With the opening of Pixar Pier just one month away (June 23rd is the official opening), Disney is sharing additional details about the upcoming land, which is transforming the old Paradise Pier area of Disney California Adventure. We were on hand for a special media preview yesterday to bring you the scoop. Meet Edna Mode, preview the Lamplight Lounge, hear the backstory of the new Incredicoaster, and see how construction is coming on all of the neighborhoods of Pixar Pier below.
Meet Edna Mode
I was surprised yesterday by a visit from Edna Mode, one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite films, The Incredibles. She’ll be joining the ranks of Disney’s walkaround characters on Pixar Pier in time for the opening of Incredibles 2 on June 15th.
Welcome to the Lamplight Lounge
Pixar Pier, which represents the southern half of the old Paradise Pier, is itself divided into four unique “neighborhoods.” The first of these areas is noted by the huge Pixar Pier marquee which will feature an animated Pixar Lamp (which they do not call “Luxo Jr.” in the press materials).
There are three main establishments in this entry area: Lamplight Lounge, Nick’s Knacks shop, and the already popular Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats. Both Nick’s Knacks and Adorable Snowman area already open and serving guests. We’ve covered those venues for you in the last few weeks. Lamplight Lounge isn’t scheduled to open until the big event next month. However, we got a little preview of the menu and spoke to the Imagineers working on the project to bring you additional details.
The new Lounge is described as a California casual gastro-pub. Essentially, that means a comfortable family-friendly bar which serves high-end bar food. And good food it is. We tried several of the upcoming menu items and have photos of the food and concept art as well.
The Lamplight Lounge décor celebrates the creativity, inspirations and personalities of the artists and storytellers who have brought Pixar films to life. Guests will discover the artistic details that Pixar “regulars” have left throughout the lounge: concept art, a quick sketch on a coaster, memorabilia and collectible toys of beloved Pixar characters.
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The Disneyland Resort food and beverage team has crafted items such as a carne asada roll with roasted Fresno chili salsa; potato skins with brown butter-caper yogurt, smoked paprika aïoli and Manchego cheese; spinach salad with warm wild mushrooms, soft poached egg, charred onion vinaigrette and shiitake “bacon” served with blue cheese toast; chicken sandwich with spicy chili glaze, vinegar slaw and pineapple butter on a toasted Amish bun; and creamy PB&J roll served with a flower pot of veggies with hummus and fresh fruit.
We’ll be able to visit Lamplight Lounge in person when the Pier officially reopens on the 23rd of June.
Nearby, more details are being revealed in this area of the land. New cutouts have appeared in the shade structure which spans the boardwalk between Nick’s Knacks and Lamplight Lounge.
And the new entry arch, which will eventually host an animatronic Pixar Lamp, is starting to go up as well. The supports are now in.
The Imagineers Spill The Beans
While at the press events, a team of Imagineers and Pixar representives explained a bit more about the Pixar Pier project. This is a long and detailed conversation, so put on your Disney nerd hat and enjoy!
The creative team included: Roger Gould (Creative Director, Theme Parks), Tasha Sounart (Associate Creative Director, Theme Parks @ Pixar Animation Studios), Jeffrey Shaver-Moskowitz (Executive Producer, WDI), Tracey Noce (Creative Director, WDI), and Tracy Halas (Show Director, Disneyland).
Incredibles Park
The next area encountered as you journey around the Pier will be Incredibles Park. This area features the Incredicoaster and Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums. The popular California Screamin’ rollercoaster is transforming into the Incredicoaster. Guests will board the trains in a mid-century-modern-style loading area which is nearing completion now. Throughout the ride will be special character moments, new scenes and special effects. There is also a high energy onboard musical score created by Academy Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino, who also scored the music for “The Incredibles” and “Incredibles 2” films.
During our preview yesterday, Imagineers explained the backstory of the ride and revealed details of the what you’ll experience on the ride. If you want to be surprised, don’t read anything about the attraction from this point on.
In short, the Incredibles leave Edna Mode in charge of baby Jack-Jack, who promptly escapes. That’s when the entire Incredibles family launches into action to catch him . . . and away you go.
Here’s Disney’s point by point description of the attraction. . . final warning . . . major spoilers ahead:
Guests will step right into the world of “The Incredibles” as they discover they’ve been invited to the inaugural launch of the new Incredicoaster. In gratitude for their heroic efforts and incredible deeds, the citizens of Municiberg are dedicating their beloved roller coaster to the Incredibles. Of course, the family of supers are attending – Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack – along with Edna Mode (exclusive super suit designer to the Incredibles).
With Edna and Jack-Jack being too short to ride the Incredicoaster, they have to wait for the rest of the Incredibles inside the VIP inauguration lounge. Things go awry, however, when the unpredictable Jack-Jack vanishes from Edna’s not-so-watchful eye. As a polymorph with a wild variety of powers, Jack-Jack creates chaos along the track while his Incredible family sprints into action to save the day.
Incredicoaster Scenes:
Straight away, Dash sprints into action in an attempt to catch Jack-Jack, launching guests on the adventure with him. As the coaster zooms through the first tunnel, Jack-Jack shoots blue laser beams from his eyes and Dash uses his super speed to avoid being hit.
