When we first learned at last year’s D23 event that two new Cars-themed attractions would be added to Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, we were told that one would be an exhilarating Rally Race and the other would be a more kid-friendly experience. No further details were provided – until now, that is! At Saturday’s The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, we learned so many more details; keep reading for everything we know so far.
On the first of the two Cars attractions, the crew will leave Radiator Springs behind and head off into the frontier to put their wheels to the test. Disney Imagineers said they would “need to invent a new type of ride vehicle” for this ride to create an emotional experience for guests. Disney Imagineer Michael Hundgen said, “No one builds these in a factory because it has to do so much more than just carrying you from one place to another. We have to create a car that conveys a feeling when you ride in it.”
The Imagineers ventured into the Arizona desert, hopping into a real off-road vehicle to experience the thrill of navigating rugged terrain firsthand. Next, the team collaborated with a motocross company to build a real dirt track, racing across it to gather data. They then used these insights to develop how the ride vehicles will eventually move and race. See, Lightning McQueen and Mater haven’t ever experienced racing over rocky terrain, ascending to mountain peaks, and dodging around geysers.
We’re using a customized production vehicle. It has sensors all over it, and we’re taking it for test drives on our dirt track to gather data on how the vehicle responds to different terrain. This is where we turn that feeling we want into real-world engineering.
Michael Hundgen, Disney Imagineer
These early concept sketches show how the vehicles will have a Cars look.
The team at Pixar steps in next to give the vehicles their race car personalities. Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter said, “Each vehicle in the ride will have its own name and number, just like a real race.”
@disneyparks Real-world engineering meets Disney magic. Off-road testing is underway for the new Cars attraction coming to Magic Kingdom at Disney World. #SXSW #Cars #Disney #DisneyParks #MagicKingdom #DisneyNews ♬ original sound – Disney Parks
