Pixar Fest 2024 has officially begun at Disneyland Resort and brings with it a ton of ways to celebrate your favorite Pixar stories, from the first Toy Story all the way up to Elemental. This includes themed food, drinks, and merch, a new parade and revamped nighttime spectacular, first-time appearances by fan-favorite characters, and so much more.
Disney flew me out to preview all the fun Pixar Fest has in store for fans while it runs from April 26 - August 4, and I'm here to break down everything you need to know about the celebration and all the best food, merch, entertainment, and so much more.
Pixar Fest 2024: Celebrating Friendship and Beyond
Disneyland's first Pixar Fest took place in 2018 and it hasn't returned until this year. To learn why now was the perfect time for Pixar Fest's second run, Tasha Sounart, a creative director in Pixar's theme park group, shared with us a bit of the inspiration behind the coolest Pixar party in town.
"We want the feelings and the emotions that you've connected with these characters from the films to be carried forward in the parks in many different ways. We thought this was a really great time to bring back Pixar Fest because it's been a while and we've come out with a lot of films since then. Luca, Turning Red, Soul, and others have a lot of fun stuff in them that hasn't really been seen in the parks before, so this is an opportunity to celebrate some of those new films."
Alongside the films Sounart mentioned, Pixar also released Onward, Elemental, and Lightyear, and Pixar Fest 2024 is a chance to experience those stories in a whole new way at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
We also have to mention that Pixar is gearing up to release Inside Out 2 on June 14, 2024, and Pixar Fest is laying the foundation for some potential fun to come from our favorite emotions. While there isn't much Inside Out 2 quite yet since the film hasn't been released yet, that doesn't mean their aren't some surprises in store for eagle-eyes guests.
"We've got a new film coming out in June called Inside Out 2 and we obviously wanted to bring back Riley and Sadness and some of our favorite characters from Inside Out 1. And yeah, there is actually a very small cameo of Inside Out 2 in the fireworks show at the end if you keep an eye out."
All in all, Sounart shared that Pixar Fest has the "theme of togetherness and friendship," and that has spread across all the festivities at Disneyland Resort.
"I always think of coming to the park with my family or friends," Sounart said. "And so for me that's what is so meaningful about Pixar Fest is that sense of togetherness and that sense of appreciating your friends and family and having fun together, and so that is what I'm most excited about."
Just Keep Eating, Just Keep Eating
Without a doubt, one of the biggest selling points for Disney Parks' special events is the limited-time themed food and drinks that you can't get anywhere else. Furthermore, a lot of these offerings aren't just delicious treats to enjoy, but they also tell a story and become an extension of the films we all love so much.
Pixar Fest is no exception and there's quite a few options that I got to try that I highly, highly recommend you make the time to try if you can get yourself to Disneyland. You can check out my full thoughts on the items I got to try and see in person in my Best Food at Pixar Fest 2024 Guide and in the slideshow below, but I wanted to share a few top level thoughts with you below for some of my favorites.
My two favorite items I had the chance to check out were actually two items I wasn't able to try, but you better believe I will be doing my best to get back to Disneyland before August 4 to find them! First up are the Nemo and Baby Dory cake pops. I mean, just look at the images above to understand why I fell in love with this immediately. They are SO cute and have such a great attention to detail, including Nemo's lucky fin and the big eyes of baby Dory.
The second is The Marigold Bridge, which is inspired by Coco and literally took my breath away. This cupcake, which is a tri-colored one with cinnamon mousse, cream cheese frosting, and a chocolate bridge with orange chocolate shavings, looks just like the bridge from Coco that let the dead journey back to the land of the living to be with their loved ones. Even though I didn't get to taste it, this is one of the most beautiful pieces of food I've ever seen. It's not often food can make you truly emotional, but that's what happened here and the power of these stories and the incredible artists at work.
From what I got to try, I think my favorite might just be the 'Smoked Fire Wood' BBQ-Spiced Impossible Chicken, which is inspired by Elemental. This delicious not-chicken patty was so crispy and was topped with a delicious hot mustard sauce, some pickles with a perfect bite, and charred onions. The flavors just came together so well and I would never have been able to tell this wasn't chicken, it was that good.
