Experience the excitement as cars accelerate towards each other and swerve away at the last second, motorcycles smash through windows, Jet Skis leap out of the water, a stunt person falls off a 5-story building and massive fireballs explode in the air. See all of these Hollywood-style stunts performed live, right before your disbelieving eyes!
The show runs for just under 40 minutes of car-based action, and includes pyrotechnics, jet ski chases, and physical stuntwork. The cars are followed by cameras, and film, both shot during the show and pre-recorded, is shown to the audience on a billboard television screen; some shots are from the Disneyland Resort Paris version of the show. This is to make the show look like a real movie shoot. Herbie, the Volkswagen from The Love Bug, previously made an appearance in an intermission in the middle of the show, but was later replaced by Lightning McQueen from Cars.
The show has more than 40 vehicles in the show and backstage in the maintenance garage. The hero car is a custom-built design for the show, while the pursuit cars are Opel Corsas. The 3 different hero cars are all painted red and the pursuit cars are black, to easily allow guests to tell the difference between them. The show also includes specially-designed cars that look identical to the others used in the show, two of which are red "hero" cars. One has the bodyshell oriented backwards to allow the driver to appear to be driving in reverse; the other has a seat and steering wheel bolted onto the side of the car away from the audience, so that the car can be driven showing that there is no driver in the driver's seat.
One of the black "pursuit" cars is cut in half behind the front doors so that it can appear to explode during a scene in the show. The cars, while they appear simple and plain, are reinforced with rally car roll cages for driver safety and powered by 1300 cc 150 horsepower (110 kW) motorcycle engines mounted directly behind the driver's seat. The cars have four forward and four reverse gears, allowing them to be driven backwards at high speed.
The cars have a bump shift for easier gear shifting: the driver bumps the shifter forward to go up a gear, and back to go back a gear. In order to reverse, the driver twists the top of the shifter and bumps it forwards or backwards. The emergency brake automatically releases when the driver lets go. The show cars are lightweight, at 1,322 pounds (600 kg). The cars are rear-wheel drive to suit the slips and slides of the show. The drivers wear heavy protective suits; to keep the drivers cool in the Florida heat, a cooling system in the rear of the car pumps water through the suits. The show also features jet skis on the small canal at the front of the theater, and motorcycles which maneuver around the cars.
Touring Tips
- For the most up-to-date information on showtimes, please check the Entertainment Times Guide at the park Main Entrance upon your arrival. Entertainment schedules may not occur daily and are subject to change.
- To have the best view, cast members suggest sitting higher up. Beware though, that sometimes a pole may obscure your view at the higher levels.
- Children (and even adults) who are frightened of loud noises and fire should sit further away from the main stage area, as some of the effects and explosions are ear-splitting.
- Restrooms are located in the plaza to the right of the entrance of the Stunt Show. There is a companion restroom at this location.
- Disney Characters are sometimes found outside this show.
Facts
- It is based on the original show, Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Resort Paris, France, which premiered with the park's opening in March 2002.
- A cast of more than 50 thrills audiences with pulse-pounding chases featuring automobiles, motorcycles and watercraft. Customized and modified, these vehicles are piloted by a group of trained drivers throughout the show.
- The arena for "Lights, Motors, Action!" -- a 177,000-square-foot facility featuring a Mediterranean village set -- is one of Disney World's largest "stages," allowing stunt drivers to include high-speed spins, two-wheeled driving, jumps, pyrotechnic explosions, high falls and plenty of surprises created just as they are performed for the silver screen. The 5,000-seat stadium allows guests to see every inch of the nonstop action.
- The show arena has scenery from a Mediterranean village in the south of France. The arena's construction forced Studio Backlot Tour at the theme park to be almost halved in length, as the arena was built inside locations used by the backlot tour.
- "Cars 2" character Lightning McQueen joined the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show on July 19, 2011. The sporty red car took the place of Herbie the Love Bug, which had been appearing in the show since its debut.
- Construction on the stunt arena began in February 2003. It features a Mediterranean village facade, stunt ramps, pyrotechnic equipment and a man-made canal.
- Show cars weigh just 600 kilograms (approximately 1,322 pounds) and consume one liter (approximately one quart) of fuel per show. The cars weigh less than half what a standard production car does. (An average mid-size car weighs approximately 3,500 pounds.)
- Design components in the cars include the latest in safety and technology. Among the features: a NASCAR-style fire-suppression system, speed sensors and an on-board computer that assists drivers with maintaining proper speeds for precision stunt jumps.
- Drivers wear the same driving suits as professional racecar drivers.
- Guests aboard the Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour can sometimes get a glimpse of "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show." The recently redesigned backlot tram tour route passes right by the stunt show arena.
History
Revolving around a series of energetic stunts featuring automobiles, the show had its soft opening on March 14, 2005, and its grand opening on May 5, 2005, as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth festival at the Walt Disney World Resort marking the fiftieth anniversary of Disneyland, the first Disney park. One aspect of the festival was each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks opening a new attraction previously running at another Disney resort.
"Herbie," the loveable "car star" from several Disney films, made a special cameo appearance in the original version of the show. It was replaced by Lightning McQueen from the "Cars" movies in July 2011.
Hidden Mickey
- Look in the shop window marked "Antiquites Brocante." You'll see an image of Mickey if you look closely.