Ready for a first-of-its-kind show that’ll put you right in the middle of the Cars universe? New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is ‘Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy’! I was invited by Disney to get an exclusive look and can’t wait to share all the fun we had.
Located off of Sunset Blvd next to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy gets you up close and personal to learn what it takes to become a champion racer from your favorite racer – Lightning McQueen.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy is a stage/screen show with a life-size/car-size Lightning McQueen sitting center stage. McQueen is animated with blinking & expressive eyes appearing on the windshield and mouth where a grill would be. His wheels spin during the show and so does he – doing 360s during the show. He then turns his taillights toward the crowd so as to face simulated racing screen at times.
As you enter the room, you’re greeted by rows of benches and a large curved screen. Before the star of the show comes out, Tow Mater sings a fun little number called “Lightning McQueen: The Untold Story That Ain’t Done Yet Been Told.”
With Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez, and the gang from Radiator Springs rooting him on, McQueen is up for the challenge when he and Chick Hicks race. The show runs about 15 minutes and although the show is great for Cars fans, there is limited crowd participation, mostly in the form of yelling “Ka-Chow!”
After the show, stick around for a chance to snap a few photos with trainer-turned-racer Cruz Ramirez and DJ, who provides the music for DJ’s Ready! Set! Party Time!, an interactive dance party that repeats during the day, just outside of the Academy.
Lightning McQueen Racing Academy opened on March 31, 2019, and will be open for at least a few months to help mark the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When planning your Disney vacation, I highly recommend taking the time to experience this fun pit stop. Gather your crew, if you can peel them away from Toy Story Land, and head over for some family-friendly racing fun.
