench.

 

[ParkHopper1]

The Cars Land Lighting happens two minutes past official sunset each evening...and since official sunset changes each day, so does the actual time of the lighting.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Where did you find your spot for PTN? Was it very crowded?

I prefer standing to sitting for these types of shows so I got a perfectly unobstructed view of Pixar Pier (got nice pics of dancers with the roller coaster and wheel in the background). There were like 4 rows of people sitting in front of me though. The CMs weren't controlling sitting vs. standing so I think anyone could have technically stood but most chose to sit because their legs were tired.

Due to the curvature of the road, right in front of Cars Land, you should be able to have a long view of the parade allowing you to take nice pictures of both the front and back of the floats. On the opposite side of the street, you would have cars land as a background for your photos but a shorter view of the parade.

It felt more crowded than the Pixar Play Parade in Disneyland but less crowded than the Together Forever fireworks or Fantasmic.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thank you for this information!

 

[amy85]

Are they still doing the car lighting ceremony right now?

 

[pharmama]

Are they still doing the car lighting ceremony right now?

Well, there isn't a "ceremony"... just the Sh-Boom song and the signs light up but yes.

This very old thread was bumped by the post above, though, that seems to be spam or a mispost?

 

[PirateBrigade]

Yup it was bumped by spam, lol. But yes it is still going on. I use my Apple Watch and put the sunset complication on the watch face, that's when it's sh-boom time.