This past Friday, Mickey Avenue on the Disney Lot in Burbank was redressed as Victory Lane.
Photo by Jim Hill
That was because The Walt Disney Company — out ahead of the June 24th release date of "Cars 2" — wanted to celebrate Pixar's latest production. So there were games for Studio employees and their families to play …
Photo by Noe Valladolid
… which keyed off of some of the countries that Lightning McQueen & Mater will visit over the course of this new John Lasseter film.
Photo by Jim Hill
There were also Pixar artists on hand outside of the old Animation Building, ready to sign copies of the "Art of Cars 2" Making-of book.
Photo by Jim Hill
And various divisions of the Company were also on hand to showcase their new "Cars 2" -related products. Disney Interactive Media Group was there to talk up its racing games for the iPhone.
Photo by Shelly Valladolid
While Disney Consumer Products actually had a number of displays set up just outside of the Studio Store. As you walked through this area, you could check out an array of "Cars 2" toys & plush …
Photo by Jim Hill
… food products …
Photo by Jim Hill
… paper goods …
Photo by Jim Hill
… clothing …
Photo by Jim Hill
… even home furnishings.
Photo by Jim Hill
It seems like every division at Disney got into the spirit of this "Cars 2" showcase. Even the staff of the Studio's commissary got in on the fun by creating an edible Mater. Which — according to the chef that I spoke with on Friday — was constructed out of Cheerios, marshmallow fluff and peanut butter.
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, if you preferred your "Cars 2" characters to be non-edible … Well, you could always head out to the Disney Studio's parking lot. Where — just to the left of the State Farm's gaming station …
Photo by Jim Hill
… were Finn McMissile, Lightning McQueen and Mater. Fresh off of their cross-country "Cars 2: Agents on a Mission" tour.
Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, it wasn't just Mater & Co. that Studio employees were lining up to get their pictures taken with.
Photo by Jim Hill
A good number of Disney staffers also made a point of getting their photo taken with a home-grown hero, Herbie the Love Bug. Who had also been driven onto the Lot to take part in Friday's "Cars 2" showcase.
Photo by Jim Hill
You want to know the kind-of-ironic part of this story? By 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon, the Disney Lot was basically deserted. Not because these Studio employees and their families weren't enjoying the "Cars 2" showcase. No, these folks left this event early because they didn't want to get caught in Southern California's infamous rush hour traffic.
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