Drive the Springs

I’d heard about the popularity of Radiator Springs Racers long before I ever saw the attraction first-hand. I’d seen countless pictures and watched nearly every Disney vlogger’s take on it, but I had next-to-zero appreciation for why anyone would spend the same amount of time waiting in the Standby Line for this ride at Disney’s California Adventure as they would for, say, Avatar: Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Not to mention the fact that I have never been a fan of the Cars franchise and had little to no desire to see Radiator Springs in real life.

Well, I know when to admit I was wrong and, as it relates to Radiator Springs, I was endlessly wrong. Clearly, a connection to the Cars franchise was not a prerequisite to fall in love with CarsLand at California Adventure. Likewise, neither was it necessary to squeal with joy while riding Radiator Springs Racers — and this little section of the ride is somehow what sealed the deal for me. For a few moments, guests are taken to the valleys and canyons of the Cadillac Mountains for a scenic drive. For a split second you forget you are in the middle of a themed universe brought on by parlor tricks and optical illusions. The wind blows through your hair and a smile comes to your face and, voila — your hooked.

Ok, that may be a little bit of an overstatement…but it really is an adorable attraction. This shot is a part of the ride where you come around the bend and the music cues you to have a positive emotion. I guess it worked, because this picture makes me automatically smile. I amped the color saturation and the exposure, because the shadows in the original really sucked all the life out of the scene. I thought the vignette gave the photo a bit of an old Route 66 postcard feel (apropos of the theme I thought). While the adjustments made the water a bit bluer than it should be, that also lent to the postcard feel, so I left it alone. I guess I’m just a sucker for a theme.