10 Reasons to Visit Pixar Fest at Disneyland

Calling all Disney Pixar fans! Today Pixar Fest officially kicked off at Disneyland Resort in California. Pixar Fest is a must-see festival that is taking over Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for a limited time from April 13th to September 3rd. You have a little less than five months to make it to California for nonstop Pixar entertainment and fun. Here are more than 25 reasons why you do not want to miss it!

Lights, Colors, Action

All 19 Disney Pixar films will come together to celebrate friendship during the “Together Forever – a Pixar Nighttime Spectacular“.

“Together Forever” opens with Buzz Lightyear, who flies 100 feet in the air above Sleeping Beauty Castle on a flight path that is 350 feet long. “To Friendship… and beyond!”

The fireworks for “Together Forever” were specifically developed and designed to enhance the projected images within the show and to match Pixar Animations Studios’ color palette.

“Together Forever” contains more than 900 separate fireworks effects, digitally controlled within 1/30 of a second.

Rooftops Come to Life

During the “Coco” adventure, 10 townspeople from the Land of the Dead appear on the rooftops of Main Street, U.S.A. Each of these characters stretches more than 10 feet tall and they join the animated mariachi and folklórico dancers projected on Main Street U.S.A., bringing to life a colorful fiesta.

Goodbye are the days of only seeing the fireworks and light show in one location, now the entire Main Street will be lit up. You can enjoy the show from a vast area in the park. This is 360 degree Pixar fun!

Up, Up, And Away

Ever since the Disney Pixar movie Up was released, there isn’t a child or adult that hasn’t dreamed of a house flying by balloons. Wouldn’t that be amazing to see? Well, now you can!

Several objects have flown above Sleeping Beauty Castle in past nighttime spectaculars, and the largest one ever is in “Together Forever” – Carl Fredricksen’s House from Disney Pixar’s film, “Up.”

Pizza Planet Truck

During my trip to Pixar, I learned that the Pizza Planet truck changes its appearance slightly to blend into each Pixar movie it is featured in. Have you spotted it in all the movies? For example, in the movie Brave it is made of wood and in Good Dinosaur it is made of stone.

Guests can look out for the Pizza Planet truck in “Together Forever.” Seen in “Toy Story,” the Pizza Planet truck also appears as an Easter Eggs hidden in most Pixar films.

Monorail Pixar Makeover

What’s that up in the air? Is it a superhero or a train? It’s the Incredibles zooming by on the Disneyland Monorail! We all love watching the Monorail go by while walking through the parks. Now you’ll see your favorite Pixar characters along for the ride.

The Disneyland Monorail joins the Pixar fun by showcasing Pixar characters on the exteriors of each monorail. One monorail train features The Incredibles and Frozone showcasing their Super strengths while Nemo, Marlin, Dory, Crush and Squirt swim through a rip current on another train.

Limited Edition Exclusive Merchandise

So many awesome items you will want to take home during Pixar Fest. From friendship bracelets with charms to collect to light up tumblers and souvenir cups, Pixar Fest has an entire line of merchandise for Pixar fans all ages.

I collect ornaments, while my kids collect the trading pins. So we are excited to hear they will have something special in stores for each of us.

Two-sided, Pixar Fest ceramic disk ornaments showcase Pixar friends with one pal on each side. Guests will find Mike and Sulley, WALL•E and EVE, Miguel and Dante, and Joy and Anger featured on these must-have collector ornaments.

Friends and pin traders will expand their collections with limited-edition pins set to be released throughout Pixar Fest. Pins will feature Pixar characters from “The Incredibles,” “Up,” “Finding Nemo” and other beloved Pixar films.

Pixar Themed Food

Everyone of all ages will be dying to try all the Pixar treats. These adorable Toy Story Green Alien Macaroons look almost too cute to eat.

Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port transforms into Alien Pizza Planet, featuring new Alien-inspired items, including a hearty cheeseburger pizza topped with cheese, caramelized onions, diced tomatoes, slider patties, a house-made burger sauce, and pickles.

This isn’t your grandma’s fried bologna sandwich! Disneyland is using special vendors to bring in the best of ingredients.

You can find this Up inspired Carl fried bologna sandwich at Carnation Café on Main Street U.S.A.

