When Reality is Better Than Imagineering Art: California Adventure's Radiator Springs Racers

Contrary to an opinion I often hold, it's not always better at Tokyo Disneysea! With this newest article in the series, I'll show its possible to beat that amazing park in Japan at their own game. Yet that poor little secondary, red-headed child of theme parks in Anaheim, California Adventure still makes it tough to call it a consistently high quality Disney worthy park. Unfortunately, there's still remnants of the embarassing DCA 1.0 among the excellent. Buena Vista Street is beautiful, Grizzly Peak provides a small taste of more rustic areas, but it is only in Cars Land where you can see the Imagineers were given full design freedom to create something extraordinary.

Once the relaunch of the park was complete, I couldn't wait to visit! I'd seen the tons of concept art and watched construction walls go up. I'd been into the preview center (the old Seasons of the Vine theater) numerous times and poured over the models.

 

The project rolled out to mixed results in the early stages. Toy Story Midway Mania was fun but not a must-see attraction to build a park visit on, let alone a stand alone vacation. I had to admit Paradise Pier looked so much better with its Hotel Del Coronado inspired treatment and the removal of the ill-conceived Maliboomer. (I sure wish they'd go back to that.)

 

I was hopeful for Ariel's Undersea Adventure as I love a great dark ride on an Omnimover.  The initial descent Under the Sea and the centerpiece room made me hopeful the Little Mermaid ride had all the markings of a major hit... until the last few scenes where it all fell apart. You could tell budgets had been cut. It was not to be the big E Ticket attraction the park needed. That left Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers. Did Disney suits and Imagineers blow it once again?

No.

 

This was everything I wanted- and more.

 

This is the single case in California Adventure when the reality is better than Imagineering art. So much better, in fact! Recently retired Imagineer Kevin Rafferty created a modern masterpiece that holds its own with the classics from Walt's day- and make no mistake, this land with its stunning landscapes and the headlining fun-filled, thrilling attraction saved the park. In every corner, the piece parts work together to create an unforgettable experience. And you don't have to like the Cars movies to appreciate that land.

 

Guests rewarded Disney genius and creativity with turnstile clicks by the millions and millions of hard earned dollars in the bank. Would lightning strike twice with future projects? Not even close. Pixar Pier and Avengers Campus reversed course by leaps and bounds, failing in different ways. 

 

What comes next- excellence or mediocrity? 

My bet is...

 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)