Time to Test this Track with your pals from Cars
Let’s start this review by saying that this is an excellent ride at Disney California Adventure. In fact, it’s the most popular ride in the entire theme park and one of the best, right there with Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. The visuals are great, the storytelling is fun, and there’s even a thrilling portion at the end that isn’t too intense, perfect for kids to enjoy. All in all, this is a fantastic Disney ride that should definitely be one of your top priorities when visiting Disneyland.
Radiator Springs Racers shares many similarities with Test Track at Epcot. Both are slot car rides that use the same technology. However, the main difference is that Radiator Springs Racers is themed around Cars, places a stronger emphasis on storytelling, and isn’t as fast as Test Track. Both rides are fantastic, although many online users tend to favor Radiator Springs Racers for its signature Disney charm.
What we like about Radiator Springs Racers
Get ready because you are going to read the word “Test Track” a lot during this review. Ever been to Test Track? Because this ride is very similar design wise to Test Track. Test Track is gucci. This ride is also good. Test Track. See, I told you that we were going to be using that word a lot.
Radiator Springs Racers is a slot car ride, which means that, in theory, it’s similar to a standard dark ride but includes more thrilling elements. You’ll board a vehicle that seats up to six guests, and then it’s time to cruise through Radiator Springs and meet some of the characters from Cars. I have to confess, I don’t actually know the names of many of the Cars characters. I’m tempted to call them Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren Senna, but I do know at least one of them is Lightning McQueen.
I love how this ride looks. It features both indoor and outdoor elements, and both look great. You’ll encounter animatronics of several Cars characters, all incredibly expressive, in expansive environments that truly make you feel like you’re stepping into a whole new world (not Agrabah, though). The indoor portion of Radiator Springs is particularly impressive, with a beautifully designed set filled with buildings that light up and showcase characters from the Cars universe. Kids absolutely love it. That’s one area where Radiator Springs Racers has a clear edge over Test Track, it’s simply a more charming ride.
It’s also a bit more thrilling than a traditional dark ride. Your car might sometimes accelerate or make a step curve to the left or right, just for a bit of fun. The movements are not as intense as something you’d find at Universal’s Transformers 3D or The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and are good for a few laughs.
The best part of the ride is probably the end portion, where your vehicle goes heat to head with another vehicle full of guests for a race. That section takes place outside and is not as fast as the one in Test Track, but it’s still fun. Unlike Test Track, you don’t race an ovall track, and even go through a few bunny hills for some air time before the race ends. It’s a very fun part of the ride that children love.
What we don’t like about Radiator Springs Racers
One downside of Radiator Springs Racers is the same issue that plagues Test Track: frequent technical problems. Unfortunately, the technology behind slot car rides seems to be prone to unexpected malfunctions, which can result in the ride shutting down temporarily, or even for an entire day.
This is particularly frustrating given how long the lines for Radiator Springs Racers can get. As I mentioned earlier, this is one of the most popular rides in the park, and it’s not uncommon to wait one or even two hours to experience it. Now, imagine waiting all that time only to have Lightning McQueen show up and tell you he blew a tire, asking you to come back later. Not good!
That said, this is still a great ride. If you’re at Disney California Adventure, it’s a must-do. Now, do I prefer it over Test Track? Not quite. While they share similar designs and concepts, Radiator Springs Racers excels in charm and storytelling, whereas Test Track delivers more thrills. Both are great and offer something unique.
My advice? Try to experience both whenever you have the chance.
Radiator Springs Racers FAQ
Do Radiator Springs Racers have long lines at Disney California Adventure?
Yes. Radiator Springs Racers is one of the most popular rides in the park, so you can expect to wait one to two hours in line to experience it.
Is Radiator Springs Racers similar to Test Track?
Somewhat. Both rides use the same slot car technology, but Radiator Springs Racers focuses more on storytelling with characters from the Cars franchise, while Test Track is more thrilling and isn’t based on any specific Disney property.
Is Radiator Springs Racers exclusive to Disney California Adventure?
Yes, Radiator Springs Racers is exclusive to Disney California Adventure.
Is Radiator Springs Racers scary for children?
Not really. While the ride includes some thrilling elements and a few dark sections, they aren’t overly scary. The final racing portion isn’t too fast either, with vehicles reaching a top speed of 40 mph.
