It’s an Incredibles week for Disney. The newest Pixar film, Incredibles 2, is set for a big opening weekend and will be followed up by the opening of Pixar Pier at Disney’s California Adventure on the 23rd. Be sure to let us know what you think of the new film. Today we’ve got some fun photos of the soon to open Pier. It’s hard to imagine that it will be done in time, but they are clearing away walls and debris right now. The Incredicoaster is testing, and Edna Mode is now greeting with guests.
Pixar Pier Prepares for Opening
Construction equipment is being moved, walls are rapidly being removed, queues painted, landscaping is going in, and the generally chaotic looking Pixar Pier will soon be orderly and open to guests . . . at least we hope so.
Toy Story is closed until next week’s big opening event. Final updates are being made to the queue and the shop.
As construction walls come down, we get a better view of the new details of the Pier. 
And in the atrium of the Lamplight Lounge (former Avalon Cove), a most unusual lantern has appeared. It is affixed with sketch art of Pixar characters.
And the walls have come down around Knick’s Knacks, which is the store for all things Pixar.
The Cove Bar has finally closed to complete its renovation.
The archway into the Incredibles area is complete. Though, we haven’t seen water in the new fountain to its west yet.
The coaster is frequently testing now.
Jack Jack’s Cookie Num Nums is nearing completion. Hopefully there’s enough room for folks to queue up back here because these cookies are very likely to be popular.
Waiting to see that fountain turned on.
The games of the boardwalk have colorful facades.
The Poultry Palace is also coming along rapidly but still looks like it has quite a bit of work left to accomplish. 
The new bandstand, which will host the Pixarmonic Orchestra, is also coming together . . .
And the former Mickey’s Fun Wheel, now to be called the Pixar Pal-A-Round is also complete with a new sign and yellow awning.
One area that looks like it might not make the deadline is Bing Bong’s candy shop. The facades have not been fully installed and there are still construction fences around the area.
There’s a lot to be done in the next 7 days.
Incredibles Float Joins Paint The Night
Beginning June 23rd, a new Incredibles float joins DCA’s nightly spectacular.
Here’s how Disney describes the new float:
- The dynamic and colorful new float connects both “The Incredibles” and “Incredibles 2,” picking up where the first film left off and portraying the scene that shows the Parr family banding together against the supervillain known as “The Underminer.”
- Violet Parr uses her super powers to surround herself with a “force field.” It will come to life through a custom-built persistence-of-vision (POV) globe – the first and largest ever to be installed on a Disney parade float.
- Dash’s super-human speed is captured through an innovative system of 64 individually lit frames, flashing as he races in circles around the float.
- Mr. Incredible and Mrs. Incredible, along with their pal Frozone, light up the night in new super suits. The suits have been installed and wired by hand and are fully programmable to be in sync with the music and the float lighting.
- The super suits, designed by eccentric fashion designer Edna Mode, are illuminated with nearly 100 sheets of flexible, miniature LEDs. This is the first time these light-up suits will be worn by any Disney or Pixar character.
- The chest logos on the Incredibles’ glowing super suits are made up of 60 individually programmable LEDs.
And here’s an interview I did with show Director Tracy Halas a couple months ago when it moved to DCA:
Edna Mode Comes To The Pier – Yes, words are useless!
Edna Mode is scheduled to begin greeting guests at the Pier with the opening of the new film. So keep an eye out for her this weekend. Here she is advising me to avoid capes in my attire. Yes darling, it’s true!
Halloween Time Returns September 7 through October 31st
It’s not too soon to be thinking about Halloween. Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are on sale now. Last year’s tickets sold out. So don’t delay too long.
Like last year, there will but decorations and themed attractions in both parks, with Halloween party nights at Disneyland.
Oogie Boogie once again takes over Disney California Adventure park’s Buena Vista Street. Cars Land will celebrate Haul-O-Ween again. And Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! will transform nightly into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark.
Disneyland’s tired Pumpkin Festival will greet guests once again as they make their way down Main Street, and Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy will also return.
Mickey’s Halloween Party 2018 dates: Sept. 19, Sept. 21, Sept. 24, Sept. 26, Sept. 28, Oct. 2, Oct. 5, Oct. 9, Oct. 12, Oct. 16, Oct. 19, Oct. 23, Oct. 26, Oct. 29, Oct. 31
This and That
A quick stroll around the park to pick up the odds and ends . . .
The Fastpass return situation continues to be terrible. Lines for some attractions are ridiculously long. Disneyland guests struggle to use the self-service return scanners and lines stretch into already crowded walkways.
The Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass Return stretched all the way around Raymond’s Auto Body Art shop this past Tuesday (yes, a TUESDAY – not even a weekend).
There are a couple of new things back by the Coke stand in Hollywood Land.
In what has got to be the strangest placement of art sales in the resort, a little gallery has been carefully hidden from easy public view BEHIND the beverage stand. WHY? No signage explaining the location nor any signage promoting it. It’s almost like they want this to fail. Completely and totally baffling.
And if you turn around from viewing the art and look at the abandoned Hollywood and Dine building, you’ll see some street art spraypainted on the wall. It’s a Buzz photo wall.
The Sunset Showcase Theater is currently showing the Incredibles 2 Trailer. Now that the film is open, it will soon be replaced by Pixar Shorts again.
Let’s say goodbye to Downtown Disney . . . the part of it West of the Monorail beam that is. ESPN Zone is already closed and the remainder of the venues are scheduled to close over the next two weeks.
Hard to imagine the high volume Rain Forest Cafe leaving, but it will soon be final safari.
The west end certainly isn’t the only area of Downtown Disney in transition. Much of the north side of the retail mall is also being refreshed.
Even Wetzels Pretzels is currently closed . . . but will reopen this fall.
The major phased refurbishment of Naples also continues.
And World of Disney’s retheme is nearing the big flip. Half the store is currently closed for refurbishment and retheme. Sometime in the next week or so they will flip sides and allow guests into the new side of the store and place the old side under construction.
And because of all the construction, some extra retail space has been set up in the esplanade between the two parks. It doesn’t get particularly busy.
One More Thing
The delightful Disney By Steph has moved to LA from Orlando and will be featured frequently right here on MiceChat. Here are her glamour shots of the Paint the Night Parade which will be getting a big new float next week.
Be sure to follow along on social so you don’t miss out on all the fun as it happens.
- MiceChat Discussion Forums
- MiceChat Facebook Page (for news and information)
- MiceChat Facebook Discussion Group (for fan discussions)
- MiceChat Sunday Fun Days in Southern California
- MiceChat Forums
- MiceChat Twitter
- MiceChat Instagram
- MiceChat YouTube
- MiceChat Events Mailing List
- MiceChat Newsletter Mailing List
