This Is The Coolest Moment of the Day at Disney California Adventure You Won’t Want to Miss

Disneyland is magic around at every turn, especially in its themed lands that make you feel as if you've actually stepped into one of your favorite Disney movies. Disney goes all out with its decor and attention to detail in these areas to make for memorable experiences and stunning photo ops!

One of the coolest moments you can experience at the parks takes place every day at Disney California Adventure, and it's one you will not want to miss. While this experience is short but sweet, it's one of the most magical moments that we recommend taking the time to see if you're in the park.

Keep reading for more details about the coolest moment of the day and where to find it!

Coolest Moment of the Day at Disney California Adventure

Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is one of the best themed lands at the parks, inspired by the Disney-Pixar movie Cars. In addition to its three rides, including the extremely popular Radiator Springs Racers, it also features an immersive design with locations from the movie like Flo's V8 Cafe, the Cozy Cone Motel, Ramone's House of Body Art, and more. The Cadillac Range serves as the backdrop for Radiator Springs Racers, with the 6 mountain peaks representing Cadillac tail fins from 1957 to 1962.

While the land is a treat to experience during the day, something extra magical occurs at night. Every day right after sunset, the song “Sh-Boom” (“Life Could Be a Dream”) starts playing, and the land's neon signs and lights come to life. This moment re-creates the scene in Cars when Lightning McQueen has fixed the lights in Radiator Springs and turns them on, with the same song playing!

This is known as the “Sh-Boom” moment and usually occurs a few minutes after sunset. If you're wondering what time that is during your visit, be sure to look up the time sunset will happen that day on the Weather app to know when you'll need to be at Cars Land. The best place to watch the lights go on is in front of Cozy Cone Motel or Flo's V8 Cafe. While the moment occurs quickly, it's such a visually beautiful experience that really encapsulates the magic of this land!

There are also special Cars Land lightings that take place during Halloween at Disneyland and Christmas at Disneyland. Cars Land is decorated for each of these celebrations, and instead of the normal “Sh-Boom” song, you'll hear “I Put a Spell on You” for Halloween and “Winter Wonderland” for Christmas.

How Did the Sh-Boom Moment Start in Cars Land?

Almost as fun as the moment itself is how the sh-boom moment came to be in Cars Land. The story is that in the final months of completion of the land in 2012 John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar and Disney Animation and a creative advisor to Imagineering at that time, was walking with one of his sons. His son was thinking for a moment as they walked through the land and turned to his dad and reminded him of the sh-boom moment from the movie. He went on to say that they needed to have the moment in the land.

That conversation led to the Imagineers grabbing on to the idea and adding the moment into the land. It was all because of that one executive's son who was a true fan of the the movie “Cars” that led to this iconic moment.

Video of Sh-Boom Moment in Cars Land

See a YouTube video from The Disneyland Beat capturing the Sh-Boom lighting moment below:

You can watch the clip from the Cars movie that shows the lighting of Radiator Springs below. Seeing this clip reinforces what an incredible job Disney did designing this land that really makes you feel as if you've stepped into the movie. The Cars Land nightly lighting is one of the most magical things you'll experience at the parks!

See our guide to Cars Land for everything you need to know, including details on attractions, dining, and more.

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