Now that Cars Land is finally open to the public, families of all ages—and heights—can enjoy the amazing work the Disney Imagineers put in to bring Disney/Pixar’s Radiator Springs to life. We assembled some age-related guidelines for the parks, but no matter what your family looks like, read the whole thing because you never know what treasure you might find outside of your own age range in the timeless community of Radiator Springs.
Before we begin, be sure to arm your family with the essentials: Do not forget to bring sun protection, such as hats and sunscreen for everyone. Lines will be long and you might need to stop and reapply during the day. My family outgrew our stroller, so I learned to let the children help carry their own supplies; filling their own backpacks with a few bottles of water and their jackets. My youngest carried our sunscreen in his bag. If you should forget any of these items, never fear: All are available for sale inside of Cars Land. Of top priority: Do not forget to charge your camera and phone batteries. Pack back-up batteries and portable chargers if you can, as well as back up memory cards for your cameras.
Pre Birth: Expectant Mothers.
Let’s start before the very beginning, shall we? Radiator Springs Racers and Luigi’s Flying Tires both caution expectant mothers to not ride these attractions. So, what can expectant mothers do in Cars Land?
First and foremost, moms can do what what many moms do best: Shop. There are three stores for shopping: Sarge’s Surplus Hut, Radiator Springs Curios, and Ramone’s House of Body Art. Sarge’s in particular features children’s clothing, including infant-sized options. If you need to stop and grab a quick healthy snack, visit Fillmore’s Taste-in fruit cart at the beginning of Route 66. Got a pickles and ice cream craving? Well, believe it or not, you could always go get some dill-flavored popcorn, or rather, a “popcone” at the Cozy Cone Motel and an ice cream cone just three cones away. But that might be going a little too far.
Just follow the signs to the Cars Land Rest Area! Photo by Adrienne Krock.
Next, expectant mothers can relax and enjoy the view. Disney provides spectacular views throughout Cars Land and they even offer plenty of opportunities to sit and enjoy them. Expectant mothers may choose to sit in the Rest Area between Sarge’s Surplus Hut and Flo’s V8 Cafe; on a bench facing Route 66; inside Flo’s V8 Cafe overlooking Ornament Valley, which is the backdrop for Radiator Springs Racers; or along the wall from Flo’s V8 Cafe toward the Pacific Wharf. Whether during the day or in the neon glow of the evening, all of the views are just lovely.
Finally, all is not lost attraction-wise: expectant mothers can still ride Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (which is probably my favorite ride in Cars Land). Although, do be aware that there can be some body slamming into the sides of the ride vehicle, which can cause some bumps and bruises. So while expectant mothers can ride, you might want to skip it.
Infants and Toddlers: Less than 32 inches
All the attractions in Cars Land have a 32-inch or 40-inch height requirement. The average child should be able to ride Luigi’s Flying Tires and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree by the time they reach 18-months to 2-years of age.
Children of any age can meet the characters of Cars Land: Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, and Red the Fire Truck. Mater and McQueen take turns posing with guests in front of the Cozy Cone Motel. With a little Pixie Dust, they even interact with their guests and speak to them.
Mater and McQueen might be the biggest celebrities in all of Cars Land, but one gentle giant of a gem, up Cross Street across from Luigi’s Flying Tires, rests Red the Fire Truck. Red and his handlers enjoy interacting with guests by beeping, waving his rearview mirrors and even aiming his fire hose for a bucket. Naturally, Red poses for pictures, too. We thoroughly enjoyed not only meeting Red ourselves, but watching other guests enjoy their time with him, as well. Do not miss Red along the road out toward Bug’s Land.
As mentioned in the expectant mothers section, there are many places to rest with younger children along the way. If your children comfortably nap in their strollers, there are plenty of places to relax together while the rest of your party enjoys the attractions in Cars Land. The Baby Care Center is conveniently located just outside of the Cars Land Route 66 entrance, near the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop. The Baby Care Center remains open during its renovation and parents can easily stop in for diaper changes, feeding or to help potty-training aged children while the family enjoys Cars Land.
Two “Companion Restrooms” in Cars Land provide another option for parents to work together to change diapers and help their children use the restroom. Photo by Adrienne Krock.
Families may also use Rider Switch Passes during this time. To obtain a Rider Switch Pass, your entire family must approach the cast member stationed at the entrance of the attraction. The cast member needs to be able to see the family members getting in line and the children too short for the attraction. The adult taking care of the too-short child will be given a Rider Switch Pass. The adult with the younger children will not stand in the regular line but can entertain the younger children elsewhere while the rest of the group waits in line. The Rider Switch Pass allows two guests to return later to enjoy the ride without waiting for the stand-by line, once the rest of the family finishes riding the attraction.
Here’s a tip: Younger guests who cannot ride on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree may want to hang out in the area to dance along to the music from the ride, while enjoying a snack from Fillmore’s Taste-in fruit cart across the way. If you wait patiently, you may be lucky enough to hear the “Blooper” song which plays less frequently throughout the day.
