Inside the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort where Walt Disney World guests can lounge at the Cozy Cone Motel

in Disney, Entertainment, Hotel, Walt Disney World

In the days following the big grand opening celebration of Cars Land at the Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World in Florida quietly debuted their own version of Radiator Springs at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Less than three weeks after the new hotel’s first wing opened, themed to Finding Nemo, Disney has begun welcoming guests to a wing devoted to Pixar’s “Cars” franchise.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Taking on a notably different tone than the vibrant Finding Nemo wing, the new Cars wing embodies the feeling of that sleepy little town made famous by the “Cars” films. Though it may not feature exciting rides or unique foods as Cars Land does, fans now have a chance for a different type of experience outside of a theme park, with an opportunity to stay at the Cozy Cone Motel, lounge in and around its pool, take pictures with familiar characters, and even visit one iconic “Cars” location completely absent from the Disney California Adventure expansion.


Video: Walk through Cars wing and Cozy Cone pool area at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort


Video: Cars wing family suite room tour at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort


Buildings within the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are painted to resemble the vast mountain ranges of Radiator Springs’ Ornament Valley, with blue sky murals topping each. When not looking directly at these buildings, the feeling of being within a valley is evoked while wandering down the winding path between them. Along the way, “Cars” characters are positioned to “look at” and welcome hotel guests, with no barriers preventing close-up photo ops.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Full-size “Cars” characters featured at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are Sheriff, Doc Hudson, Ramone, Flo, Luigi, Guido, Mater, Fillmore, Sarge, Salley, and Lightning McQueen.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Serving as the entrance to two of the three Cars wing buildings are Luigi’s Casa Della Tires and Tow Mater Towing & Salvage. Though they don’t house rides like they do in Cars Land, the entrances are rich with detail and offer two of the new area’s best photo spots.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Just beyond these two entrances sits the Cozy Cone Motel, marked by a giant sign rotating overhead. At Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, guests are invited to relax by the Cozy Cone Pool, tucked away just behind the “lobby” building.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

The Cozy Cone pool is far smaller than the Big Blue Pool in the hotel’s Finding Nemo wing, but also far quieter. Circled by oversized orange cone cabanas and surrounded by painted mountains, guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort can turn to this arched pool for rest and relaxation away from the nearly non-stop music and activities present in the hotel’s main pool.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cone cabanas are free for anyone at the hotel to use with no rental required. They offer a poolside view in the shade.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Opposite the pool resides the biggest feature that’s entirely unique to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, an instantly-recognizable structure from “Cars” that never found a place in Cars Land in California: the Wheel Well Motel.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

This picturesque entrance to the third Cars wing building features Lightning McQueen and Sally, fresh from their drive through the countryside, parked in front of the cleaned-up motel as seen near the end of the first “Cars” film. It’s easily the most impressive and unique sights in this wing of the hotel.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Two more “Cars” characters flank the Wheel Well Motel, Fillmore and Sarge, each with his own familiar sign. Fillmore is plastered with bumper stickers, many amusing for guests who take the time to read them.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Sarge is stationed outside his Surplus Hut, a large metal building that isn’t meant for guests to enter, hiding hotel facilities within. But guests are welcomed to salute with Sarge.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

The outside of the Cars wing buildings are decorated with animation sketches of various “Cars” characters.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Inside, the Cozy Cone theme takes over, putting guests in the “Cars” hotel, with shades of orange and cone accents everywhere. Artwork lines the hallway walls leading to the new rooms.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

The Cars wing features only family suites, identical in layout to those in the Finding Nemo wing. But unlike the somewhat overbearing bright blue color that dominates the Nemo rooms, Cars rooms are a bit easier on the eyes, with shades of orange, yellow, and tan.

Upon initially entering, a table decorated with “stickers” representing businesses around Radiator Springs turns into a bed, allowing each family suite to sleep up to 6.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

The full bedroom immerses guests into the Cozy Cone theme, complete with cone lamps (soon to be available in the hotel gift shop) and an orange and yellow comforter sporting the Cozy Cone name. Like the Finding Nemo wing, this heavy comforter looks great but is ultimately not comfortable, needing to be thrown off the bed when it’s time to sleep.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

The Cars wing’s living room adds more car-themed decor, from its sleeper sofa to toolboxes housing a TV and kitchenette. The plush sofa is more comfortable than the harder ones found in the Finding Nemo wing and the coffee table (decorated with a Route 66 map) is a more useful piece of furniture than Nemo rooms’ hard foot stools.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

But while the Finding Nemo wing compliments its vibrant rooms with sleek, modern, and subtle decor in its bathrooms, the Cars wing offers whimsy putting guests into a retro “car wash,” with bubbles continuing into the shower.

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Cars wing of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort now have two distinct wings to choose from, with notably different amenities at each. The Finding Nemo wing offers larger-than-life colorful fun through its Big Blue Pool and rooms, though the vibrant hues and non-stop activities may both be too loud for some travelers. The Cars wing presents a much more laid-back environment, mirroring the sleepy town of Radiator Springs inspiring the area, with the Cozy Cone pool and rooms appealing to the quieter visitor. Guest are certainly free to explore both areas but can request a wing of the hotel when making a reservation and again while checking in – but no guarantees are offered.

Two more wings are still on the way for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort but won’t be opening as close together as the initial two have. The Lion King wing, featuring more family suites, is scheduled to open on August 10, followed by The Little Mermaid wing, featuring standard hotel rooms, on September 15.

More photos of the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:

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