When you go to Cars Land -- the new theme zone at Disney California Adventure Park that opens to the public Friday -- be sure to notice how well an old Southwestern desert town was replicated in restaurants and gift shops. Please take a moment to marvel at the race car-related details, such as planters made in the shape of large tires. Appreciate how far the park creators went to create giant desert mountains in the distance.

Then hightail it straight back to Radiator Springs Racers -- the best new ride at either Disney park since Space Mountain. Because once word gets out, the line may back up all the way to the Disneyland Hotel.


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The race car attraction is the high point of an otherwise family-friendly, moderately charming new "land" that actually makes the film it's based on seem better. Disney went all out, devoting five years of planning and construction to extend the park by 12 acres to and bring the fictional town of Radiator Springs of the Disney/Pixar film "Cars" to life.

Mater the tow truck

Like the rest of California Adventure, atmosphere is important in Cars Land, because it features only three new rides -- two of which depend more on personality and originality than throw-your-hands-in-the-air zoom. If you didn't care for "Cars" tow-truck Mater and his Southern drawl, don't go anywhere near Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, which features multiple Maters moving in figure eights, towing you behind as you slide back and forth like someone greased the driveway, while the tow truck's voice happily calls out the amusement park equivalent of a square dance. It's fun, but don't expect the tea cups.

Luigi's Flying Tires is an odd concept that works better than you'd expect by watching it first. Riders fill into large, tire-shaped cars that glide over a surface, much like the "pucks" on an air hockey table. It's sort of like big bumper cars -- until you consider that the surface is also filled with red, green and white beach balls. The goal is unclear, other than to throw a big Italian beach party. Like Mater's ride, no one's stomach will twist up. But there's definitely an illogical fun factor.


Where's the Golden Gate?


Oh, and they tore down the Golden Gate Bridge.

I know, I know -- it doesn't fit the time or place, but it was still a bit surprising not to see it spanning the street just inside the park. But, again, atmosphere is the speciality of California Adventure, and 1920s L.A. works well, with the new Carthay Circle Theatre, built to resemble the California theater where Disney's first full-length feature, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," premiered in 1937. Upstairs is a '20s-style restaurant, meant to resemble a post-film gala party, while downstairs is a lounge and historic exhibits.

You can get there on the new Red Car Trolley system -- based on Los Angeles' historic Pacific Electric Red Car Line -- which transports guests from the front gate, down the park's version of Hollywood Boulevard, on to the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

When all that adult stuff gets to be too much for the kids, head for "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure." The year-old ride is a big hit with small children, as the pace and design resemble "It's A Small World," only without the boats and psychosis-inducing song. Then again, you will walk out with "Under the Sea" in your head, so be prepared.

Contact Tony Hicks at thicks@bayareanewsgroup.com or follow him at Twitter.com/InsertFoot.