Disney World’s latest attraction is one week (plus one day!) old: it’s Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

While we took you along to show you the Racing Academy on its first day of operation, we thought we’d celebrate the attraction’s week-old birthday with a closer look at what also happens to be Disney World’s newest audio-animatronic.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

In this first week, what’s been most striking is Lighting’s display of the continuing advancement of audio-animatronic technology presenting smooth movements and a true-to-life (or, true-to-Pixar-life!) feel.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Along with his movements, in “person,” Lightning McQueen’s face is every bit as animated as it is in the Cars films, conveying everything from happiness…

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

… to concern…

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

… to even a bit of swagger!

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

You might even catch Lighting with his eyes closed in your photos. (Don’t worry, Lightning. It happens to the best of us.)

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

So while the storyline of the attraction itself is geared towards the smaller Cars among us, if you’re more of a grown Car, you still won’t want to miss your chance to witness the latest technological feat by the Imagineers behind audio-animatronics. And there’s also a lesson about friendship and time with our other Cars pals, to boot!

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

So Happy One Week Birthday to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy! You’re just getting better with age 😉 .

Now, in the words of Lightning himself, “Go out there and get your tires dirty!” And if you want to see Lightning in action, be sure to check him out in the video from Disney below!

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