A classic car show is coming to Downtown Disney this weekend, but as with most things Disney does, it’s more than a usual car show. [Read more…]
Meet characters from Cars 2 during Downtown Disney Car Masters Weekend
Look for an extra special classic car show at Downtown Disney from May 13 to 15. Fans will be able to not only see lots of classic cars but also some of the character cars from the upcoming movie Cars 2. [Read more…]
Ridemakerz custom remote control car store opens at Downtown Disney
Fun shifted into overdrive when Ridemakerz, the first-ever car customizing experience for kids and kids at heart, opened yesterday for a limited engagement at Downtown Disney West Side. This opening follows the October 2009 launch of a Ridemakerz shop in Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif.
Ridemakerz invites guests into a car customizing shop where they can build a one-of-a-kind radio control car or model. Between bodystyles and colors, tires and wheels, lights and sounds, accessories and decals, Ridemakerz estimates there are more than 649 million possible build combinations, not including individual decal placement.
Ridemakerz has agreements with several automotive manufacturers to offer versions of today’s most popular cars in its line-up. Guests can choose from the Ford Mustang and F-250 Super Chief Alternative Fuel Concept Truck, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R and C6RS, Dodge Ram, Challenger, and Viper, MINI Cooper S, and Scion xB. Retro hot rods, fire engines, racecars, cab-over tow and dump trucks, and many more favorites are also available.
The completed cars range in price from $10 to $32, depending on body and paint style chosen. Radio remote control can be added for an additional $25, and custom accessories range in price from $2 for grill guards, spoilers and hoods scoops to $15 for themed kits that include a wide range of complementary accessories. The cars are approximately 12 inches long, or 1:18 scale.
Ridemakerz, which occupies the former home of the Virgin Mega Store, delivers an even higher-octane experience to visitors by incorporating a specially designated radio-control test track and real-world auto salon. Eight world-class show cars are on display, including a Chevrolet C5.R racecar built by Pratt & Miller Engineering for General Motors. The display also features an F150 NASCAR Pace Truck and Dodge Ram from the personal collection of legendary car customizer Chip Foose, as well as a MINI 
Cooper from the private collection of famed movie car designer Fireball Tim Lawrence. Both Foose and Lawrence were on hand for the grand opening.
“The Ridemakerz brand and this shop, in particular, are close to my heart,” said Foose. “I learned about car customizing from my dad, and now I get to help pass that experience on to fathers, sons and families across America.” Foose also serves as an advisor to Ridemakerz.
Inspired by Build-A-Bear Workshop, a partner and investor, and the increasingly popular car customizing movement, Ridemakerz currently operates six shops in Arizona, California, Florida, Missouri, South Carolina and Virginia.
[smugmug url=”http://photos.attractiondev.wpengine.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=11628998_7hnh3&format=rss200″ title=”Photos%20from%20Ridemakerz” imagecount=”50″ start=”1″ num=”30″ thumbsize=”Th” link=”lightbox” captions=”false” sort=”true” window=”true” smugmug=”true” size=”L”]
New stores, restaurant and 3D technology coming to Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney will welcome several additions in the coming months. Look for two new stores, a quick-service restaurant and 3D technology at the AMC Pleasure Island 24 movie theater.
“We’re excited to build upon our existing portfolio of unique offerings and are committed to bringing guests even more interactive experiences,” said Downtown Disney Vice President Keith Bradford. “These new diverse venues are perfectly in sync with Downtown Disney and reflect the feedback we have received from our guests.”
After its success at the Downtown Disney at Disneyland in California, RIDEMAKERZ will open on the West Side for a limited engagement. The store will integrate full-sized cars and a supercharged interactive experience that lets guests build, customize and trick out their very own radio-controlled vehicles. Kids of all ages will be able to satisfy their need for speed with more than 649 million ways to create a mean machine. RIDEMAKERZ will open March 25 through fall 2010.
D Street, a new apparel store where urban inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge will also open on the West Side in the former Planet Hollywood On Location space. The store will showcase a mix of products for both men and women. Building on the existing popularity of Trend-D at the Marketplace, D-Street will include edgy apparel, pop culture novelties, Vinylmation figures and collectibles, artwork, handbags, accessories, jewelry and more. Opening in April, the store will feature a raw, unfinished industrial look and provide a great venue to showcase Disney art created by local artists.
AMC Entertainment is currently upgrading an auditorium one to be the first Enhanced Theater Experience (ETX) in the United States. The ETX auditorium will include a 20 percent larger, floor-to-ceiling screen, 3D technology, 12 channel audio and digital projection that delivers higher resolution that HD. AMC will debut the ETX auditorium in time for the premier of Alice in Wonderland in 3D on March 5.
Opening this fall at Downtown Disney’s Marketplace, will be an international Latin chicken quick-service restaurant – Pollo Campero. This new restaurant concept will offer Disney guests savory combinations of freshly prepared Campero Latin chicken, flavorful side dishes such as yuca fries and sweet plantains, and Latin drinks including horchata and tamarindo. For the more nutritious minded, they will offer chef-prepared salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as sugar-free, gluten-free, low sodium, and organic offerings.
Pollo Campero will replace the Downtown Disney McDonald’s restaurant. It is set to close on April 30.