Disney Parks Shows Off Avengers, Cars, and Monsters Inc Rides

Disney Parks is turning up the excitement with a trio of new attractions that look to immerse guests in the worlds of Avengers, Cars, and Monsters Inc. From groundbreaking technology in the Stark Flight Lab at Disney California Adventure to the high-octane Cars attraction at Magic Kingdom and the first-ever vertical lift coaster in the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster at Hollywood Studios, Disney is setting the stage for unforgettable experiences.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Reveals First Look at Cars Attraction Ride

Disney has unveiled the first glimpse of the ride vehicle concept for the highly-anticipated Cars attraction set to debut at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Originally announced during last year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, this new Cars-themed area will transport guests away from Radiator Springs and into the rugged frontier, where Lightning McQueen, Mater, and their friends will face off-road challenges like never before. The new attraction will see beloved characters like Lightning McQueen and Mater exploring uncharted territory, including rocky landscapes, mountain peaks, and geyser-filled areas. Imagineers are focused on blending real-world adventure with Pixar’s imaginative storytelling, creating a ride that is as emotionally engaging as it is thrilling.

During The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen shared exciting updates about the attraction, including plans for a groundbreaking ride vehicle that promises a fully immersive experience. “Our primary goal is creating an emotional experience for our guests,” Hundgen explained. “For this Cars attraction, we need to invent a new type of ride vehicle. 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 then teamed up with a motocross company to construct a real dirt track, where they raced around to gather data. They used this information as the foundation for developing the movement and racing dynamics of the upcoming ride vehicles. “We’re using a customized production vehicle,” Hundgen continued. “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,” Hundgen explained. To ensure authenticity, the creative team embarked on a trip to the Arizona desert, where they tested real off-road vehicles. This hands-on experience helped them understand what it’s like to drive over rugged terrain and how to translate those sensations into the Cars universe.

During the presentation, Docter treated the audience to a sneak peek with early concept sketches, revealing that the new attraction will introduce “new race car personalities.” He teased that “each vehicle in the ride will have its own name and number, just like a real race.” While a specific opening date has not been announced, the new Cars attraction is expected to become a major draw at Magic Kingdom, offering guests a chance to buckle up and join their favorite characters on a wild off-road rally race.

Disney Unveils First-Ever Vertical Lift Coaster: Monsters, Inc. Door Ride at Hollywood Studios

Disney is taking fans on a wild ride with the announcement of its first-ever vertical lift coaster, set to debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as part of the highly anticipated Monsters, Inc. attraction. The new ride, revealed during a live-streamed SXSW session hosted by Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, promises to bring the door vault from Monsters, Inc. to life in a thrilling new way.

First introduced at last year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the Monsters, Inc. door coaster will not only be Disney’s first vertical lift coaster but also the first-ever suspended coaster at any Disney park. Imagineers are hard at work crafting an experience that will let guests walk through the bustling streets of Monstropolis and join beloved characters like James P. Sullivan, Mike Wazowski, and more on an unforgettable adventure.

Disney Imagineer Michael Hundgen teased that the new attraction will transport guests straight into the heart of the door vault. An animatic shown during the event revealed how riders will board the vehicle and be hoisted into the air just like in the movie before zooming through the door vault on a coaster that combines the magic of Pixar with the adrenaline of a theme park thrill ride. The goal, according to Hundgen, is to create “an experience that’s as memorable and fun as the film.” While many details remain under wraps, Disney fans can expect a mix of immersive storytelling, innovative technology, and the playful humor that Monsters, Inc. is known for.

With this announcement, Disney continues to push the boundaries of theme park entertainment, delivering fresh and exciting experiences to its guests. Fans of Monsters, Inc. and thrill-seekers alike will undoubtedly be counting down the days until they can step into Monstropolis and take a ride on this groundbreaking new attraction.

New Stark Flight Lab Animatic and Ride Details for Disney California Adventure

The future of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure just got a major boost with an appearance by none other than Robert Downey Jr. The beloved Iron Man actor took the stage at SXSW alongside Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn to unveil new details about the highly anticipated Stark Flight Lab attraction. During The Future of World-Building at Disney panel, Feige and Vaughn shared insights into the storytelling and advanced technology behind the new attractions coming to Disneyland Resort. Stark Flight Lab is set to immerse guests inside Tony Stark’s iconic workshop, where they can test out cutting-edge tech firsthand.

In a move that electrified the crowd, Downey Jr. praised the Disney Imagineers, calling them “the living embodiment of the Stark Enterprises mission statement.” He continued, “The curiosity, the passion, the inventiveness, the occasional flair for the dramatic, most of all a drive to put something good out into the world to make life better, at the minimum more fun by a mile. It’s the privilege of a lifetime to be invited to participate.” This new attraction will allow fans to step into Stark’s world and experience the excitement of being part of the Marvel Universe. Stark Flight Lab, along with another yet-to-be-revealed attraction, marks a significant expansion of the Avengers Campus and further solidifies Disney California Adventure as a must-visit destination for Marvel fans.