Happy New Year! If you, like many across the country, like to start your new year watching the annual Rose Parade from Pasadena, Calif., you probably saw the Disneyland Resort “Destination: Cars Land” float this morning. I had the privilege to watch the parade myself from the stands along the parade route, and seeing our float in person was incredible. If you missed it, or if you just want a closer look, I’ve got photos to share with you from our chief photographer, Paul Hiffmeyer, who was also at the parade this morning.
The float got off to a good start as it stepped off onto Orange Grove Blvd., but then …
… it broke down! In a flash of sparks and smoke, it looked like the fun would be over. But Mater, who you can see following close behind in the photo above, was there to save the day! With a quick jump-start, Radiator Springs’ favorite tow truck had the float running good as new and on its way down the parade route!
On board the float was Disney Channel “Shake It Up” star, Zendaya and DJ Ernie D from Radio Disney, who broadcast live from the float during the parade.
Finally, I’ll leave you with a shot of the entire float. You can see Lightning McQueen and Sally racing in the front, on top of a floral “Welcome to Cars Land” sign; Flo’s V8 Cafe and Cozy Cone Motel signs (along with a mini Cozy Cone Motel underneath); floral representations of ride vehicles from Luigi’s Flying Tires and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree; Luigi and Guido cheering on miniature Radiator Springs Racers vehicles racing through a floral replica of Ornament Valley – with a real waterfall!
Check back tomorrow for one more behind-the-scenes video from the float construction!
And I want to say a special hello to Disney Parks Blog reader, Jazmine – I enjoyed meeting you and your dad at the parade this morning!
Comments
how do I help next year???
I did a little work on this float at the warehouse where it was built it was a fun experience.
Thanks Erin for the shout out! It was great meeting you as well! Thanks again for the pins, my dad is the one who pointed you out and said “I want a pin.” Then I realized who you were. Meeting you and seeing the Cars Land float kicked off my year to a great start. Take care.
My pleasure! (And I’ve corrected the spelling of your name in the post :))
The Cars Land float looks fantastic, but then you have to remember that every visible surface is covered in natural material. The amount of work that goes into creating these Rose Parade floats is absolutely mindboggling. Seeing it on TV or in pictures does not show off the incredible details. I was hoping the float would have won a trophy, but I think they said it was longest float in this year’s parade.
(My all-time favorite Disney Rose Parade float was the 50th anniversary one in 2005.)
Loved the float! By far the best float in the entire parade!
Missed that Ernie D was broadcasting from the float – how cool! Would have tuned into Radio Disney to listen while watching on tv, if I would have known!
Some of my friends helped decorate this float! Looks like they had a great time doing it, and the float looks amazing.
Woke up just in time to watch it! Hats off to the Cast and Crew who made that float a hit!
Michael: The Rose Parade floats are all parked for viewing today the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd in Victory Park, Pasadena.
They can get it back to Disneyland and have it out for viewing on Thursday, and with the cool weather it can make it through the weekend with minor touch-ups. Question is, will they?
*In the Cars movie
Oleg–
The the Cars movie, the Cozy Cones and V8 signs did not spin. They were stationary. So it is an accurate representation of Radiator Springs from the movie.
They signs spinning on the float are cute, but it is not accurate to the movie. 🙂
I loved the float – but what I would really love is if the V8 sign and the Cozy Cone sign would spin at Carsland in DCA like they did on the float. Like old school signs – that was cool.
Will the float be going to the Disneyland Resort?
this was the highlight of the entire parade!
Thank you so much Erin, for posting those wonderful pics, can’t wait to see more! I was really looking forward to seeing the float on TV but it goes by so fast.
Looking forward to seeing more pics.
Great job on the float Disney Imaginears and voluntears who put it all together!
I watched on TV this morning. It was very cool! I thought it was great when Mater helped jump-start the float.
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