Wow, Kirsten!
Do you think I could be adopted into your family? What fantastic grandparents!
Since Lightening McQueen is so large, my guess is that he probably won't make an in-person (in-auto?) appearance on the new
Disney Fantasy -- which makes her debut next spring. Of course, the inside of the ship is still being worked on in Germany, and you can take a sneak peek of its progress on
DisneyPark's YouTube Channel. Yet, if the playfloor in Disney's Oceaneer Club is the same, there's a great car racing game featuring the famous race car.
For the fear factor, I completely understand that obstacle as a parent. A couple of my own had similar reactions to emotional movies, too. Just keep reassuring your child -- emphasizing that s/he is safe, loved and protected and that what is portrayed on the screen is pretend. My children seemed to be able to "cope" with the movies better by first reading the books. They knew what to expect and realized that everything turned out great in the end. Maybe that strategy might help you and yours, too.
Let me know if you think of other questions about your upcoming trip -- I'd be happy to be a resource for you. Have a wonderful day and a magical vacation. Bon voyage!
Andi