Pixar Fest 2024: California Adventures

 

 

I always consider summer to start on Mother’s Day weekend because it usually gives a sneak peek for what’s to come in the summer. This year, we decided to use our second pass at California Adventures for the beginning of Pixar Fest 2024. 

I was so excited. I hadn’t been to California Adventures since before the pandemic and so much has changed with Marvel and other newer additions, so it was going to be a fulfilling experience. I planned out my outfit, Toy Story themed, from my head to my feet. 

 

We didn’t leave too early that morning, which was nice and made it to Anaheim around 10 a.m. (or just a bit after), which wasn’t long after its opening. We’ve been parking in the Toy Story parking lot the last couple trips because it isn’t usually as busy and feels like the security portion goes a lot faster than the Mickey & Friends lot.

We made it to the park and were immediately hit with all the sights and sounds of Buena Vista Street. We went through a few of the stores to ease into the day, then made it to the Hollywood Backlot area. 

The Monsters, Inc. ride was our first stop, then we made our way through the wonderful world of the Marvel universe. I’ve watched the Marvel movies but am not one of those diehard fans. I think it’s an incredible area, and Disney doesn’t go halfway with anything. But, I am sad we lost out on A Bug’s World (even if it was a little outdated for today’s standards). Mostly, we just cut through since a lot of the rides were too long. We did get on Soaring Over (California) - The World, which is always a fun time. “Don’t forget about these little beauties!” never gets old. It reminds me of the early days at California Adventures.

We had lunch at Flo’s Diner in Radiator Springs - classic cheeseburgers, fries and cokes, then walked it off through Radiator Springs after, taking in Luigi’s, Lube-O-Rama and some of the other stores. 

 

A little later, we decided to try the single rider line for Cars. It took a little bit, but not as long as it would have waiting in the regular line. Mom and dad were a couple cars ahead of me. And I was the odd-man out on a group ride. They were really sweet and included me in their photo idea, which was fun. I felt so included! I also got done around the same time as my parents so we met up and walked out together. 

 

We even got to try Spiderman’s Web Slingers for the first time. I was so not sure what to expect, even though I’d read reviews online and started to watch a video of what it looked like. Now, that’s a trippy ride…You’re moving but most of it seen through the 3D glasses as you (get a workout in) by swinging your arms just like Peter Parker himself to score points and hit the targets along the way. I actually did well and won out of the three of us for that one. I was proud! 

 

 

 

After all of that, I was most excited about Pixar Pier being that it was Pixar Fest and all. I was slowly losing energy from the heat and being on our feet and needed a sweet treat. I was ready for a churro, so we stopped at the Senor Buzz churro stand. They were hot and doughy, sprinkled with purple and green sugar, and were some of the best I’ve ever had. We watched the Incredicoaster blast off a few times then waited for Toy Story Mania that felt like a couple hours. It was worth it though. You spin and swirl all around for various shooting galleries inside, hoping that you’ll end up with the most points when the ride comes to a stop. I did not win, but it was so fun, I didn’t mind. 

 

We walked through the rest of the Pixar areas, noting the changes and differences, like Inside Out, Bing Bong’s store and looped around to face the water and Mickey ferris wheel. I didn’t realize Jumpin’ Jellyfish and the Golden Zephyr are still there! Wild. And Goofy’s Sky School. That coaster used to be a favorite of mine when it was Mulholland Madness back in the day, but I think it’s a little too out there for me now, HA!

 

From there, we walked through the Grizzly’s River Run/Outdoor Adventure Challenge area. I love that spot so much. For one, it was shaded and cooler with the trees. There’s a bit of a romance to it that just feels peaceful like you are transported to the Redwoods. Then, we left for a bit to make our way to Downtown Disney to do some shopping, and take a break. We did a shorter day and less walking overall than we usually do at Disneyland, but my.feet.were.screaming! We didn’t really sit for any length of time which was challenging. We went to the World of Disney store. We found all of our goodies - I got a classic Mickey shirt, some crayons, a Lizzie McGuire mug, and a couple of the anniversary journals that look like classic Disney story books, like Sleeping Beauty and Beauty & The Beast. I was very excited about my purchases. 

Once we were done, we made our way back into the park and had dinner at a pizza place we’d passed earlier. It all smelled so good. I almost went with pasta but decided on just a slice of pizza. We sat at a table outside because it was cooling down and there was live music. It was nice to just take in the views for a minute and not be rushing off to the next thing. There's magic as soon as the lights turn on around the parks, and it’s such a beautiful moment to witness the slow transition.

 

We’d done just about everything we wanted to but I was hoping to ride Cars another time at night before we left. The Little Mermaid didn’t have a long wait at all, and we were able to walk on right away. We somehow all ended up squeezing in the same clamshell cart, which was quite an interesting experience. It kept stopping and starting, which is pretty typical, but still a great ride. And gave all the “But daddy I love him” vibes after the Taylor song. 

 

 

 

 

From there, we went over to the Cars Racers for one more ride. It was still a long line, so we did single riders. This time, dad and I were on the same cart which was great! I think they kick up the speed at night and it’s a blast - All the butterflies, stomach flying out of your face type moments. That is one of the truest forms of joy that I can think of. I loved every second of it.

After that, we made our way back to Buena Vista Street. I wanted to get a Pixar caramel apple before we left, so we did. I went for a Mike Wazowski apple and mom and dad got some treats as well. Then, it was back to the shuttle to get a ride back to the parking lot. Again, thankfully, that line doesn’t take as long, so we were on it in no time.

There really are no bad days at the Magic Kingdom, whichever park you end up in. I do wish I’d seen more of the characters and been able to catch the parade and bonuses for Pixar Fest, but maybe next time. 

–Shelby