The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (154 page)

When you step on the creaking floor boards of the front porch, and take in the whole jumble
of
Radiator Springs Curios
, it’s all comfy and homespun and pleasantly tacky.  This is a wonderful spot to pose for photos.  I showed a snapshot of
Radiator Springs Curios
to a coworker who is a great traveler, who has driven through the American southwest a number of times.  Her reaction to the photo was instant–a big smile!  Just looking at a photo of the shop’s exterior brought happy memories of road trips to mind.  With
Radiator Springs Curios
, the
Imagineers
really got the look and feeling right.

The interior is as homey as the outside, overflowing with shelves and bins of
Cars Land
,
Radiator Springs
, and
Route 66
souvenirs–pens, keychains, mugs, snow globes, postcards, T-shirts, and, of course, a multitude of pins, since this is a
pin trading
spot.  Guests on a tight budget will find plenty of little keepsakes here.  And, for those with money to burn, there are pricier bags, scarves, and jackets for sale.  The signs outside don’t lie:  “Souvenirs – Bric-A-Brac – Western Junk – U Want It, We Got It”.  Indeed!

Back in the day, one shore of
Paradise Pier
had a Route 66 theme; it was never a proper fit for that land.  Now, Guests can find Route 66-themed souvenirs at a much better home in good ol’
Cars Land
!  Drop in for a spell, snap a photo, and get all the postcards, pins, sunscreen, and T-shirts you want.  See you at the curio shop! 
Did You Know?
  In all of the
Cars
movies and shorts,
Lizzie
is voiced by actress
Katherine Helmond
, perhaps best know for her role as Mona Robinson, Angela’s mother on
ABC
’s
Who’s the Boss?
  Most recently,
Helmond
portrayed Caroline Bellefleur on HBO’s
True Blood
. 
Did You Also Know?
  Ford Model T’s like
Lizzie
were not the first automobiles, but they were the first generally affordable autos; their reasonable price tag made car ownership possible for the general public.  Model T’s were the first vehicles built using an assembly line process, which drove the price down.  The T’s were first manufactured in 1908;
Lizzie
is a 1923 model.  Where did the nickname “Tin Lizzie” originate?  The top explanations on the web:  “Lizzie” was a common term for a dependable domestic servant, and Model T’s were a dependable new helper for American families; also, “Old Liz” was the nickname of the winning car–a Model T–in the 1922 Pike’s Peak race, a moniker that evolved to “Tin Lizzie”. 
Did You Also Know?
  Henry Ford’s Greenfield Village was one of
Walt
’s inspirations for
Disneyland
. 
Walt
visited Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan twice in the 1940’s.  He loved small-town Americana.  The historic buildings, museums, and vehicles of Greenfield Village caught
Walt
’s imagination, and inspired some aspects of
Disneyland
, especially
Main Street, U.S.A.
  Greenfield Village is still going strong today: 
http://www.thehenryford.org/village/index.aspx
.

Ramone’s House of Body Art

[
FastView:
 
Stylish and pricey
Cars
clothing, accessories, and art work.  A fun place to browse even if you’re on a budget.  Interesting bargain items (games, snacks, and temporary tattoos) round out the merchandise.
]

Looking exactly like it does in
Cars
,
Ramone’s House of Body Art
sits at the corner of
Cross Street
and
Route 66
, across from
Casa Della Tires
. 
Ramone
is a Chevy Impala lowrider circa 1959, voiced by actor and comedian
Cheech Marin
.  With custom paint and flame jobs,
Ramone
is a virtuoso at helping other cars look good.  Wife
Flo
runs the
V8 Café
across the street.

From its gorgeous Art Deco exterior–based on a
famous service station in Shamrock, Texas, along Route 66–to its stylish merchandise,
Ramone’s
is a handsome shop, as befits a business dedicated to making everyone look good.

In a series of circular and semi-circular display spaces,
Ramone’s
sells a wide range of clothing and accessories, including
Cars
and
Radiator Springs Racers
-themed T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and auto-related
tchotchkes
galore.  Guests will find an assortment of budget-priced little items–pens, iced
Lightning McQueen
cookies, tins of fruit candy with a built-in ball bearing puzzle.  And there are mid-priced items–T-shirts,
Luigi’s Flying Tires
hats,
Cars
pins.

So you don’t have to break the bank to make a purchase here, but most of the merchandise is expensive.  High-quality bowling shirts, Pendleton plaids, buttery leather jackets
, and
Cars
art work–the high-end merchandise here is well worth every penny if you can swing it, but if your family is on a tight budget (and most of us are these days), you’ll want to chat with the kids ahead of time, setting clear souvenir budget limits and expectations.

There was a queue to get into
Ramone’s
on opening night in June 2012.  Guests had to line up and wait to get into the store.  It was a madhouse inside as Guests navigated the crush, and purchase lines stretched to the back of the store, blocking browsing Guests and sometimes temporarily trapping them behind display islands.  No fear, though; as 2013 arrived, crowds settled to a normal level and space is no issue as we coast into 2014.

