Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters is open, or, at least, is giving previews, and hoping to round-out Cars Land with a third ride. The new take on Luigi’s shop is an improvement from the flying tires and something unique, but it’s not likely to draw the kind of lines they seem to be expecting.
Until recently, the ride was called Luigi’s Flying Tires. It was one of the original rides that opened with the rest of Cars Land back in 2012 and featured tire-shaped bumper cars that were pushed upwards by jets of air and moved with the passengers’ shifts in weight, although it usually took a lot of leaning and pushing to get going.
It wasn’t a particularly popular ride, but it was a decent way to kill time in Cars Land for anyone not wearing a skirt.
After three years on February 16th, 2015 Luigi’s Flying Tires closed down. Another year later and Luigi is ready for another go, this time as Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters. (Luigi is the tire store owner of Radiator Springs in the movie Cars, who is assisted by Guido, the fastest tire changing forklift in the world).
The big tires are gone. Replaced with Luigi’s cousins from Italy, who, instead of moving to the passengers’ weight, dance with hypnotic coordination to several classic European tunes, some sung by the shop owner himself.
The ride is exposed to foot traffic on one side and doubles as a brief musical show for passersby.
Luigi’s show has all the elegance and rhythm cars can muster.
There’s are some high-velocity moves that provide a feel similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, and the fact that the cars dance in-sync without a track is impressive. Still, despite Luigi’s best efforts, there’s something missing – maybe some enthusiasm and clapping from the audience would help.
The waiting area is the same as with the original Luigi’s Flying Cars – a winding line through the shop that showcases tires, some Cars-themed Ferrari posters, and an assurance that Luigi knows what I want. The line seems prepared to handle hundreds of people, but that seems overly optimistic.
The new ride might not be anything thrilling, especially sitting so close to California Adventure‘s all-time most popular ride, Radiator Springs Racers, but it’d be strange if it wasn’t there. Cars Land rejuvenated California Adventure back in 2012, and it comes as a complete package.
There are shops; character greetings with Red, Mater and MacQueen; and even a show with the DJ car and his entourage. Even though Radiator Springs Racers and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree are more than sufficient, Rollickin’ Roadsters makes the land a great place for rides as well.
Luigi’s new ride will open to the public on March 7th and will have a preview for annual passholders on March 4th.
