Annual Passport Preview: Cars land and Buena Vista Street

On June 9th, I had an opportunity to attend the first day of Annual Passholder/Club 33/D23/Cast Member Previews. I paid $75 to be there from 6pm-11pm with a Private World of Color showing at 10:15pm.

Buena Vista Street:


Buena Vista Street is a recreation of Los Angeles that Walt Disney saw in the late 1920s when he first arrived to California.







Unlike Cars Land, anyone attending the previews can enter this land at anytime regardless of time period. This is an extremely different entrance area than the one I stepped through a year ago! The Red Car Trolley was on display and not running when I was there.


 Inside the Trolley!
 Me in front of the Trolley





 The new Cafe features Starbucks!!!!!





Buena Vista Street is a welcome replacement for Sunshine Plaza!

After I ate at the cafe (Salami Sandwich with a Caramel Frappuchino). I proceeded to Cars Land which was  only accessed through the side entrance to the land from Pacific Wharf during the preview. Stepping in, I was immediately frozen as the scale of the rockwork became larger and larger!








I first went to Luigis Flying Tires which was a return of the Flying Saucers that had a short lifespan at Disneyland park. Unfortunately, the ride went down just as my ride was about to start. Everyone was let out as it would take a while. I was given a FP to use on Racers. I still have it. I was able to go on it before the event ended at 11pm after the private World of Color showing. The ride is fun but be ready for a long wait as the loading and unloading is slow.

I then went to Radiator Springs Racers which is the west coast version of the Test Track attraction at EPCOT in Walt Disney World. The ride was absolutely perfect! Has something for everyone. A dark-ride style portion and ends with a thrilling race through Ornament Valley! Went on it twice during the preview.

Then went to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree which is a similar ride to Francis Lady Bug Boogie in neighboring Bugsland. Maters really outdid Francis and I won't be surprised if Francis gets removed soon.

When night fell, the land came to life in fabulous neon lighting!
















The rockwork really is something to see at night and the land has become the place to take night pictures at DCA. If your a photographer regardless of skill, this is a great place to practice!

Final Thought on the Disney California Adventure 5-year renovation project:

Five years ago, I heard the biggest announcement that Disney made that they would completely renovate the park. I knew this was going to be history in the making as this was the first time that Imagineering had to go back to a park and redo it. The major attractions that opened:

2008- Toy Story Midway Mania!, Pixar Play Parade
2010- World of Color, Glow Fest, ElecTRONica
2011- Little Mermaid Ariel's Undersea Adventure
2012- Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, Mad T Party

All these had boosted California Adventure's Attendance and popularity and has now made a park that everyone could spend most of their day in. It has come a long way from being a cheap park to a fully realized Disney Park. And while there is still some stuff to be done, the majority of the work is finished and now the park can hold its own with its sister park, Disneyland.



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