During the climb into the second tunnel, guests find that Elastigirl has jumped in to assist. Stretching herself flat against the tunnel walls (Editor note: 53 feet of her in all), she reaches out with both arms in an attempt to grab her baby boy. Then the aroma of chocolate chip cookies wafts through the tunnel and, as the coaster plunges downward, guests see that Mr. Incredible has punched through the side of the tube holding a cookie to lure Jack-Jack out of another dimension.
In the third tunnel, guests find Jack-Jack joyfully aflame. Violet jumps in to save the Incredicoaster riders by shooting her purple force field up the tunnel, shielding guests from the raging fire. As the coaster zooms safely out of the tunnel, it sprints over a series of humps, and guests see a cluster of Jack-Jacks in mid-air, giggling and multiplying.
As riders circle through the final helix, they hear the voice of Edna Mode telling the family that Jack-Jack has returned to her, safe and sound. As the track straightens out, riders return to a chaotic and messy VIP lounge with one last surprise that guests are sure to enjoy.
Jack Jack has new powers that are revealed in the Incredibles 2 which we’ll see on the ride, including the use of lasers. And are those cookies you smell on the ride? Yep! No baby can resist a good cookie, and the Incredibles attempt to lure Jack Jack with cookie num nums.
Jack Jack multiplies near the humps on the coaster with a flock of babies giggling as we bounce over the bumps in the track.
And if you exit the ride wishing you had some of those cookies you smelled on the ride, you’ll have an opportunity to buy what look like delicious hot deep dish brown butter chocolate chip cookies at Jack Jack’s Cookie Num Nums, located in the former ride photo building at the exit of the attraction. I’d take cookies over a gift shop any day!
As for the progress of the coaster construction, things are pretty far along now. Scaffolds are mostly removed, the scream tunnels are enclosed, and trains have been spotted testing.
Toy Story Boardwalk
Adjacent to Incredibles Park is Toy Story Boardwalk. This neighborhood includes Jessie’s Critter Carousel and Toy Story Mania!
While the Carousel won’t reopen until 2019, it is being partially hidden by a large waterfall wall which will shield the view and sounds of the Toy Story section from the Incredibles area.
Toy Story Midway Mania has been repainted and now sports a blue roof with red accents. It’s an attractive look and looks great from the far side of the lagoon.
Speaking of World of Color . . . the projector huts at the South side of the lagoon are being repainted to match the Toy Story building.
And a fast food turkey leg booth will be in the area as well.
Another kiosk in the area is Señor Buzz Churros. Buzz has switched into Spanish mode, just like he does in “Toy Story 3”. There will be a fun-sized Buzz photo-op near the cart as well.
Pixar Promenade
Next up is an area themed to multiple movies and characters. This is where you’ll see favorites not featured in the other neighborhoods. The main attraction here is the Pal-A-Round (former Fun Wheel), but you’ll also find an entertainment stage, games of the boardwalk, and a giant Pixar ball floating on a plume of water.
The 24 gondolas of the Pal-A-Round sport a variety of Pixar friends.
The games of the Boardwalk are being worked on now. New signs and murals are going in.
The Pixar short “La Luna” will have a carnival game. Heimlich’s Candy Corn Toss will have guests tossing over-sized candy corns into Heimlich’s open mouth in an attempt to win prizes. There will also be a tribute to the Heimlich Chew Chew train soon to close in A Bugs Land as favorite lines from that attraction will be recycled into the new game. WALL-E Space Race is inspired by the beautiful space dance scene from the film and will have guests triggering fire extinguishers to send WALL-E and EVE twirling up into space. And finally is Bullseye Stallion Stampede, which is the only game returning from the original Paradise Pier – where guests roll balls into holes, skeeball-style, to advance horses in a race.
The old t-shirt shop is being transformed into Bing Bong’s Confectionary.
And a bandstand is also being worked into the facade around the back of thte land.
The Pixarmonic Orchestra will be moving to the bandshell as well as some Pixar characters once the area is complete.
Here’s what the construction area looks like from a large crack in the construction wall.
Inside Out Headquarters
Little is known about the final neighborhood themed to Pixar’s Inside Out. There will be an as yet unnamed attraction and that’s all we know. Since this area won’t be opening until 2019, we may be waiting a while longer to hear about what to expect from the attraction. But we do know that an Angry Dogs cart is located just between Pixar Promenade and the Inside Out section of the Pier.
The remaining areas of the original Paradise Pier – including Paradise Gardens, Silly Symphony Swings, Jumping Jellyfish, Goofy’s Sky School, Golden Zephyr and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure – become a new land called Paradise Gardens Park.
| Thank you for joining us on this journey into Pixar Pier. There’s even more to share in the weeks leading into the grand opening of the new land. Be sure to follow along on social so you don’t miss out on any of the fun, construction updates, news and rumors. |
Totally off topic, but I just processed this Point of View video of my riding Knott’s Berry Farm’s new HangTime and thought you might enjoy seeing what a terrorized Dusty Sage looks like. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed getting my feet back on solid ground: