{"id":54210,"date":"2017-08-02T12:00:31","date_gmt":"2017-08-02T16:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=54210"},"modified":"2022-04-09T00:40:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-09T04:40:55","slug":"mouse-memories-2012-debut-cars-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/mouse-memories-2012-debut-cars-land\/","title":{"rendered":"Mouse Memories: The 2012 Debut of Cars Land!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Today\u2019s article about the opening of Cars Land in 2012 is the second installment in the \u201cMouse Memories\u201d series, in which I will periodically cover some of the momentous occasions and my favorite gone-but-not-forgotten highlights of Disneyland Resort\u2019s days gone by.\u00a0 The inaugural Mouse Memories contribution, about the former Springtime Roundup, can be found<\/em> here<\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed.\u00a0\u00a0 It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.\u00a0\u00a0 It is something that will never be finished.”\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Since my first visit to Disneyland<\/a> over four decades ago, I have had a lot of memorable experiences and have seen a lot of changes take place in and around the park.\u00a0\u00a0 Beloved restaurants have come and gone.\u00a0\u00a0 Popular menu items have been discontinued.\u00a0\u00a0 Old attractions have been razed and shows have gone dark, while new ones have emerged to fill the void.\u00a0 Unique characters have vanished and become the stuff of Disney legend (I\u2019m looking at you<\/em>, Marsupilami!).<\/p>\n

One very significant event was an ambitious transformation at the end of the \u201890s, which simultaneously eliminated a big portion of the Disneyland Hotel<\/a> grounds and brought to us Downtown Disney<\/a>, the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa<\/a> and, of course, Disney\u2019s California Adventure theme park (now called Disney <\/em>California Adventure<\/a>\u2026 because, apparently, that extra apostrophe and\u00a0“s” were getting in the way).<\/p>\n

Disney\u2019s California Adventure Park was met with a lukewarm response after opening in 2001 \u2013 including from some California residents, who felt that a California-themed park in California was a quizzical direction to take when designing and building a whole new property in an area that does not have much room for expansion to begin with.\u00a0\u00a0 Other critics believed that it was a park built on the cheap, and that the lack of careful thought and attention to detail for which Disney is known was blatantly obvious.<\/p>\n

I did not set foot in California Adventure until it had been open for quite a long time, so I did not see it in its infancy and cannot speak to what it was like in the early years.\u00a0\u00a0 However, when I finally\u00a0gave it a try in 2007, I had mixed feelings.\u00a0\u00a0 I liked the park, but felt it was unfinished, or, at the very least, underdeveloped.\u00a0\u00a0 It was different from its predecessor across the Esplanade, which was the goal, but had a slightly more sterile vibe.\u00a0\u00a0 I did not expect a carbon copy of Disneyland, but I thought there would be more of what I call \u201ckisses of magic\u201d in every corner; more nostalgia; more humor; more pixie dust sprinkled all around to make California Adventure appear Disney-esque, I suppose.\u00a0\u00a0 Instead, the park lacked a bit of the warmth and character that make Disneyland so special.<\/p>\n

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In 2011, construction wall signs hinted at what was soon to come…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Buena Vista Street’s sweetest store promised to be a “treat”…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The new entrance to California Adventure that materialized in 2011 was inspired by the old Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, which was also the inspiration for the entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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By the time I got used to the different tone and layout of California Adventure, and began to really enjoy it for what it was, Disney announced that a billion dollar makeover was going to begin<\/a>, primarily targeting that park instead of Disneyland.\u00a0\u00a0 Although this overhaul yielded multiple changes to the reimagined California Adventure, including a nighttime\u00a0spectacular (World of Color<\/a>) and new rides (Toy Story Midway Mania<\/a> and The Little Mermaid ~\u00a0Ariel\u2019s Undersea Adventure<\/a>), at the core of the project would be two lands — Cars Land<\/a> and Buena Vista Street<\/a>, with the primary focus being on Cars Land.<\/p>\n

Confession time.\u00a0\u00a0 Cars<\/em> has never been one of my favorite Disney-Pixar movies.\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t have an intense dislike for it, but I have seen it and don\u2019t really feel the need to see it again and again and again\u2026\u00a0 Or even just\u2026 again. \u00a0 It may be an unpopular opinion, and perhaps I should hang my head in shame, but I was on the verge of being very disappointed when I learned that Cars Land was the prized centerpiece of the\u00a0sizable California Adventure facelift, because I thought that other Pixar movies would have been better subjects.\u00a0\u00a0 A land with a toy theme<\/a>?\u00a0\u00a0 Yes!\u00a0\u00a0 I am all about Toy Story<\/em> and each one of its sequels.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I still have to dry my eyes at the end of Toy Story 3<\/em>, which is possibly my favorite entry in the Toy Story <\/em>franchise to date.\u00a0\u00a0 A land all about monsters and crazy creatures?\u00a0\u00a0 Sign me up!\u00a0\u00a0 What great potential a Monsters, Inc.<\/em>-themed land could have during the Halloween Time season<\/a>!\u00a0\u00a0 An oceanic\u00a0area featuring the fishy friends of Finding Nemo<\/em>?\u00a0\u00a0 Of course!\u00a0\u00a0 California Adventure is a California-themed park, and California borders a stretch of the Pacific.\u00a0\u00a0 It would make perfect sense, I told myself.<\/p>\n

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But a land about\u2026 Cars<\/em>?\u00a0\u00a0 A land with the very lackluster name of “Cars Land” (they couldn\u2019t have come up with something a tad catchier?) to boot\u2026 just in case you were to ever forget that it\u2019s a land about Cars<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0 Despite the insistence\u00a0of many supporters of this concept that a land about Cars<\/em> would fit right in with California car culture and with the general theme of California Adventure — a logical argument, I will admit —\u00a0I was skeptical and underwhelmed.\u00a0\u00a0 My stance was that I didn\u2019t care about California car culture, and Cars<\/em> was not a movie I loved, so why would I care about this land?<\/p>\n

