Disney is making some changes to Luigi’s Flying Tires – one of the new attractions at Cars Land. The oversized beach balls have been taken out and Disney is modifying the ride vehicles to improve how they float and move.
The beach balls were a last minute addition to the ride and there has been a mixed reaction to their removal. For some, it was fun to grab the balls and toss them around while the ride was in motion. For others, the beach balls were a distraction when rowdy guests would use them as weapons. In an interview with the Orange County Register, Disney acknowledged there were some “minor incidents when visitors were hit by beach balls.”
The beach balls were also a strange fit with the theming of the attraction. Aside from the red, white and green colors used on the beach balls, there wasn’t a compelling reason why these elements were part of Luigi’s storyline.
The other change is with the ride vehicles, as Disney is removing parts that originally were designed to control the spin of the ride vehicles. During testing, most people were confused by the joysticks on the ride vehicles and they were removed before the official opening. However, there is still about 20 pounds worth of parts underneath the ride vehicles that can still be removed.
Disney says that this removal will increase the speed of the tires, which seems to make sense. But when you consider how much the passengers weigh in comparison, we suspect the 20 pound weight difference will have minimal impact on the actual speed of the vehicles.
The beach balls have already been removed and the ride modifications will take place after hours (so the ride can remain open during the day). Disney hopes to have the modifications completed by the end of September.
Photo via Disney Wikia
