Cars – WDWNT Archive

PHOTOS: Lightning McQueen and Mater Debut Haul-O-Ween Costumes at California Adventure

WDWNT on September 17, 2017

CARS LAND HAUL-O-WEEN – Everyone’s favorite Cars characters have transformed Radiator Springs into their own Haul-O-Ween celebration during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. For the first time, the Cars characters will be donning their Halloween “car-stumes” as they greet guests and prepare to go “trunk-or-treating.” Mater will be wearing his vampire or “van-pire” outfit, while Lightning McQueen is dressed as a super hero. Cruz Ramirez, Red the Fire Truck and DJ get dressed up as a pirate, a clown and a punk rocker, respectively.(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

Haul-O-Ween is coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and the residents of Radiator Springs are getting into the spirit, decorating each of their establishments and even dressing up in their own car-stumes! As seen above, Lightning McQueen is already a super hero to race fans, and his car-stume reflects that. Here he is next to the scare-car, which makes its Haul-O-Ween debut this year.

Mater may not have a trunk, but that won’t stop him from trunk-or-treating in his vampire costume.

Haul-O-Ween at Disney California Adventure along with Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort kick-off on September 15 through October 31. Stay tuned for live coverage of all of the festivities from WDWNT all weekend long!

Pixar Working on Cars 3 and Incredibles Sequel; Star Wars Episode 7 Details

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

During the Walt Disney Company Shareholders Meeting, CEO Bob Iger announced that Pixar Studios is working on 2 new upcoming movies. The first movie is a third sequel to the Cars franchise and the second movie is a sequel to the 2004 hit movie, The Incredibles. The sequel for The Incredibles is being written by Brad Bird. No more details about when these 2 movies will be released. Stay tuned to WDWNT for more information on these announcements.

Additionally, Iger didn’t give many details for the upcoming Star Wars Episode 7 film with the exception that it will take place 30 years after “Return of the Jedi”. As of now, the only officially casted robot for the movie is R2-D2.

Hands-On Preview of Disney Infinity Coming to Car Masters Weekend, June 15th-16th

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Car Masters Weekend, now in its third year, is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day as Downtown Disney West Side hosts a classic car show with a modern twist June 15-16, 2013. Featuring all things “Cars,” the event also showcases meet and greets with Disney•Pixar “Cars” and “Cars 2″ characters, a sock hop at Splitsville, select discounts on food and shopping, and more exciting entertainment for the whole family.

In a race for ‘Best in Show’ at Sunday’s awards ceremony, car enthusiasts from the local Muscle Car Network of Central Florida will display more than 150 classic, muscle and exotic cars for families to view and vote on their favorites. Guests also can take pictures with favorite Disney•Pixar “Cars” and “Cars 2″ characters Lightning McQueen, Mater and Finn McMissile.

Revving up the fun, legendary automotive designer Chip Foose and Disney•Pixar “Cars” filmmaker Jay Ward will host celebrity chat shows on the Car Masters Stage throughout the weekend. Foose, who contributed to the design of Ramone in the Disney•Pixar “Cars” film, also will be on-hand for autograph sessions and will have Chip Foose design items available for purchase at the event.

New this year, Splitsville – the luxury bowling emporium — will take guests for a spin on the dance floor when it hosts the first Car Masters Weekend Sock Hop. This rockin’ and rollin’ special event, taking place Saturday from 6-9 p.m., features live entertainment, a fun bowling competition, a buffet of Splitsville delights, a limited bar, raffle prizes and special appearances by Foose and Ward. A limited number of Sock Hop tickets will be available beginning June 5 at DisneyCarEvent.com for $69 per person.

Also making Car Masters Weekend debuts are a special street performance by artists with La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, a chance for guests to play the upcoming Disney Infinity video game and new interactive activities based on future Disney film releases “Monsters University,” “The Lone Ranger,” and “Planes.”

Fan-favorite Car Masters elements returning this year include the chance to test drive remote control “Cars 2″ RideMakerz models; vehicles on display from the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway; live performances by the Car Masters Singers and DJ’s spinning classic-car tunes from the ’50′s and ’60′s. Guests also can idle over to the Chevrolet Showcase, pose for photographs inside the newest Chevrolet models and discover the latest in design and automotive technology. In addition, fans can purchase tickets for an all-day “Cars” and “Cars 2″ movie marathon at AMC Downtown Disney 24.

The event will take place at Downtown Disney West Side from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. For more information, visit DisneyCarEvent.com.

Complete Video Tour of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney has provided some fantastic video looking inside the Art of Animation Resort. From the main lobby, to the Finding Nemo wing themed elements, to the interiors of each room, no corner has been left unexplored:

In-Depth Look at the Finding Nemo & Cars Wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT on October 30, 2012

WDWNT’s own Katey McGregor went on a special tour of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort on Monday and was nice enough to take a number of photos to share with us prior to the resort’s official opening on May 31st:

Pulling up to the resort

One of the large sketches on the exterior of the main building

A palette of colors dominate the check-in area, while early character concepts cover the opposite wall

An animator at work in the lobby. I hope this is a regular thing and not just something they were doing for the special event…

Some of your favorite characters looked a little different at first

Storyboard artwork covers a chandelier

This one is actually signed by hand by John Lasseter

More artwork on another wall

Landscapes of Flavor has 4 themed sections like the resort – Cars

The Little Mermaid

Finding Nemo

Lion King

The Ink and Paint Shop looks ready to go

The back of the Cars wing

Even the staircases are themed to the different films

The Lion King section is coming along nicely

I can kind of see Simba there…

Finding Nemo is ready to open on May 31st

A look inside the rooms

The bathroom looks like the sunken ship where the sharks live

Shower curtain

Squirt’s Righteous Reef

Ha…

Welcome to Radiator Springs!

A little bit of Cars Land in Florida

Sheriff hiding near the billboard as always

A picture with Doc Hudson

The Cadillac Range is on the buildings

Some of the town establishments were built

They even have the Cozy Cone sign

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

Guests are staying at the Wheel Well Motel

I didn’t know Luigi sold Lightyear tires

Another building has an entrance through Casa Della Tires

Guido!

The Cozy Cone motel

A look inside the rooms

The TV is on a toolbox

brilliant

The bathroom is a car wash…

Thanks for the report Katey!

Art of Animation Resort Offers A Little Bit of Cars Land in Florida

WDWNT on October 30, 2012

Opening on June 18th, the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is already expected to be the most popular wing of the hotel. We took a lot of pictures over the construction fences during our stay, so let’s see how the next phase of the resort is doing (You may also want to check out our photos from a few weeks ago for a look inside the Cars rooms):

Sheriff sits below a billboard from the film

The back of one of the Cars buildings

Doc Hudson

Flo

Yes, the Cozy Cone Sign has neon, and unlike the one in the movie, it spins…

Ramone

Mater

Cozy Cone cabanas around the pool

The back of another building

The Cozy Cone cabanas will be first-come, first-serve

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

The Wheel-Well Motel in the very back

In the windows of the Cozy Cone Motel, we spotted postcards…

And the little alarm clocks from the film

Great signage

Gas pumps at the Wheel-Well

Lightning McQueen and Sally

A peek inside a cabana

Photos & Video: Cars Wing Opens at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT on October 30, 2012

Thanks to WDWNT photographers Jeff Lukas and Adam Roth, we have an in-depth look at the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort which opened recently. Let’s take a look:

Welcome to Radiator Springs

Doc Hudson

Sheriff

Ramone

One building enters through Tow Mater’s junkyard

Flo

The Cadillac Range

The Cozy Cone office has restrooms

Another building enters through Casa Della Tires

Unlike in the movie, the sign spins

Luigi

Guido

The Cozy Cones are first-come first-serve cabanas

The back building is the Wheel Well Motel

Lightning McQueen

Sally

Fillmore

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

Sarge

The interior hallways look great

Hidden mickey in the carpet

A look inside the rooms

The sink area looks like a car wash

The table has a map of Route 66

Convertible sofa… GET IT?

Awww, Mater is sleeping

The Lion King wing opens August 10th

Rafiki!

Back to Cars

Flo’s license plate

Ramone’s plate

Hidden car

Alright… that’s too cool

Looking back towards Nemo

Here’s a video of the new wing:

Monorails Back on Track?

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

We found an interesting article at Vinylmation Kingdom today. According to their source, “some Monorails cast chasers will start appearing in trade boxes around the parks.” This would be a very interesting development since we were lead to think the Monorail series was discontinued after seeing this auction at Mickey’s Circus:

Three of the Monorails in the never released series seen above are said to be the Cast Chasers. You can see a picture of them and read the original article here.

At Mickey’s Circus, Disney would neither confirm nor deny the end of the Monorails series. My opinion has always been positive toward this new platform… if it was used correctly. As popular as the Cars franchise is, it seemed like an odd move making the first set entirely Cars themed. Don’t get me wrong, the artwork was fantastic and I picked up a few, but the set did not make as big an impact as a Disney Parks themed set would have. I would have also enjoyed some movie variety in a set. I would be thrilled to see this platform still used, even if it is just for some special combos, LEs and traders here and there.

All Art of Animation Resort Opening Dates Announced

WDWNT on September 8, 2012

While we knew that the Finding Nemo wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort was opening May 31st, we really could only guess when the other wings might open. Well, we now have the official dates:

Finding Nemo (Grand opening) – Opens May 31
Cars – Opens June 18
Lion King – Opens August 10
Little Mermaid – Opens September 15

Guests can begin booking all of these tomorrow, March 23rd.

Disney also released a second preview video for the resort a few weeks ago, now seems like a good time to share that with you:

John Corigliano’s 3/23-25/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on September 8, 2012

WDWNT Reporter John Corigliano visited the Walt Disney World Resort this weekend and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

MORE CIRCUS PHOTOS!