I also have to recommend that Ratatouille Pizzetta and Gusteau Macaron from Gusteau's To-Go at Disney California Adventure Park's Pixar Fest Marketplace that will be open from May 10 - August 4. The pizzetta is a perfectly small-sized pizza with an arrangement of Ratatouille (eggplant, squash, and zucchini) on the front and a wedge of French Camembert cheese that just added a whole other level of flavor. And the macaron is just SO GOOD in the taste and looks department. From the Gusteau To-Go logo to the crème brûlée cream and caramel center, it is just a delight.
FYI, The Pixar Fest Marketplace will be a joy to visit as there are also stalls dedicated to Turning Red, Luca, Elemental (the Impossible Chicken will be there!), Soul, and more! However, it doesn't open until May 10, so keep that in mind!
Once again, check out all of my thoughts right here on the best food at Pixar Fest 2024 and let me know below what your favorites are!
My Name is Dug (the Popcorn Bucket) and I Love You (and Merch)
We all love food with all our hearts, but there is a part of us that craves merch just as much, if not more! Lucky for us but unlucky for our wallets, Pixar Fest 2024 is filled to the brim with some fun, colorful, and unique items that all celebrate everything Pixar and should please that merch monster within us all. Oh, and there are some popcorn buckets that, while maybe not as shocking, can rival those of Dune 2 and whatever ridiculousness Deadpool & Wolverine will undoubtedly throw our way.
I had the chance to speak to Disney’s Carlos Martinez about Pixar Fest 2024’s merch and what inspired its striking, comic book-style designs, and it was all in an effort to blend together the different looks of all the Pixar films.
“The coolest thing for Pixar Fest 2024 is that there are 15 unique items that all celebrate the ‘friendship and beyond’ idea and what we love about Pixar. For me, I love the fact that everything has that comic book style, which is very unique, and it bonds all the characters together from across the different stories. After all, it's not very common that you get to see Woody and Miguel together in a store with Mei and Lightning McQueen. This comic book style gives us that opportunity to be able to celebrate all the stories in one, unified way.
“Also, there is a versatility of having items that are gender inclusive, so it's not a male or female thing. There's sizing for young and old, big and small, and it's a just great opportunity to be able to just showcase your love for Pixar no matter who you are.”
A big question on everyone’s mind once again was Inside Out 2, especially considering it is set to be released in theaters on June 14. While only the first Inside Out will be part of Pixar Fest 2024's merch offerings at the start, you never know what surprises are in store down the road.
“You'll have to come out and see,” Martinez said when asked about Inside Out 2 at Pixar Fest. “You'll have to wait, because you never know what's going to happen here at the Disneyland Resort. As we learned from the original Pixar Fest, there's fun and excitement at every corner.”
Now, before we get to some of the awesome Pixar Fest 2024 merchandise fans can look out for, we have to talk about the popcorn buckets. Special popcorn buckets have long been a big part of Disney Parks but the popularity has skyrocketed with the likes of Dune 2’s shocking bucket that took the internet by storm. While not as wild, Pixar Fest will have some popcorn buckets that will make you the envy of all your friends.
First up is the Pizza Planet Truck Popcorn Bucket, which lights up and comes complete with a Toy Story Alien that is dressed up in his best Pizza Planet attire. As if that wasn’t enough, you can take the Alien out and you’ve got yourself a new figure to play with!
And speaking of Pizza Planet Trucks, there are 50 unique Pizza Planet trucks hidden around both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for guests to find, including a Guardians of the Galaxy one and a Mad Max-esque truck that is driven by none other than Grogu himself. I won’t spoil where those are for you, but make sure to keep your eye out for them!
Now, as for the rest of the merch, one of the highlights include a Pixar Fest Spirit Jersey that features Woody, Mei, Miguel, Lightning McQueen, Sulley, Joy, Sadness, Anger, and more. This was flying off the shelves when I visited the parks on the first day of Pixar Fest and is likely to be a popular one.
Fans can also discover a bucket hat that is reversible and gives you two ways to wear your love for Pixar, one blue side with a bunch of Luxo Balls and another that yellow and blue and a bit more minimalist. There is also mugs, water bottles, bags, sweatshirts, zip-up hoodies, and more sporting that unified comic book artstyle of these characters.
Next, I want to highlight the Pixar Lug bag, which is a first for Disneyland Resort. It’s meant to be the perfect size for all your essentials, whether it be your phone, charger, external battery, snacks, sunscreen, etc., and not any more. And you can wear it across your body as a satchel, as a small backpack, or even as a fanny pack. The goal of this bag is to provide guests with a smaller way to carry with them what they need and avoiding bigger, heavier bags. Oh, and it has a see-through slot for your ID!
