Pixar Fest has arrived at both parks in Disneyland Resort in a colorful explosion of character experiences, entertainment, and themed decor. We had a chance to check out the festivities with our four-year-old and were delighted to find that Pixar Fest is truly set up to bring families together. Out of all the festivals offered around the year, this one feels like it caters the most to kids and their parents. While the family-friendly aspects may not be everyone’s jam, if you have kids, you’ll definitely want to some of these activities this summer. Below, I share our thoughts on the family activities at Pixar Fest…
Pixar Pals Playtime Party
Gather the family, and head to Pixar Pals Playtime Party at Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland. The Playtime Party is the center of the fun for kids at Pixar Fest. Open from 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM daily, the theater space has been transformed into more than a show. The interactive experience includes a dance party and games led by your favorite Pixar Characters. In between the entertainment, Pixar shorts play on the big screen, while additional characters come out for meet and greets.
We liked that the stadium seating allowed for multiple ways to enjoy the show. Sensory-sensitive kids may find the dance floor to be overstimulating, but can still enjoy the fun from the back bleachers where the vibe is a little calmer. You can also bring in food and eat while you watch. We did lunch while dancing along to the show in the bleachers.
The show repeats itself throughout the day, but Disney has been kind to us parents. The music changes up with each set so you aren’t listening to the same song on repeat. And this playlist, while family friendly, was definitely curated by a millennial parent. At one point, my husband leaned over and said, “Am I reliving my college years with this music?”
The character interactions were extra special and featured many characters that are either new to the parks or not often seen. Families will find characters from Luca, Elemental, Up, Onward, Toy Story, and Inside Out. My son, who watches Elemental on repeat at home, was especially excited to meet Wade and Ember for the first time.
As a parent, I really liked that they strategically placed the character meet-and-greets in a kid’s activity zone. While adults are still welcome in the area, it felt like it made the character interactions more accessible to kids who are too young to wait in a two hour line full of adult fans waiting to get their Instagram photo. The roaming characters and the sheer number of characters available at once made the lines manageable for everyone. The accessibly to the characters was built with kids in mind, but still left space for adults to take part if desired.
For Families, the Pixar Pals Playtime Party is a must-do!
Troubadour Tavern
Troubadour Tavern is mixing up their menu and offering themed specialty items right next to the fun at the Pixar Pals Playtime Party. We liked that the seasonal offerings appealed to both adults and kids. For Mom and Dad, both baked potatoes were solid, with our favorite being the Roundup BBQ Potato. For parents who need their caffeine fix to survive the activities, there’s the Adventure is Out There Cold Brew.
The kid’s option is a home run with BOTH chicken tenders AND mac and cheese offered in the same meal. And make sure to grab a box of the Mixed Emotions Popcorn featuring flavored popcorn, freeze dried Skittles, M&Ms, and pretzel sticks. It comes in a resealable box for you to take home the leftovers.
Club Pixar
Over at DCA, you’ll find the evening celebration at Club Pixar. With a more traditional dance floor and alcoholic beverages offered, this area definitely felt like more of a shared space for both adults and families. However, there was still lots of fun for kids. The most adorable Drive-In movie space is set up to view clips from Pixar Movies.
Free carnival games are available for kids to play as well.
The party starts at 4:30 PM and ends at 8:30 PM. We’ve heard from friends that Club Pixar is best after dark because the lights create a party vibe. However, we liked that, in the daylight hours, the floor was full of mostly small children making it a safe space for them to boogie together without getting lost in the crowd.
Don’t Miss The Characters
Pixar Pals Playtime Party may be the easiest place to bump into Pixar characters, but you’ll find Joy, Sadness and other beloved characters in Pixar Pier…
Mr. and Mrs. Incredible appear in DCA’s Hollywood Backlot in their original costumes, from before Edna Mode created their iconic red outfits (which you’ll still see elsewhere at Pixar Fest, including the parade and Playtime Party).
And you may even find a very special character wandering around Grizzly Trail…
Dug can be hard to find, but if you ask a guest relations Castmember, they can help narrow down times you might find him.
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration Parade
The new parade featured at Pixar Fest, Better Together, is worth the wait if you want to see lots of characters without waiting in a lot of separate lines. Typically, we recommend grabbing a seat about 30 minutes before the parade, but, until the excitement dies down, an hour before is the ideal time. We found good seats 60 minutes out, but wouldn’t have been as fortunate had we waited much longer. The first parade starts at the Hyperian Theater and the second parade starts at Pixar Pier, so plan your spot accordingly.
While it runs a little shorter than Magic Happens, it’s longer than the mini-parades and cavalcades we get for Disney Jr. Fest and Lunar New Year. The best part is getting to see new and rare characters. Pixar movies are a big hit in our house and my son was delighted by how many of his favorite characters were featured in the parade. The parade made the movies come to life for him. The soundtrack is upbeat and (while a little repetitive) puts everyone is a good mood.
Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular with Fireworks
High winds prevented Disney from running the full fireworks show Friday and Saturday of opening weekend, but we had to the opportunity to preview the show the week before. While I personally will miss Wonderous, this new show is still pretty special. It’s the perfect summer fireworks show – feel good, spectacular, and fun.
If you have small children, we typically recommend watching the fireworks at Small World, but not this time. For Together Forever, head over to Main Street and grab a spot in view of the castle. The projections down Main Street are the best part of the show and you’ll still be able to see the Buzz Lightyear and The Up House fly over the castle. You can stand toward the back of Main Street for a thinner crowd and easy exit, but still see everything.
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We’ll Be Back!
We see a future where we’ll be spending a lot of time at the Fantasyland Theater this summer for Pixar Fest. And, honestly, we’re fine with that! Pixar Fest creates the kind of environment that kids and adults can enjoy together. This festival really hit the mark for our family. If you’re looking for me this summer, you’ll find me on the dance floor with my son doing the electric slide with Jessie and Woody. AND, starting this Friday, the Pixar Fest marketplace booths open as well!
Have you checked out the festival? What did you think about the family-friendly spaces? Let us know in the comments below.
For more about Pixar Fest, please check out our guides:
UPDATED: Cuisine with Character! Disneyland Resort Pixar Fest Food Guide
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