Strolling Through the (Theme) Park One Day: Pixar Fest!

 Entrance to Pixar Pier, photo by the author.

Pixar Fest started on April 13th and continues at the Disneyland Resort until September 3rd. The Disneyland Resort of course consists of Disneyland and the Disney’s California Adventure parks which are side by side. The offerings at Disneyland include food; I picked up the Root Boot Float at Golden Horseshoe served in Woody’s boot. There is also the Pixar Play Parade which I missed, and Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular which I saw some parts. The fireworks show uses the buildings of Main Street, not only projections, on the Coco scene giant representations of characters pop up on the roofs!  Still, the action was at DCA with the opening of Pixar Pier on June 23rd, this was a remodeling from Paradise Pier.  You walk across the new Pixar Pier marquee, the brilliant Ariel’s Grotto which was a princess meet and greet, has been turned into the upscale Lamplight Lounge, it wasn’t open in the morning when I was there.  It is rumored to have a secret room.

On the other side is knick knacks with the snowman snow globe from Nome, Alaska based on the short paired with Finding Nemo (2003).  It has some fun Pixar themed merch.  Making your way across the pier, to the left side, is the Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats.  It is based on the Yeti first seen in Monsters University (2013).  I got the Snow-Capped Lemon Cone there, it melted in my hand, but was delicious!  To the other side is the launch for the Incredicoaster, Dash tells everyone to hold on and then counts down his run, riders are then hurtled at super speed, 55 mph, up a lift hill through a tunnel.  The former California Screamin’ was just a ringed tunnel, but this features the zigzagging trail of Dash chasing after Jack Jack.  You continue on and see the peaked house of the Parr family from Incredibles 2, there is an arch that leads you the rollercoaster, and also the concession stand that features Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num.  This was $6.00, the size of a pot pie, and easily enough cookie for two-three people.

The Incredicoaster!, photo by the author.

Then, to the right side is the character meet and greets, next to a waterfall display with the Incredibles symbol. I saw Elasti-girl there, side note: I hope the character and merch has her silver suit, where she’s on her own in Incredibles 2, it is new and would be nice for the remodeling.  I later saw Edna Mode, new character, and of course a favorite.  I started taking her pic and Edna was snapping into poses!  Turning left, there is the Poultry Palace, which was featured in the Toy Story Toons: Small Fry paired with The Muppets (2011).  I later had the Fried Chicken Box, it was three soggy chicken legs and coleslaw, but the Corn on the Cob was tasty.  To the left is Toy Story Mania which was always there with Paradise Pier.  It is a fun ride, a four person ride vehicle, you have a cannon with a pull string and wear 3D glasses to shoot at screens featuring the Toy Story characters.

You can continue on and to the right is the Angry Dogs food stand.  It has Anger from Inside Out (2013) blowing his top into a flame broil over the Angry Dog sign!  It is a spicy hot dog and I really love the other offering, the Slightly Annoyed Dog.  Next, is the Pixar Promenade with some carnival games, I tried them all.  You can get a Pixar Pier Games Play card to swipe for play.  First and best is La Luna Star Catcher, you have a net to pick up stars that have random prizes, but every catch is a prize.  I didn’t get any of the fancy ones, but I did get stars and moons.  There is Heimlich’s Candy Corn Toss, slightly easier than the baseball toss, but just as impossible for me.  There are two racing games, WALL-E Space Race, where you shoot a water gun at a target.  Also, Bullseye Stallion Stampede where you toss see balls.  The most fun I had was La Luna Star Catcher.

La Luna Star Catcher game at Pixar Promenade, photo by the author. 

Lastly, there is the Pixar Pal-A-Round which was re-themed from Mickey’s Fun Wheel, but still has the Mickey face.  Each of the gondolas are themed to different Pixar characters.  They can fit about two people on a side of the gondola.  I don’t have a fear of heights, but that ferris wheel reaches 160 feet above all of the buildings!  I was sweating.  There is swinging and non-swinging options.  I chose the non-swinging and still was worried at it’s height as it went through two revolutions.  Also, there is the Pixarmonic Orchestra which I missed, and the Paint the Night parade is moved there from Disneyland.  This some fun with lights and music, all to the tune of "When Can I See You Again?", the Owl City song from Wreck-It Ralph (2012) with the hints of the Main Street Electrical Parade.  It features Tinker Bell flying and the Disney Fairies with Peter Pan.  Large figures of Tigger, the Genie, and Lumiere.  Also, Monsters Inc. with the doors and Lightning McQueen with the full sized Mack the truck.

Then, Ariel on a float with Triton holding Sebastian followed by Nemo and Marlin puppets. Next is Jessie leading bolo swinging cow pokes.  Slinky Dog is there ridden by Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the end along with the Little Green Men in saucer.  There is a Disney Princess procession with dancers in front of Belle with a giant rose behind her.  Next, Rapunzel and Cinderella in their candle-lit parts of the float.  The new float is impressive with the Underminer’s drill, Mr. Incredible in front with Frozone overhead!  Electric Dash races around and Violet is in a spinning sphere of her projection powers with Jack Jack at the end. 

Sitting on lighted spheres is Goofy and Donald who really ham it up.  Then, we have Minnie on her sphere before getting to Sorcerer Mickey on a platform with a swirling pattern of lights. Still to be opened is Jessie’s Critter Carousel and Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff.  There are some fun parts of Pixar Fest, I picked up the cup with the Little Green Man and The Claw!, I would recommend going at noon time when most of the places are open and characters are out.  I would like to see more food options for Pixar Pier and really, really, really hope to see a food stand that sells Bao like in the Pixar short, it was set in San Francisco, so has CA roots.   I hope everyone has a chance to go to Pixar Fest!

#PixarFest, #DisneysCaliforniaAdventure, #LalunaStarCatcher, #PainttheNight