ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For the first time since its inaugural run in 2018, Pixar Fest is back at Disney California Adventure Park.
The festival, which includes a new parade and an updated nighttime spectacular, will run April 26 to Aug. 4. Disneyland Resort held a Pixar Fest preview this week, inviting media and travel agency owners to experience the festival's offerings.
"We love to give our trade partners something new to share with their clients," said Lynn Clark, vice president of sales and services at Disneyland Resort. "Especially when it's a limited-time offering or a limited-time event, it just helps to turn up the dial a bit and make sure that they know to come soon."
The “Up”-themed float during new parade, "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!" Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
New characters and decorations
In a panel discussion about Pixar Fest, Tasha Sounart, theme park creative director with Pixar Animation Studios, said the time was right to hold the festival anew.
"We thought this was a really good time to bring back Pixar Fest because it's been a while and we've come out with a lot of films since [2018]," she said, pointing to "Luca," "Turning Red" and "Soul."
A performer during new parade, "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!" Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
These movies haven't made much of an appearance in the parks yet, according to Sounart, and the festival presents an opportunity to celebrate the newer works.
Components of Pixar Fest are taking place in both of the Disneyland Resort's theme parks. It celebrates all things Pixar, from classic films like "Toy Story" and "Monsters, Inc." to the animation studio's latest, including the upcoming "Inside Out 2," to be released in June.
Colorful decor in Pixar's signature bright colors is positioned throughout the resort, and a 25-foot sculpture featuring the Pixar Ball currently graces the Esplanade between Downtown Disney, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
Specially themed food and beverage items will be on sale starting April 26, as will specially themed merchandise. Even more Pixar-themed food will be available starting May 10, when six marketplaces open in California Adventure. Each is themed to a different film, representing "Luca," "Ratatouille," "Turning Red," "Soul," "Elemental" and "Inside Out."
During "Together Forever — A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular," guests will see elements new and old. Among the returning favorites are 10-foot-tall “Coco” characters from the Land of the Dead that pop up on Main Street, U.S.A.’s buildings. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
John State, culinary director of food and beverage at the Disneyland Resort, said his team had its work cut out for it in deciding what kind of food and beverage creations to feature because there was so much Pixar material to work with. There are offerings ranging from savory, to sweet, to beverages for adults and kids alike at 29 locations around the resort.
New character meet-and-greets will be held in both theme parks, including new characters like Ember and Wade from "Elemental" and Luca and Alberto from "Luca."
Parade at California Adventure
A new parade, "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!," will be performed twice each day at Disney California Adventure Park.
Robin Trowbridge, show director with Disney Live Entertainment, said the parade's designers approached it with a mission in mind: "The truth about life is friendship matters and friendship is a great thing, and if we have friends we are better together."
Performers during new parade, "Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!" Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
The parade has more than two dozen characters from 10 Pixar films and 70 additional performers. The characters are featured on eight floats. It took a year and a half to develop the parade.
According to Trowbridge, "Better Together" has the most Pixar characters represented in any parade.
In an effort to reach as many guests as possible with the parade's message, he said, at the end of the parade all participants are singing the words "better together." Simultaneously, performers are also signing the phrase in American Sign Language, which is incorporated into the choreography.
In addition to the parade, California Adventure will also play host to Club Pixar, which will take over the Hollywood Backlot each evening. The DJ-led experience will feature live performances, and the space will house games, photo opportunities, Pixar shorts and more.
On stage, guests will see a screen with scenes from Pixar movies like "Wall-E." But the scenes will actually be completed through interpretive dance on stage, according to Tracy Halas, creative director of Disney Live Entertainment.
Nighttime spectacular at Disneyland
Disneyland Park is home to the nighttime spectacular "Together Forever -- A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular." The show includes projection technology on Sleeping Beauty Castle as well as up and down the buildings on Main Street, U.S.A., and pyrotechnics.
Elements of the show have returned from its original run -- including the 59 characters featured in that first show, and a flyover by Buzz Lightyear and the house from "Up" -- but it's also been updated with Pixar's latest movies. A total of 17 characters have been added to the show.
The show's designers wanted to bring back all of the elements guests loved about the original, according to KC Wilkerson, principal media designer with Disney Live Entertainment. All of those elements have been enhanced, Wilkerson said. Show designers also incorporated every new Pixar movie that has come out since the original show ran, so all Pixar films are represented in the show.
The technology behind the show has also gotten an update. Wilkerson said Disneyland has added new projectors to a number of locations since the show's last run in 2018 that help provide greater detail and clarity. Show designers also worked with their pyrotechnic suppliers to develop new shells just for the show. Pyrotechnics will be included in most nights of the show through its end on Aug. 4.
Guests with MagicBand+ devices will enjoy added lights and synchronized haptic vibrations during "Together Forever."
Hidden Mickeys and Easter eggs
Eagle-eyed guests should keep their eyes open for six hidden Mickeys in the show -- but Wilkerson cautioned that they are very hidden.
Sounart offered one more thing for guests to keep on the lookout for. Pixar films are famous for their Easter eggs, one of which involves the Pizza Planet truck from "Toy Story." Sounart hinted that some of the trucks might be hidden around the resort during Pixar Fest.
Also at Disneyland is the "Pixar Pals Playtime Party" at the Fantasyland Theatre. The dance party was designed for guests of all ages. In addition to learning dance moves, guests will be able to dance with Pixar characters and do crafts, according to Halas.
"This is what I call the family zone," she said.
This is where guests can meet Wade and Ember from "Elemental," as well as Luca and Alberto from "Luca." Halas also teased a new, interactive meet-and-greet with Dug from "Up."
Pixar shorts will also be played on the big screen at the Fantasyland Theatre.