Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/402160
w i n t e r 2 0 1 4 | w e s t w o r l d A l b e r t A 33 500 who owns the tire shop in the movie – waves us back outside where our car is paired with another for a race along high-banked corners, a camelback straightaway and dark tunnel before crossing the fi nish line. Maybe it's the amped-up sound of roaring engines or the chis- elled rock cliff s zooming by in my peripheral vision, but it feels as if we're going faster than the ride's top speed of 64 kilometres per hour. Heck, I don't even notice if we win or not. e Racers are a true rush, and even omas, who admits he "didn't like the bumps," is beaming. Luigi's Flying Tires After all the high-octane action, we're ready for some downtime – or up-time, rather, at Luigi's Flying Tires. Catering to the toddler set, it's the ideal ride for anyone who wants to wind down in Cars Land. Red, white and green Italian banners and tire-shaped topiaries adorn this garden and tire-storage-yard setting. Inspired by the 1960s classic Disneyland Park attraction, Flying Saucers, the ride operates like a giant air hockey table. Instead of pucks, three-metre-wide "Fettuccini" brand tires cruise over the 2,400-square-metre enclosed white surface. We climb into our three-person tire, then 6,714 air vents blow enough air to keep all the wheels suspended just a titch off the ground. Obeying the pre-ride signage, we lean in the direction we want to go. We lean hard, really hard. It reminds me of trying to fl y in a dream. We slowly move a bit to the right and butt up against two other tires, like colliding in a gentle version of bumper cars. Thomas and friend take a spin around Mater's Junkyard Jamboree; (right) the pool at iconic Disneyland Hotel.