You’ve heard of this called the Pixar Fest but you haven’t quite grasped why everyone is calling it ‘the best thing ever’, ‘totally worth experiencing’ and an ‘absolute must-see’.
Okay, so maybe it’s only us here at KARRYON saying those things, but that’s because we were lucky enough to experience it firsthand at Disneyland & California Adventure Park and it’s totally worth the hype.
For those sitting slightly outside of the loop, Pixar Fest is a 5-month celebration of all things Pixar, during which time park visitors will feel immersed in the world of CGI-animated films and their lovable characters.
CLICK HERE to read more on the inaugural Pixar Fest
It’s a first for Disney Parks and it’s already proving to be a success, with massive crowds of people attending last week’s launch.
Speaking to media, Disneyland & California Adventure Park’s creative team said the aim of the Fest is to bring Pixar films to life in a way that’s never been done before, while also promoting the theme of happiness and friendship.
CLICK HERE for all the Disneyland & California Adventure Park Pixar pics
As someone who was given the chance to experience the first-ever Pixar Fest, I can honestly say it’s worth taking a trip to California for, especially to experience these eight things:
Search for Pixar characters around the park
Keep an eye as you make your way from ride-to-ride because there’ll be more Pixar characters walking around the park than usual during Pixar Fest.
In line with the theme of ‘friendship’, characters will be walking around with their unlikely pairs such as Toy Story’s Woody and Buzz or Up’s Russell and Dug, or The Incredibles‘ ‘Mr and Mrs Incredible.
If you want to ensure a meeting with the characters, head to Paradise Gardens where they’ll have meet and greets throughout the day.
Watch Paint the Night & the Pixar Play Parade
Yes, Paint the Night is back BUT this time it is being held at California Adventure Park. More than one million lights are used in the electric display and in addition to the existing floats inspired by Disney Princess, Mickey, Toy Story, Cars and Monsters Inc., this year guests will find a new float inspired by The Incredibles and The Incredibles 2.
Meanwhile, the Pixar Play Parade has moved to Disneyland Park where it opens with the iconic Pixar Lamp jumping down the street and followed by some familiar characters as well as few new additions including those from Up and Inside Out.
Both are held later in the day and both are ABSOLUTELY worth staying for.
Hang around for ‘Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular’
Image: Disneyland Resort
Tears! You’ll actually leave the park that evening with tears!
Boy, if Disney knows how to do one thing, it’s to pull at our heartstrings and they do just that while familiar, fun music plays across the park and fireworks fill the sky above the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.
The regular multimedia fireworks show has been replaced during Pixar Fest with one focusing on the ups and downs of our favourite Pixar friends. Note: we dare you not to cry when ‘Up’ appears, we dare you!
Take a ride on a Pixar-themed monorail
The monorails have had a little makeover and they’re pretty damn cool. There are a few different Pixar-themed monorails circling the two parks, our favourite was The Incredibles version.
Try the fried bologna sandwich from Up
Seriously, you can actually try it.
Disney’s food and beverage team got together and put together a Pixar-themed menu for the next month, including the very same fried bologna sandwich Carl and Ellie enjoy in the movie Up.
Other treats include Macarons shaped like one of Toy Story’s green aliens, chilled noodle salad inspired by Monsters Inc., Coco Churro inspired by Coco and more.
Watch the Pixar Short Film Festival
Watching Pixar’s short films such as Lava, Piper and For the Birds on Youtube is NOTHING like watching them consecutively in 4D. The three are airing throughout the day at California Adventure Park’s Sunset Showcase Theater.
Tick off all the existing Pixar-themed attractions in a day
MAKE A PIXAR DAY OF IT by securing yourself a MaxPass from $10 per person per day, skipping the lines and ticking off all existing Pixar-themed rides in a single day.
You could find yourself shooting animations at Toy Story Mania, then racing your buddies in Cars Land, searching for Nemo during the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, feeling teeny tiny in A Bug’s Land, hanging with Crush during Turtle Talk and more.
From June, ride the Incredicoaster
So it hasn’t launched yet, but as soon as The Incredibles 2 is out in cinemas, there’ll be a very fast, very wild, very ‘just swallowed by heart’ rollercoaster in California Adventure Park called the ‘Incredicoaster’.
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