Robin Took Us To Carsland July 2012

Did You Know? - Cars Land is a themed area in Disney California Adventure Park of the Disneyland Resort, inspired by the 2006 Disney·Pixar film, Cars. The 12-acre (4.9 ha) land was built as part of the $1.1 billion expansion plan for Disney California Adventure Park on the former Timon Parking Lot behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and "A Bug's Land." A major "E ticket" attraction, Radiator Springs Racers, features the third-generation Test Track technology, an attraction found at Epcot in Walt Disney World. The land debuted on June 15, 2012. Aside from attractions, Cars Land has dining and shopping venues as well.

Did You Know? - Imagine a structure hailed for its exterior design that took 60 days to build, was trafficked by hundreds of thousands of people for almost four decades, spent 17 years abandoned with an uncertain fate, contributed to the launch of LA's preservation movement, and took one night to burn to the ground.

One structure that once stood in Los Angeles fits precisely that bill: The Pan Pacific Auditorium. The Pan Pacific Auditorium was a masterpiece of a branch of architecture known as Streamline Moderne done by the prominent firm of Wurdeman and Becket. The green-and-white building was west-facing, and had four towers reaching skyward that resembled aircraft fins. Behind the glorious facade, however, was a more modest wooden structure that was more of a sprawling gymnasium; there was little remarkable about the design of the interior that was 100,000 square feet and could seat up to 6,000 patrons. The fact that it was wooden (read: highly flammable) is what eventually made its fiery demise possible.

Did You Know? -The layout of Cars Land from the guest's perspective is one of looking down the main street of Radiator Springs, U.S.A., as seen in the original Cars film and before the time period in the Cars 2 film. The main street is Route 66 coming in from the Golden State area, across from the Golden Vine Winery and currently Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar.

The other two entrances into the land is through a path in A Bug's Land between the entrance of Heimlich's Chew Chew Train and Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies, and through a tunnel being constructed as a part of the rockwork making up Ornament Valley from the Pacific Wharf.

The two other entrances are the same path crossing through the middle of Cars Land. The path's name is Cross Street. At the end of Route 66 is the courthouse/firehouse where the street splits. To the left of the split is still unknown, but it may be a backstage access gate. To the right of the split is the entrance to Radiator Springs Racers. In the distance, the Radiator Cap and Ornament Valley Range can be seen.

Did You Know? - Flo's V8 Cafe is a car cafe for drinking oil and gas in Radiator Springs in the movies Cars and Cars 2. It also appears in numerous video games. Most residents of Radiator Springs visit there for a drink once in a while.

Did You Know? - In 1948, two best friends named Guido and Luigi moved into Radiator Springs, and had the most amazing time of their lives. After they were done in [ Radiator Springs]], they decided they never wanted to leave. So they stayed, and opened Luigi's Casa Della Tires on April 5th.

Did You Know? - Ramone owns and operates Ramone's House of Body Art, Radiator Springs' custom body and paint shop. Ramone is an artist - a true magician with paint and metal. There was a time when his only canvas was himself, so he repainted himself daily. But since Lightning McQueen helped put Radiator Springs back on the map, Ramone has had his share of customers - including the star race car himself. Before heading off to the World Grand Prix, Lightning stops by Ramone's for a new paint job, and Ramone gives him a whole new look, even adding a spoiler to him.

Did You Know? - Before you hit the open road, you'll stroll through the original settlement of Radiator Springs. See how Stanley capitalized on a natural cold spring and built a series of ingenious attractions — like a "pull up and fill-up" coolant station, a building made entirely out of empty oil bottles and the Comfy Cavern Motor Court — that grew into the lovely town we know today.

Did You Know? - Radiator Springs Racers — a slot car dark ride. The attraction takes guests in a six-person vehicle through a briefing with Doc and Lighting McQueen, characters from the film Cars. Suddenly, guests find themselves racing another guest vehicle through hairpin turns and steep banks, ending with a randomized race result.

Did You Know? - Before oil cans came into use, drivers pulling into a gas station asking for oil had it pumped from a barrel into a spouted glass bottle, often embossed with the brand name of the oil company. From there they would pour it into the car's engine.

Did You Know? - The towering Cadillac Range mountains serve as a majestic backdrop for Radiator Springs Racers. Car aficionados will notice that the 6 mountain peaks resemble the tail fins of classic Cadillac models from 1957 to 1962. The mountains are inspired by the iconic Cadillac Ranch public art installation created by Ant Farm. Cadillac Ranch is located along Route 66 near Amarillo, Texas.

Did You Know? - The journey begins peacefully enough, as you board a 6-person car for a scenic road trip through Ornament Valley, including a drive by the valley's famous plunging waterfall, Radiator Falls.

Next, you'll head towards the town of Radiator Springs and along the way you'll encounter some familiar faces — including Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally, Luigi, Guido, Mack, Ramone and Doc Hudson — who will welcome you to the big race and help you along the way. Well, they'll mostly help you; Mater is known to recruit newcomers to participate in one of his favorite activities, tractor tipping.

To get you ready for the race, you'll fine-tune your car at either Luigi's Casa Della Tires or Ramone's House of Body Art. You'll want to ride multiple times to see both!

Did You Know? - For the thrilling conclusion of the attraction, you'll be pitted against another car filled with Guests for a friendly competition to see who can get to the checkered flag first. Zip over hills, zoom around high-banked turns, and cruise down camelback straightaways past spectacular red-rock formations. While there is only one winner, everyone is sure to have a great time — just like in the movie Cars, it's about the journey, not the finish line!