"Pixar Fest" was the theme in both park this year. The event launched on April 13, with a significant portion of Disney California Adventure closed, to prepare for the summer's big roll-out, Pixar Pier, which wouldn't open for another two months. The "permanent" overlay to the beloved Paradise Pier, transformed the "California" boardwalk into a celebration of Disney intellectual property.
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| Signs like this welcomed guests to both parks for Pixar Fest |
The California Screamin' roller coaster was re-imagined to become The Incredicoaster. Same ride, with a few minor effects added. Mickey's Fun Wheel was also re-named to Pixar Pal-Around, with a new paint job and the decals on the gondolas were changed from classic Disney characters to Pixar ones. Strangely, the giant Mickey Mouse head on bay side of the wheel remains.
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| A view of Pixar Pier from across Paradise Bay |
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| Pixar Fest banners and bunting lined Main Street U.S.A. |
Other "new" offerings included a parade-swap and a new nighttime fireworks show. California Adventure's boring and tired Pixar Play parade replaced Mickey's Soundsational Parade at Disneyland Park. It didn't take long to realize this is a parade that has no business being in Walt Disney's Park. A daily parade inside Disneyland without Mickey and the gang is blasphemy.
After an 18-month hiatus, Paint The Night moved across the Esplanade. The popular parade that debuted at Disneyland for the Diamond Celebration in 2015, replaced the equally popular World of Color as Disney California Adventure's nighttime show. The DCA version was altered and edited, with the reworking of the Little Mermaid float and the elimination of the Frozen float (both due to height restrictions on the parade route). A float featuring the Incredibles was added in late June.
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| The Incredibles float was added to Paint The Night in June |
Pixar Fest saw a new fireworks show, "Together Forever" debut at Disneyland [I intentionally omitted the word "spectacular"]. With video projections and new flying elements above the castle, this twelve-minute commercial for all things Pixar didn't even need fireworks. This is probably a good thing, because there weren't many. Most of the large pyrotechnics high above the park were eliminated. People will debate whether "high elevations winds" or cost cutting caused the removal of the large shells. Without a sponsor, I choose cost cutting. "Together Forever" was certainly not "Disneyland Forever". Heck, it wasn't even "Fantasy In The Sky".
Pillage and Plunder
To add insult to injury, Disneyland "plussed" one if its legendary attractions with a new, and very unnecessary "PC" treatment. The famous auction scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride was changed to a "safe" farmer's market, where hens instead of women are being auctioned-off to a group of rowdy, drunken pirates. At the center of the "new" scene the famous "red head" was transitioned to a female pirate. This change to the 50 year-old ride was stupid and pointless.
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| The "politically correct" new scene with the female pirate |
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| The original auction scene with the "red head" is now part of Yesterland |
Downtown Dismay
While the parks were drowning us in Pixar, the Downtown Disney District was just drowning. Who makes the brilliant decision to close half of a shopping and dining area at the beginning of the busy summer season? That would be the geniuses at the Mouse House. To make room for a brand-new, upscale Disney hotel, Some of Downtown Disney's most popular restaurants were closed in June, creating a ghost town near the Disneyland Hotels that couldn't be revived if they bussed characters over from Knott's Berry Farm.
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| A still-working outdoor video screen is the only sign of life at the old ESPN Zone |
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| The now-closed Rainforest Cafe awaits eventual demolition |
Among the closures were Rainforest Cafe, ESPN Zone, Earl of Sandwich and the AMC movie theater. A new Starbucks and a Disney Vacation Club location were also closed. While all of this was happening, new restaurants that were announced a year earlier were still under construction, with others were being remodeled. Naples Restaurant was undergoing an extensive refurbishment, Haagen Dazs was being replaced, Wetzel's Pretzels was being remodeled. The new Salt & Straw, Ballast Point and Black Top Burgers were all under construction at the time of this writing, with no opening in sight.
World of Disney was undergoing a months-long refurbishment, with half of the mega-store closed, while the other half was being updated. If you know how crowded this store can get, imagine how bad it is when only half of it is available to guests. During the refurbishment, a temporary outdoor location was set-up at the end of the Esplanade, near the west-side ticket booths.
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| Half of the World of Disney is closed for part of a two-phase, full renovation |
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| Construction walls still cover several "future" Downtown Disney storefronts |
There are many uncertainties in and around the Disneyland Resort as the summer season come to an end. But two things are for certain. Halloween Time and The Holidays are right around the corner. This means the memories of Pixar Fest should be erased fairly quickly as magic once again takes over the resort. Plus, we are now less than a year from the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland. The future is bright after the filler season that was Pixar Fest.