Have you ever had Ratatouille? We haven’t but have dreamed of trying it since watching the movie, which is one of our family favorites.

A three-course dinner inspired by the little chef, Remy, served at Café Orleans. The dinner features a charcuterie plate starter, Ratatouille a Confit Byaldi Shrimp dish entrée and berry and cheese beignets served a la mode.

I know my oldest daughter will be making plans to try this dish.

Lotzo isn’t the only pink Pixar favorite. These strawberry flavored churros are sure to be a hit!

Get your dessert and keep the mug! Kids will be excited to make their own root beer floats when they get home and reminisce about their trip to Disneyland. You can find this lovely treat in Frontierland.

Root beer float served in a souvenir Woody boot at Golden Horseshoe Saloon (guests will want to check the bottom of the boot for a “Toy Story” memory)

Pixar Fest Play Parade

The Disney parades are my favorite part of the parks. I love seeing all the colorful characters and fun music go down the street. It’s the best way to capture photos of your favorite Disney characters.

The Pixar Lamp and Ball from Pixar’s original short, “Luxo Jr.” now lead the parade in a larger-than-life fashion. The Lamp is 14 feet tall and the Pixar Ball is nearly four feet wide.

We love the movie Up and this float will not disappoint. Look at how beautiful the colors are!

Guests will want to keep an eye out for Kevin, the friendly bird from “Up” who stands nearly 12 feet tall from her toes to the top of her feathers. The “Up” unit also features Carl Fredricksen and Dug, while Kevin (a puppet) romps through the parade with his friend Russell riding on his back.

From the tip-top of the balloons, the Fredricksen house from “Up” flies 17 feet above the parade route.

This beautiful float will be a sight to see with nearly 280 memory orbs of all different emotion colors! The “Inside Out” unit features Riley’s rocket wagon with Joy, Sadness, and Bing Bong.

More Pixar Play Parade Fun Facts:

Baby Jack-Jack sits in one of the claws of the Omnidroid on “The Incredibles” float and, just like in the Pixar film, flames rise from his head when he gets excited.
The longest float is “A Bug’s Life” at 45 feet.
More than 2,000 pieces and parts make up the performers’ costumes.

Paint The Night Parade

This bright and colorful nighttime parade can be seen at Disney California Adventure.

“Paint the Night” features pals from “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Cars.” In June, a new, high-energy float inspired by “The Incredibles” will add to the Pixar fun.

Guests will enjoy the parade’s more than 1 million, brilliant LED lights and catchy tunes.

“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Toy Story Float

Slinky Dog scampers along, with Woody and Buzz Lightyear holding on for the ride.
The 10 spinning disks rotate at 120 RPM and are programmed with custom video content.
The float is 32 feet long, and Slinky’s ears are 18 feet tall and 11 feet across.

“If I Didn’t Have You” – Monsters, Inc. Float

The “Monsters, Inc.” float is 11 feet wide and 21 feet long, and it glows with nearly 17,000 points of light.
The five animated doors on this float are more than nine feet tall with 40 individual LED video panels. They were created in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios.

Coming Soon to Pixar Fest

In June, the dazzling new float will feature Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible and Frozone, making their first appearances in this parade. The new float will bring all of the fun and excitement of “The Incredibles” to life with high-tech, pop-art effects inspired by the mid-century-modern style of the films. Dynamic and innovative visual technology will also showcase the powers of Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack – in some surprising ways.

Pixar Pals Dance Party

Beginning June 8, The Pixar Pals Dance Party at the Tomorrowland Terrace will get guests of all ages mixing, mingling and dancing with some of their favorite Pixar pals. The dance party is an ideal time to get up close with Pixar characters such as Russell, Dug, Woody, Jessie, the Green Army Men and more.

Are you ready plan your vacation to Pixar Fest at Disneyland?

Thanks to Disney Pixar for inviting me to Pixar Animation Studios so I was able to get an inside look at all the fun Pixar details coming to the Disney Parks.

Soon you’ll get to see your favorite Disney Pixar superhero family on the big screen again. After 14 years of waiting!

The Incredibles 2 opens in theaters on June 15th.

Pixar Fest Pin for Later: