Disney breaks ground on new off-road ‘Cars’ race track.
Disney is currently in the process of developing a groundbreaking offroad dirt track for its new Pixar’s Cars-themed land, aiming to provide an authentic experience for visitors once the park officially opens. The announcement of this new section of the park was first made at Disney’s D23 summit, where they also shared news about an upcoming live-action Monster Jam film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
During a presentation titled “The Future of World Building at Disney” at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Disney unveiled details about the track and ride designs for the latest addition to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. This new attraction will see the beloved characters from Cars’ Radiator Springs venture out of their town to participate in desert racing.
Inspired by offroad desert rally events, the park aims to offer guests an immersive and exhilarating racing experience. To ensure the authenticity of the track, Disney’s imagineers embarked on a research trip to Sedona, Arizona, where they test-drove offroad vehicles like the Polaris RZR on rugged terrain to capture the true essence that would be replicated in the park’s ride. Subsequently, the team collaborated with a motocross track construction company to transform the desert racing experience into a manageable footprint within the park.
The next phase of the project involves the development of customized vehicles that will transport park guests through the new course. Disney Imagineer Michael Hundgen shared insights into the process, highlighting the utilization of data collected from specialized production vehicles to determine how these cars would perform on the track and enhance the overall authenticity of the experience. Hundgen explained, “We’re using a customized production vehicle with sensors all over it to gather data on how the vehicle responds to different terrains. This is where we translate the desired feeling into real-world engineering.”
Once the vehicles are ready, they will undergo a transformation process to bring them to life and evoke emotional responses from visitors of all ages, connecting them with the familiar and new characters from the Cars universe. According to Hundgen, the primary objective is to create an emotional journey for guests, stating, “For this Cars attraction, we need to invent a new ride vehicle that conveys a feeling beyond mere transportation. We have to design a car that elicits a specific emotion when ridden.”
In conclusion, Disney’s innovative approach to offroad racing at its upcoming Cars-themed land promises an exciting and authentic experience for park visitors, blending the thrill of desert rally events with the beloved world of Cars. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to creating memorable experiences, Disney continues to push boundaries in immersive storytelling and theme park design.