Bing Bong rides rainbow wagon into Anaheim
The odd character from ‘Inside Out’ is ready for you to snap a picture
A rare Pixar character who is part elephant, part cat and mostly cotton candy has parked his rainbow Rocket Wagon at the Disneyland Resort so fans can pose for photos
Bing Bong, who was Riley’s imaginary friend in the 2015 animated film “Inside Out,” is at Disneyland’s new Pixar Place Hotel in his first appearance at any Disney theme park resort worldwide.
The multimillion-dollar transformation of the former Paradise Pier Hotel into Pixar Place Hotel debuted last week after three years in the making at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.
Bing Bong is the imaginary friend of 11-year-old protagonist Riley Andersen, who is guided by the emotions/characters Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness in the control center of her mind in the film.
With the head of a pink elephant, fuzzy tail of a purple cat and a body of cotton candy, Bing Bong looks unlike any other character in an animated film, clad in a brown plaid jacket, mini bowler hat, fingerless gloves and polka dot bow tie, with a rainbow flower on his lapel.
The voice of Bing Bong was provided by actor Richard Kind, who has also worked in “A Bug’s Life,” “American Dad,” “Family Guy” and “Big Mouth.”
The “Inside Out 2” sequel hits theaters June 14.
The Bing Bong meet-andgreet character at Pixar Place Hotel is massive, with a prodigious belly of pink cotton candy and a towering height of more than 7 feet. He poses for photos in front of his Rocket Wagon, with broom boosters and cardboard wings carrying a swooping, inflatable rainbow arch.
For now, Bing Bong can only be seen at certain select times at the Pixar Shorts Court play area near the Pixar Place Hotel rooftop pool. Anybody can come and visit with Bing Bong — not just hotel guests or theme park visitors.
Other “Inside Out” characters like Joy and Sadness often appear for meet-andgreet photos near the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind ride in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure.
It’s become an annual tradition during the unofficial Gay Days Anaheim mixin event to pose for group photos at the neon rainbow display in Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff candy shop with one of Disney’s more flamboyant characters.
Bing Bong isn’t the only Pixar character making appearances at the new hotel.
Joe Gardner — the central character in Pixar’s “Soul” — plays jazz from the animated movie on a baby grand piano under a staircase just off the main hotel lobby.
bmacdonald@scng.com