Pixar Place Hotel’s Gallery Has a New Star: “Cars” Turns 20 at Disneyland Resort
Pixar Place Hotel is now showcasing a Cars 20th anniversary gallery with film art, maquettes and color scripts. No closing date has been announced.
A new stop for "Cars" fans has appeared inside Disneyland Resort, and it is not in Cars Land. Pixar Place Hotel is currently dedicating its second-floor atrium gallery to artwork from Pixar’s 2006 film as the movie marks its 20th anniversary.
The change is in effect now at Pixar Place Hotel, where guests visiting the hotel can head to the second floor of the atrium and find a special display centered on "Cars." The installation features material from the original movie, including concept sketches, story art, maquettes and color scripts.
The gallery adds another anniversary offering for a film that first opened on June 9, 2006. Other recent "Cars" celebrations have included a theatrical re-release, but this hotel display gives fans a closer look at how the movie was developed visually.
"Cars" follows rookie racer Lightning McQueen as he learns there is more to life than speed and winning. The film’s standing has changed over time. It arrived as Pixar’s seventh feature after a run that already included "Toy Story," "A Bug’s Life," "Toy Story 2," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles." It had mixed reviews when it premiered, and while it performed well at the box office, it did not reach the same opening level as those earlier titles.
Why this anniversary keeps showing up around Disneyland
The movie’s long-term strength came from somewhere else: merchandise. "Cars" characters and settings translated easily into toys, and Lightning McQueen’s bright design and racing imagery also fit apparel and other products.
At Disneyland Resort, the franchise’s biggest legacy is still Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. The land was a major part of that park’s reimagining and is built around desert rockwork, neon signs and Radiator Springs Racers, creating an environment tied closely to car culture and Route 66.
The film has also expanded far beyond the original release, with two theatrical sequels, animated shorts and a Disney+ series, plus a Disney Jr. series on the way.
For now, the hotel gallery is the newest "Cars" addition for fans to seek out. No end date for the exhibit has been announced.
