ANAHEIM Lucas Appleton wheeled himself toward the wrought-iron safety gate separating him from the ride he was about to experience Luigi's Flying Tires, a personal hovercraft attraction in Cars Land.

As he watched the super-sized "flying tires" bumping and bouncing their way across an expansive arena, he inched his wheelchair closer and closer to the gate. It wasn't long before his front wheels started drifting upward.

Lucas Appleton, 9, at left, with his brother William, 13, makes a funny face at his parents while waiting for Mater's Junkyard Jamboree ride to start. Make-A-Wish made it possible for Lucas, of Grover Beach, to go to California Adventure's new Cars Land attraction before it officially opened.

MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Lucas Appleton's family is raising money to buy him a service dog, expected to cost $12,000 to $15,000. To make a donation to the Lucas Appleton Trust Fund, which is being maintained at Rabobank in Pismo Beach, call the bank at 805-773-5255 and ask to speak with the branch manager.

"Not that close, buddy!" a ride operator cheerfully reminded the 9-year-old boy.

"He's so excited," said his mother, Cassandra, shaking her head as she warned him (again) to not do wheelies in line.

Lucas, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy called Friedreich's ataxia, was one of four kids with life-threatening illnesses who got to experience the new attractions at Disney California Adventure park Thursday through children's dream-granting charity Make-A-Wish.

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Make-A-Wish fulfills boy's dream to see Disney's Cars Land