Hey there Wes,
Welcome to planDisney and thank you for your question! As a fellow out-of-town Disneyland Resort Guest, I understand the need to prioritize and plan for upcoming trips. It's not as easy for us to visit so we want to make the most of it when we're there!
I've got two little ones, and just like your toddler, my oldest is a huge fan of Lightning McQueen, Towmater, and the Cars movies, so we love spending time in
Cars Land! This is actually one of my favorite places in all of the Disneyland Resort because you are truly transported to Radiator Springs.
When visiting with a toddler, I have a few recommendations. First, I would prioritize visiting all of the
Disney PhotoPass photographers around the land! There are some extremely iconic shots, and my family's photos in this land are typically some of our favorites from our trips. Our favorite location is in front of the billboard at the entrance to this land.
Second, depending on your toddler's temperament and height, I would highly recommend
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and
Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters (your toddler must be 32" or taller to ride on these attractions). These are so much fun for both kids and adults and are great intros to attractions for little ones. I took our oldest on these for the first time on a visit just before his third birthday and he had a blast!
Third, I would recommend spending some time around the
Cozy Cone Motel. Not only do they have delicious snacks and drinks, but it's also the best place to meet your favorite Cars characters! They show up frequently throughout the day and usually park in front of the Cozy Cone Motel.
Fourth, Cars Land is absolutely beautiful at night. One of my favorite spots for dinner is at
Flo's V8 Cafe and then grabbing one of the tables outside where we can see the cars speed by on Radiator Springs Racers!
This is just scratching the surface of all there is to enjoy around the Disneyland Resort - you all are going to have a fantastic time. As far as
when to go? It really depends on your schedule and flexibility! If you're looking for times with a bit less crowds, I would recommend mid-August through mid-September.
Thanks again for your question, Wes! I hope you have a wonderful visit to the Disneyland Resort.
Ka-Chow!
Greg