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As for Buena Vista Street, I didn\u2019t really have much of an opinion before it opened because I was so distracted by what I was sure would be a huge misstep with Cars Land.\u00a0\u00a0 I remembered that, back in 1993, the idea of Disneyland\u2019s new land, Mickey\u2019s Toontown<\/a>, didn\u2019t quite thrill me at first either, but when I set foot on its wacky streets and stepped on a talking manhole cover, I was sold.\u00a0\u00a0 I loved it right away.\u00a0\u00a0 I decided that I would have to keep an open mind and try to embrace California Adventure\u2019s new lands too.\u00a0\u00a0 I opted to attend a two-hour preview, so I could see Cars Land and Buena Vista Street right before they officially opened to the public in mid-June 2012 — which turned out to be a wise choice, as it allowed me to be able to take in the scenery and get a good look at the details of the two new residents of Disneyland Resort, before the masses descended soon after.<\/p>\n

Today I share with you a sampling of the photos I took as I experienced Cars Land\u00a0for the first time, five years ago.\u00a0\u00a0 I will cover the Buena Vista Street portion of the 2012 preview in a future article.\u00a0\u00a0 Join me as we stroll down “Mouse Memories” lane…<\/p>\n

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One of three entrances into Cars Land, this pathway through Ornament Valley makes the most dramatic impression…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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There are a few ways to access Cars Land, but on the day of the preview we were guided through the Pacific Wharf section of California Adventure and around to Ornament Valley.<\/p>\n

And it was impressive, to say the least.\u00a0\u00a0 But it was only the beginning.<\/p>\n

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The juxtaposition of the reddish rocks against the Southern California “June Gloom” sky was quite remarkable…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The striking rockwork drew audible gasps from the crowd.\u00a0\u00a0 Even I, who previously had almost no interest in a land based on Cars<\/em>, stared in awe at the amazing scene before me.\u00a0\u00a0 It was like stepping on that talking manhole cover in Toontown all over again \u2013 as soon as I saw what was beyond the archway, I was sold.<\/p>\n

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Radiator Springs Racers riders zoom down a hill…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A bit of delicate beauty on the stark desert landscape…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Just past the entrance, an abundance of treasures \u2013 including blatant sight gags and hidden gems \u2013 awaited me.\u00a0\u00a0 I truly did not know where to look first, as everywhere I turned there was something interesting to see.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a bit overwhelming, but in the best possible way.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a veritable feast for the eyes.<\/p>\n

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Flo\u2019s V8 Caf\u00e9 was the next stop…<\/p>\n

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Notice the aged appearance of these Tulsa Tea pumps…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This fissure in the cement is not a product of wear and tear; it is an intricate detail meant to add to the lived-in feel of the town…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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…Likewise, this oil stain is also carefully placed to complement the general theme…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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I was immediately mesmerized by the details, right down to the weathered and worn look of almost everything in the land.\u00a0\u00a0 Who would have guessed that I \u2013 the Cars Land skeptic \u2013 would be riveted to deliberately\u00a0applied oil stains and cracks in the pavement?<\/p>\n

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Inside the caf\u00e9, things were a bit more colorful.<\/p>\n

From this point forward I will spare you my chatter and let the photos do the talking…<\/p>\n

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The Bugs and Cars are neighbors on Route 66!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Every butte must have some gas…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Much like Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland, Cars Land is full of clever humor and inside jokes.\u00a0\u00a0 It is a very visual land, and it is impossible to spot every whimsical\u00a0element\u00a0on your first visit.\u00a0 You will notice things each time you are there, and will wonder why you never saw them in the past.<\/p>\n

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Cars Land, in all of its rusty and\u00a0dusty glory,\u00a0exceeded all expectations I had and turned a naysayer into a fan (of the land — I still don’t love the first two movies).\u00a0\u00a0 More importantly, it infused Disney California Adventure with a much needed dose of Disney magic, as clich\u00e9 as that may sound.\u00a0\u00a0 It added an extra dimension to the individual personality the park had already established to distinguish itself from Disneyland.\u00a0\u00a0 Cars Land somehow managed to make California Adventure feel connected to Disneyland, and yet very unique and separate as well.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It also provides a wealth of interesting photo opportunities.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Many people like to\u00a0head to\u00a0Cars Land when it is illuminated in neon after dark<\/a>, and dusk is also a popular time to see the stunning display in Ornament Valley.\u00a0\u00a0 Here are a few more photos to leave you with, taken on later trips.<\/p>\n

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Have you<\/em> been to Cars Land in Disney California Adventure?\u00a0\u00a0 If so, what is your favorite detail about it?\u00a0\u00a0 Do you think it has improved California Adventure as a standalone park, as well as a component of Disneyland Resort?\u00a0 Or, were you a fan of the old version of California Adventure?\u00a0 Let me know in the Comments below.\u00a0\u00a0 And stay tuned for a look back at Buena Vista Street’s debut, in a future Mouse Memories installment.<\/p>\n

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          Today\u2019s article about the opening of Cars Land in 2012 is the second installment in the \u201cMouse Memories\u201d series, in which I will periodically cover some of the momentous occasions and my favorite gone-but-not-forgotten highlights of Disneyland Resort\u2019s days gone by.\u00a0 The inaugural Mouse Memories contribution, about the former Springtime Roundup, can…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":128,"featured_media":55244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4319,1685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disneyland-travel","category-disneyland-parks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/128"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54210"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56251,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54210\/revisions\/56251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}