Disney California Adventure: Cars Land Preview!

Our family was very fortunate to win tickets to an annual passholder preview of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street yesterday at California Adventure.

To say we were impressed with the new lands is an understatement. We've spent the last few years looking at models, watching videos, and peeking over fences, but we were still unprepared for the stunning view when we entered Cars Land via its Pacific Wharf side entrance and rounded the bend:

 

It will take multiple posts to share my favorite photos from yesterday's adventure, and I'll be sharing some more photos of the Ornament Valley area of Cars Land in a future post on the Radiator Springs Racers ride.

The town of Radiator Springs is really delightful. There is upbeat music playing, and it feels as though you really have stopped off in a little town while on a road trip.

Here's a view of the town from the main entrance (click to enlarge):

One of my favorite spots is the Cozy Cone, which despite (because of?) the whimsical design feels very authentic. The front of the Cozy Cone reminds me a bit of a little trailer park and motel with a pond which we pass on Highway 395 in the Sierras. (Willow Springs Motel, I'm talking about you!) For that matter, the theming makes me think of another motel on the 395 which features covered wagon camping.

One of the cones even sells soft serve ice cream, just like we buy at our favorite little ice cream and burger place, the Jolly Kone, when we're camping outside Bridgeport.

I'll have much more to share over the next few days! Disney has a definite hit on their hands. The former powers-that-be may have made some very bad decisions on California Adventure's original design, but I give all credit to Disney for acknowledging the mistakes and pouring so much into redoing the park over the past half decade.

When the park celebrates its Grand Reopening this Friday, June 15th, Disney can be proud and guests can enjoy what is now a "full-day park"!

Update: Cars Land Preview: Flo's V8 Cafe and Luigi's Casa Della Tires; Cars Land Preview: Radiator Springs Racers and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree; Cars Land Preview: Around Radiator Springs; Disney California Adventure: Buena Vista Street Preview (and More!); Disney California Adventure: More Buena Vista Street.