Toddlers to Preschoolers: Children taller than 32 inches but shorter than 40 inches.
If you plan to visit this summer, lines for Radiator Springs Racers will probably be very long. Families with children too young to ride can enjoy several other attractions while they wait for family members in line for Radiator Springs Racers.
Our family really enjoyed Luigi’s Flying Tires and the boys kept wanting to catch the large beach balls during the ride. However, keep in mind that the vehicles need to be heavy enough to make the leaning action work to move the tires across the air vents. On our first ride, my husband and I both rode in the same tire with our youngest son, who is 8. At first, I worried that so much weight would limit our ability to move across the vent, but we found ourselves moving quite effectively, even with three of us on the ride. At least one adult and one child would be a good balance for this ride.
Between Mater’s awesome songs, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy himself, and the hooting and hollering from the guests on the ride, no one leaves Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree without giant smiles on their faces. Guests taller than 32 inches are in for a treat. This ride might seem simple but do not let the baby tractors fool you. You might not be able to get your younger children out of Cars Land if they ask to ride this attraction over and over again.
Don't miss meeting Red the Fire Truck across from Luigi's Flying Tires. Photo by Adrienne Krock.
If you still have time on your hands with younger children while the family waits for Radiator Springs Racers, take a break on King Triton’s Carousel in Paradise Pier, watch the musical entertainment on Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle, meander over to Bug’s Land, or spend some time with Russell and Dug over at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail until the adult in charge can return with a Rider Switch Pass.
Here’s a Tip: One friend mentioned that when she took two young children to Cars Land, she entertained them by singing songs. What a novel concept!
Elementary-Aged Children: 40 inches and taller
Two of the Krock boys enjoy Luigi's Flying Tires. Photo by Adrienne Krock.
Children in this age group will still enjoy Luigi’s Flying Tires and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree very much. They will especially enjoy the activity booklet available at Luigi’s Flying Tires. The tri-folded guide offers a variety of games, stories and even a scavenger hunt. Guests may even scan the QR Code on the back of the guide to learn more about the history of Cars Land.
Cast Members at Luigi's Flying Tires hand out activity booklets to help entertain guests in line. Photo by Adrienne Krock.
Most children will reach 40 inches by their 5th birthdays. At this magical number, children may finally have the ability to stand in line for Radiator Springs Racers attraction, the E-ticket highlight of Cars Land. If your family finds themselves lucky enough to arrive early enough in the day, they can try to pick up Fast Passes to avoid the longer stand-by lines. The queue for Radiator Springs Racers has many interesting sights, but let’s face it, this summer the lines will be long. During previews I often saw adults pulling out their smart phones to occupy their time in line. Consider bringing small electronic games, snacks, plenty of water and other such amusements to help keep your children happy in the long lines for this attraction.
Teenagers
At this age, your children are likely ready for more independence. Children 12 and older who have experience in theme parks, might be ready for Single Rider Lines for attractions with long waits, such as Radiator Springs Racers. Parents know their children best. When my eldest was 11, I might not have allowed his impulsive self to ride as a single rider. My middle son probably could have handled the responsibility at a much younger age. Each child is different and the Disneyland cast members ultimately have the power to determine if they think that a child can handle the responsibility of riding an attraction without his or her guardians. The safety and well-being of all guests is the cast members’ primary responsibility. It goes without saying that parents should remind their children of this before sending them off alone.
My sons grew up watching not only the Disney/Pixar movies, but addicted to the bonus materials on the DVDs and now, the Blu-Ray discs. For teens (and adults!) like mine, Cars Land is a treasure trove of details. Yes, my children seek out the details of the queues, looking for such secret hidden messages as the numbers “A113”. One of their favorite moments in Cars Land was finding the “Hidden Buzz Lightyear” in the Cozy Cone Motel office. When a friend pointed out the “Nome” snow globe in the Radiator Springs Curios shop, they all wanted to see it, too.
Final Reminders for Everyone
For children of all ages, make sure you bring some spending money. My sons have a hard time choosing between clothing, toys and hats. Our eldest son finds himself very disappointed that the Mater themed “Who Backfired??” T-shirt in Sarge’s Surplus Hut only comes in children’s sizes. Sometimes it’s tough to be a big kid.
All ages will enjoy the Cars Land lighting at sunset, but I imagine it will be easier for the younger set to enjoy once the days become shorter and the lights come up earlier. If you have the luxury of taking a nap with younger children during the day, or if you are a local who can time your visit to start later in the day, this might help younger children make it through the evening to enjoy the lights.
No matter what your age, height or physical condition, there is something for you to enjoy at Cars Land. Bring your patience this summer, along with your cameras, memory cards and batteries, and plenty of sunscreen. And, finally, after years of waiting, Welcome to Radiator Springs, the happiest little town in Carburetor County!