Lastly, Pixar Fest 2024 is bringing more than just Pixar characters to the festivities as there is a brand new, customizable headband that is now available that are basically a new sort-of Mickey Ear variation. You will be able to purchase the heads of different characters and place them on the headband in any way you like, whether that be in a way mimicking Mickey Ears or putting three or four at a time because you love them so much.
This new product is all about making the perfect headband that represents you, and the collection will continue to grow as time goes on. At launch, it now includes such characters as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Chip, Dale, Daisy, the Toy Story Alien, Lotso, Buzz, Stitch, Winnie, and Tigger.
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration is Pixar Fest 2024's brand-new parade that not only features such iconic characters as Woody, Buzz, and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, but, for the first time, characters from Turning Red, Luca, and Soul!
This new parade runs twice a day from April 26 - August 4 at Disney California Adventure and, all in all, stars over 24 characters from 10 Pixar films to "celebrate friendship and beyond." There has never been more Pixar characters on display in any Disney Park and, in total, there will be almost 70 performers when you factor in the (excellent!) dancers that surround each of the eight floats.
To learn more about the parade, we heard from Robin Trowbridge, show director at Disney Live Entertainment, and he shared what we can expect and how it differs from the Pixar Play Parade back in 2018.
"We wanted to go into this parade with a message," Trowbridge said. "And the messages from the stories that we helped bring to life were basic. They were like, the truth about life is that friendship matters. And that friendship is a great thing. And that when we have friends, we are better together.
"We've learned from our Pixar Pals that friends will accept us or help lift us up no matter what we're going through, no matter what stages we are in life and we love that message. And so Better Together: a Pixar Pal Celebration is literally an invitation to celebrate friendship and beyond."
As for the floats themselves, the iconic Pixar lamp kicks off the parade, and that one is just ahead of a Turning Red one that stars Mei in her giant red panda form for the first time at a domestic Disney Park. 4*TOWN and Mei's father and friends are also dancing along on the float.
Next up is the Up float, and running all around it is Russell on Kevin's back and they look so great. The costume makes it look like it was pulled straight from the film and Kevin's feathers shine with brilliant colors in the light. Carl is on the float itself with his house and balloons behind him, and Dug is on the back and, yes, he loves you very much!
The Soul float grooves on by next and sees Joe Gardner and his students having a big jazz jam session to celebrate 'Mr. G.' In a nice touch, the music notes you see on the float make up the actually musical track for the song that the class is performing.
Joy and Sadness headline the Inside Out float and they are riding atop Riley's Rocket Wagon and a bunch of her memories. We clearly all haven't forgotten about our dear, sweet Bing-Bong so he is there with a big smile on his face.
Luca, Alberto, and Giulia follow and they are on a float that looks like it was taken right from Portorosso. Luca and Alberto are in what looks like water and you can see their blue-green scales and fins when they move, but they are in their human form when they lift their legs above the "water." Giulia is riding her Vespa above them.
The finale brings in the heavy hitters as we first see Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone drive by on their hovercraft vehicles. Then a big float with Sulley and Mike Wazowski, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie, and Miguel and Dante zooms by right before Woody rides his toy truck by to say goodbye.
Trowbridge then had one more great story to share with us about the parade, one that shows the power of the little things.
"In an effort to reach out to all of our guests, in the effort to communicate out our message, you'll see in our choreography at the end of the parade that we are signing 'better together,'" Trowbridge said. "It is literally the last statement we make at the gate when we close, that we do better together and then we wave goodbye. So that's just kind of a nice little thing that we dropped in there to help reach out."
Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular
While the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration parade is a brand-new show, Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular is actually an upgraded version of the show guests enjoyed during 2018's Pixar Fest, but now with the inclusion of Turning Red, Soul, Elemental, Luca, and Onward.
Alongside fan-favorite returning elements like Buzz Lightyear and Carl and Ellie's house from Up soaring above the castle and the 59 Pixar character that were part of the original, this show will have "enhancements" like new pyrotechnics, Magic Band+ integration, and 17 new characters. There will also be a new Walkout/post-show that will keep that party going on Main Street, USA, and other locations around Disneyland with songs like an instrumental version of Turning Red's Nobody Like You.
