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.)

From the Mickey Mouse Revue to Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

The brand new Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is just the kind of attraction that Disney's Hollywood Studios needs, but before we talk about it, let's clarify one thing: It is not the first attraction to predominately feature Mickey Mouse. 

From the D23 archives. 

The US version of the attraction poster.

From the Disney Gazette.

That honor goes to the Magic Kingdom's original Mickey Mouse Revue which made its debut at park opening in 1971. Sometimes referred to as the Mickey Mouse Musical Revue perhaps due to the confusion based on the name which appeared on the attraction poster. 

The 86 Audio-Animatronic characters in this theater attraction took park guests into the world of Disney film music long before the equally charming 3D film PhilharMagic came into being. In this original "E Ticket", Maestro Mickey had center stage as he led the orchestra through a beautiful and rather reverent look at classic Disney music. (This is also the first placement of the Three Caballero figures now found in Epcot's Gran Fiesta Tour.) Florida was the first home to the Revue attraction, but it was later moved to Tokyo Disneyland. 

OK- onto the brand new attraction... 

In our snarky, tired, and cynical world full of deadly viruses, war, and strained social media focused relationships, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway offers a silly respite from it all. With a refreshingly innocent old school approach to Disney attractions, I can see it being the kind of achievement that Walt Disney himself would be proud of! It's a family friendly, fun and wacky journey, full of detail that makes repeats rides a necessity. 

Under the Sea?

If only Ariel's Adventure was this fun!

With new technologies and classic design sensibilities, Imagineer Kevin Rafferty, Charita Carter, and their team have created something special here- truly worth being duplicated at other parks! It especially fits at Disneyland where Mickey Mouse made his park debut back in 1955. Mickey's Towntown is a fine fit for this instant classic!

I won't get into the should it / should it not have replaced the Great Movie Ride. I think we all know the answer to that. But as a brand new attraction, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is the perfect addition to the attraction starved Studios park.

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Update: Here's the best video out there. From my friends at WDWMagic:

The attraction's theme song, "Nothing Can Stop Us Now" is even available in I-tunes.

(Art and photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Kevin Rafferty: Imagineering As You Dreamed It Would Be

It's not too often that someone from Imagineering writes about their career, but Kevin P. Rafferty's warm and nostalgia filled book Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career is one book worth picking up. I knew relatively little about this man up until recent years. When I discovered he was the main person behind the incredible Cars Land, I started paying more attention.

If you're reading this blog, chances are you have followed the antics of the executives of the Walt Disney Company for years, even during Walt Disney's lifetime. Although they might love to hide it or present it differently, Disney and its Imagineering branch are just as petty and cutthroat as anywhere else. Tales revealed are lurid and uncover an unsavory and seedy side of the company the world now loves.  

But it's not like this in Rafferty's book- and therein lies its charm. He focuses not on others exploits, but instead of his own shortcomings and many adventures with a sense of humility and astonishment that is rarely seen when someone experiences great success. I attribute that to his indications of being a man of faith in Jesus. He's generous to others as well, everyone from revered Joe Rohde and Tony Baxter and Marty Sklar to the less than appreciated Barry Braverman and Tom Fitzgerald. Nicely done.

If you want a very funny read- I laughed out loud many, many times during the course of pouring over each of his stories- you'll enjoy this book as you learn even more about what makes Disney attractions world renown. Now I really can't wait to ride Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway!