Disneyland’s Pixar Fest offers lovable show for kids
ANAHEIM, Calif. − Madonna has got nothing on Edna Mode.
“The Incredibles” character slides side-to-side onstage, hitting Vogue-y poses that could rival the queen of pop herself. Watching with rapt attention are several small children, all of whom appear no more than 10 years old. They jump up and down with her, hitting their own poses and sliding left to right.
At several points, non-character cast members give energetic dance instructions to the kids over music, telling them to flex, rock back and forth, clap, run, freeze and more. The kid-friendly moves look as if they could have come straight from an ’80s workout video, but instead of Jane Fonda, the instructors are Edna Mode, Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone and other beloved characters from “Toy Story” and “Inside Out.”
It’s all part of “Pixar Pals Playtime Party” (try saying that three times fast) − a new show at Fantasyland Theatre at Southern California’s Disneyland for Pixar Fest, which runs through Aug. 4. USA TODAY caught a media preview of the show on Thursday, as well as a glimpse at the wide array of creative food offerings. Here’s what to expect.
What’s the Pixar Palace Playtime Party like?
Really tiring if you’re a kid, but really relaxing if you’re a parent. (Isn’t that how theme parks ought to be?)
For about an hour, cast members get participants up on their feet and encourage them to dance, taking them through moves that include walking in an impromptu fashion show and forming a conga line. It’s an energetic hour, but there’s plenty of bleacher seating in the back for parents and kids who just want to sit and watch.
It’s also a great opportunity to see some beloved Pixar characters up close. Woody, Jessie and Bo Peep from “Toy Story” join the non-costumed cast members onstage, as do Happiness and Sadness from “Inside Out.” The characters also come down from the stage to dance with the kids on the floor, creating a more lively − and likely more memorable − experience of interacting with a character than waiting several minutes for a quick photo.
The show itself is pretty adorable and serves as more of an activity than a viewing.
What’s the food like?
Decadent. Chances are, whatever you’re in the mood for, they have for Pixar Fest − so long as that mood doesn’t include anything healthy. (But aren’t Disneyland days automatic cheat days anyway?)
On display for media were cookies and cupcakes galore, “Finding Nemo” cake pops, churros covered in gummy candy and chocolate sauce and minichocolate cakes decorated like tires from “Cars.” And those sweets don’t even scratch the surface.
For more savory options, there are also chicken and potato waffles in bitesized pieces, pesto pasta, a pizza topped with burger patties, and even a “Ratatouille Pizzetta,” a mini-pizza topped with eggplant, squash, zucchini, tomato sauce and a wedge of French camembert cheese.
What else is at Pixar Fest?
So much. There’s decor where you can pose for photos at the fronts of both Disneyland and California Adventure. There’s “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!,” which is a California Adventure parade with the most Pixar characters of any parade in a Disney park. There’s Club Pixar, which is an interactive DJ dance party that also features games like cornhole and tic-tactoe. And there’s “Together Forever − A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular,” an evening projection show that includes beloved Pixar characters old and new, as well as new emotions from the upcoming “Inside Out 2” film.