KC Wilkerson, principal media designer for Disney Live Entertainment at Disneyland and show director for Together Forever, walked us through the inspiration behind this new Nighttime Spectacular that's filled with fireworks, projections, and more.
"Originally, the idea was that we were just going to add the new characters to the old show," Wilkerson said. "The more we dove into it, however, the more we decided that we really needed to do something a little bit different. So, we decided to sort of break the show apart in little ways and add in the new characters to our appropriate chapters because remember, Together Forever is a story.
"It's about meeting new friends. It's about taking those friends and setting out on adventures. And it's about overcoming adversity together, which helps form everlasting bonds. We wanted to choose moments from the newer films that really reflected the overall story that we were trying to tell. And we also realized that, since 2018, we have improved on the technological side. So we we added new projectors to a number of our locations. And those projectors provide us with greater detail, greater clarity, and much richer colors. And I don't know about you guys, but what I think of when I think of Pixar is color, and the opportunity to render Pixar colors effectively on all of these incredible projection surfaces was a tremendous challenge. But I think when you see pictures and video of the show and hopefully see it in real life, then you can see that the show really delivers."
And deliver it does, from everything mentioned above to Mei running down Main Street and transforming from her panda self into her human form via new, custom Pixar animation to the dead from Coco appearing above the buildings in a memorable moment to the colors of films like Elemental being represented in the fireworks. It really is the ultimate celebration of all things Pixar.
Oh, and be sure to look out for the six Hidden Mickeys throughout the projections as well as a glimpse of some of the new emotions you'll be able to catch in Inside Out 2.
Pixar Pals Playtime Party and Club Pixar
There are so many more ways for families to enjoy the fun of Pixar Fest 2024, and two more highlights are the Pixar Pals Playtime Party and Club Pixar.
Pixar Pals Playtime Party takes place at Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland and the area has been transformed into a literal Pixar play area that is filled with Pixar characters like Elemental's Wade and Ember, Luca and Alberto from Luca, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible in their retro super suits for the first time alongside Edna and Frozone, Inside Out's Joy and Sadness, Ian and Barley from Onward, and even Russell and Dug from Up.
"We really transformed that whole space to an immersive location," Disney Live Entertainment creative director Tracy Halas told us. "You get to join some of the characters for a dance party and even learn some their dances. There are great oversized photo locations where you can meet some of the our Pixar Pals. There are locations for crafts and for creating a very fun time with family. There's specialty foods and so much more to experience, so this is really a can't-miss location at Disneyland Park."
While the Pixar Pals Playtime Party is a fun activity to do during the day, Club Pixar becomes the hot spot in the afternoon and evening as it keeps the Pixar fun going at the Hollywood Backlot at Disney California Adventure. This DJ-led experience features live performances, Pixar-themed games, photo ops, themed food and beverages, and much more.
One of the cooler aspects of Club Pixar is The Shorts Stop Drive-In Theater, where guests can sit in chairs modeled after old-time cars and watch a continuous loop of Pixar Shorts. It's a great place to relax and just take in all the joy of Pixar, and the games are on either side of it to keep the kids busy as well, including fishing, ball toss, and more.
"Club Pixar is the hottest club in town and is made for guests of all ages," Halas said. "One of my favorite parts is how you can learn some dances from the stage show, including a little Monsters U pep rally cheer and some fun from 4*Town. We've also taken some scenes like from Wall-E and from Up and share a little bit of the films before transitioning into an interactive interpretive dance moment where these great dancers come out and take that story and finish telling it through the world of dance. This is one of my favorite things. I'm not supposed to have favorites, but I do. I love how these transitions bring the emotion and heart to what these stories represent."
This part also really captured my heart, especially during the Inside Out segment. Each emotion got a chance to shine, and words and colors played on the screen behind the dancers that represented what those emotions make us feel. It was a very special dance that fit so well into the theme of Pixar.
And with that, there is everything you need to know about Pixar Fest 2024 at Disneyland! As we previously mentioned, there should be more to enjoy from now until August 4, and we'll be updating this guide with any major developments, including any related to Inside Out 2!
Until then, be sure to let us know what you are most excited for at Pixar Fest 2024 and what your favorite things are when you get to go!
For more, check out our rankings of all all the Pixar movies, our Disney 100 retrospective about how a century of Disney Magic began, and our breakdown of the latest Inside Out 2 trailer.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