There’s a particularly interesting line of
Low n Slow Car Club
merchandise, ranging from temporary tattoos to do-rags, frosted shot glasses, T-shirts, and jackets. 
Low n Slow
is
Ramone
’s motto (it’s even referenced on his vanity license plate) because he’s a classic low rider.

Ramone’s
recently expanded into the space next door, a little shop called the
Lube-O-Rama
.  Originally intended to be a
FastPass
distribution point for
Radiator Springs Racers
, the
Lube-O-Rama
sells snacks and
Cars
-themed merchandise (lanyards, caps, T-shirts, etc.) at more modest price points than most of
Ramone’s
unique offerings.  (See the
Lube-O-Rama
entry for more details.)

If you enjoy the
Cars
movies, or autos and racing in general,
Ramone’s
is a must-stop for you. 
Did You Know?
 
Cheech Marin
has a long association with
Disney
as a voice actor, performing in
The Lion King
and Beverly Hills Chihuahua among other films.  He began his career as half of the comic duo “Cheech & Chong” and went on to great success in film and television.  In the 1990’s he released two bilingual children’s albums.  He is a major collector of Chicano art. 
Did You Also Know?
  Custom cars, rods, and lowriders have long flourished in California.  Since the 1930’s, Californians have been customizing their autos to make them lighter, sleeker, and lower, souping up–or swapping out–engines for better performance, painting their rides with candy colors or metallic tones, and overlaying designs like flames and skulls to make cars more distinctive.  California’s Mexican-American community, in particular, is credited with artistic developments in custom cars over the decades.

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

[
FastView:
 
Ten-hut!  For
Cars
toys and collectibles march straight to
Sarge
’s!
]

In the
Cars
universe, no-nonsense, true blue
Sarge
is a World War II Jeep.  He owns and operates a military surplus store next door to hippie
Fillmore
’s
Organic Fuel
station.  Although in many ways their philosophies are diametrically opposed,
Sarge
and
Fillmore
are both good
Radiator Springs
citizens and manage to get along as neighbors.

Sarge
, voiced by actor-writer
Paul Dooley
, is a Sergeant Major, the highest rank attainable for a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.  Natually, his corrugated Quonset hut is efficiently organized, a series of neatly arranged shelves and bins.  You can’t just wander in and out of the store as you please.  Access is carefully controlled.  You enter the store via the door on
Route 66
.  You exit the store past the cash registers, and emerge near
Flo’s V8 Café
.

As always, the
Imagineers
have perfectly dressed the space to suit its owner, with flags, footlockers, fuel cans, and other military surplus paraphernalia.  The overhead lamps are simple, caged bulbs and would look at home in an army warehouse.

Sarge
sells
Cars
merchandise of every description.  Does someone in your party like
Cars
?  Be sure to visit
Sarge’s
!  T-shirts, jackets, sweatshirts, hats, pens, notebooks, playground balls, baseballs, books, action figures, models, Legos, play sets, Mattel cars based on
Cars
characters, race tracks–and on and on.  There are goods themed to every major
Cars
universe character. 
Ten-hut!

A popular item at
Sarge’s
is also one of the most modestly priced–a set of comical, plastic
Mater
teeth.  Kids can slip these on and,
ta-da
, instant
Mater
smile!  Little ones can use their allowance to buy these for themselves, and it won’t break your bank if you want to bring back a few sets of
Mater
teeth for the grandkids or nephews who couldn’t make the trip.

If you and your party are not particularly interested in
Cars
-themed merchandise, you can safely skip this shop–you won’t be missing anything.  For
Cars
fans–it’s a must. 
Did You Know?
 
Paul Dooley
, a prolific actor as well as a writer, served in the U.S. Navy, not the Army, as a young man. 
Did You Also Know?
 
Sarge
’s license plate reads “41WW2” a clear reference to World War II and 1941, the year that the United States joined the war.  Jeeps originated as lightweight, rugged military vehicles, but as early as 1945 were being manufactured for the civilian market.

Grub:

Cozy Cone Motel
(B, L, D, S)

[
FastView:
 
Tasty and reasonably priced fare, but lines get long as the day progresses, and you have to stand in different lines for different foods and beverages.  Do your research in advance and deploy group members wisely.
]

Anyone who has seen
Disney-Pixar
’s animated film
Cars
(2006) remembers the charming little
Cozy Cone Motel
, operated by
Lightning McQueen
’s love interest
Sally Carrera
the Porsche.  The
Cozy Cone
was modeled after the wigwam-style motels that motorists encountered driving along Route 66 during its golden age.  Route 66 was rich with unusual architecture and roadside attractions, all designed to catch the attention of passing drivers.  The wigwam motel style was pioneered by a man named Frank Redford.

Cars Land
’s
Cozy Cone Motel
is not a motel; it’s a restaurant that serves up unusual beverages, and cones filled with different food treats, including
Chili Cone Carne
,
Cone on the Cobb
, and cones of
Bacon and Cheddar
,
Nacho Cheese
,
Pickle
,
Salt-and-Vinegar
, and
Sweet-and-Spicy Popcorn
.  Talk about your roadside treats!