Pixar Fest Character Locations Guide

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

Pixar Fest is in full swing at the Disneyland Resort and one of the main offerings are the many characters you can potentially interact with. Some of these are the usual suspects you’d regularly see in the parks, while others are making their first ever appearance!

Aside from the food, rare character meet and greets is our favorite part of special events, festivals, and After Dark events Disney puts on throughout the year. Seeing the characters you know and love brought to life and interact with them is priceless and one of the hallmarks of a Disney vacation.

Disney is advertising more than twenty new and familiar characters during Pixar Fest, but keep in mind that you’re not guaranteed to see all of them. Many factors such as staffing, unforeseen circumstances, and the recent unionization of Disneyland performers can impact the amount of characters out at a particular time.

With so many characters to see during Pixar Fest, you may be wondering what characters you can meet at Pixar Fest and their locations. During our visit, we painstakingly sought out as many of them as we could to bring this information to you. We didn’t get pictures of all of them, but we did find out where they are. Do keep in mind that this list isn’t absolute and you should always refer to the Disneyland app day-of for current character information.

Pixar Fest Characters at Disney California Adventure

While the entire resort is on the festivities, much of the event’s offerings are being held at Disney California Adventure. These include many food and drink offerings, Club Pixar, the Better Together Parade, and more. The characters, however, seemed to have been split fairly evenly.

In the backlot area of Hollywood Land, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl conduct meet and greets in front of a “We Are Incredible” backdrop in their retro suits. While these two are typically seen on a day-to-day basis, namely near the Incredicoaster attraction, you rarely see them in these outfits.

During our visit, we only saw them together one time. Aside from that one time, it was either one or the other. This is going to be an ongoing comment throughout this post as Disney seemed to be suffering from staffing issues while we were there.

One of the bigger character draws during Pixar Fest are Mei and Ming Lee from Turning Red. Prior to Pixar Fest, these two have only made one appearance in the parks and that was during Lunar New Year earlier in the year. Their debut saw hours-long queues.

During Pixar Fest, their meet and greet is set up in front of the waterwheel in Grizzly River Run, just up the way from the Little Mermaid attraction. These two will always do meet and greets together, so just know that when their thirty-minute interval is up, you’ll either need to wait for them to come back or return at a later time.

Disney could potentially have another pair of actors lined up to swap out with them so if that’s the case, you’ll only need to wait a few minutes. If they don’t, it’ll be at about thirty minutes before they’ll come back out. Cast members will keep the queue updated and will usually cut off the queue so folks don’t end up waiting for nothing. It can happen, though. So be prepared for that possibility.

In Pixar Pier, you’ll see many of the usual suspects. These include Woody and Buzz Lightyear, who take photos in front of the Toy Story Mania attraction. Further down the pier and across from the Pixar Pals Fun Wheel in the band shell, there’s a mixed bag of characters that appear. These include:

• Mike and Sulley from Monsters Inc.

• Joy and Sadness from Inside Out

• Anger from Inside Out (Beginning June 14)

• Bo Peep and Jessie from Toy Story

They’re completely random and depend entirely on staffing. On one of the mornings during our visit we were hoping to catch Mike and Sulley together but unfortunately, Sulley was the only character to appear. I asked a cast member if there was any chance for Mike to show and was told that, “Unfortunately, Mike is stuck in traffic in Monstropolis”. You have to admire her commitment to the “bubble”.

Another great way to see characters at DCA is during the Better Together Pixar parade that runs twice daily at DCA. You won’t be able to take pictures with any of them, but the parade is a practical smorgasbord of Pixar characters. Some you’ve seen in the parks before and others you’ve never seen.

A few examples include Joe Gardner from Soul, Carl from Up, Miguel from Coco, Mei Lee in Red Panda form from Turning Red, Luca, Alberto and Giulia from Luca and more. As stated above, the parade runs twice daily and because it hasn’t exactly been the most stellar of Disney’s parade, snagging a prime viewing spot is a fairly easy endeavor. For more information on that, including my recommendations to viewing areas, read my Pixar Fest 2024 Ultimate Guide.

To recap, Pixar Fest characters and locations in DCA are:

• Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl in the Hollywood Land Backlot

• Edna and Frozone near the Incredicoaster attraction

• Lightning McQueen, Mater, and more from Cars near the Cozy Cones in Cars Land

• Mike, Sulley, Bo Peep, Jessie, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Lotso, Joy, and Sadness throughout Pixar Pier

• Mei and Ming Lee near the Grizzly Peak waterwheel

• Dug (talking version) in the Grizzly Peak area near Redwood Creek Challenge

• *NEW - Beginning June 14, you can now meet Anger (from Inside Out) by the Pixar Pier Band Shell

Additionally, characters you’ll see during the parade include:

• Red Panda from Turning Red

• Carl, Dug, Russell, and Kevin from Up

• Joe Gardner from Soul

• Joy and Sadness from Inside Out

• Luca, Alberto, and Giulia from Luca

• Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl from The Incredibles

• Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie from Toy Story

• Miguel and Dante from Coco

• Mike and Sulley from Monsters Inc

Pixar Fest Characters in Downtown Disney and Resort Hotels

While not exclusively for Pixar Fest, Disney is touting the ability to meet beloved character Bing Bong from the movie, Inside Out, at the Pixar Place Hotel. Bing Bong usually meets guests of the hotel in the pool area but if you’re lucky (like I was) you can sometimes catch him in the lobby of the hotel.

Another character you’ll likely encounter at the hotel is Joe Gardner from Soul. You can often find him playing on the piano in the lobby area across from the registration desk. I’m not sure if he’ll pose for photos with you, but at the very least you can say you watched Joe Gardner play live jazz.

While not live characters, Downtown Disney features two cars cosplaying as Woody and Buzz Lightyear up against a Pixar Fest mural on the former ESPN building. This photo-opp is available to all guests, regardless if you hold a park ticket or not.

As far as characters outside of the parks go, that’s about it. While things could always change in that regard, there are only two months remaining for Pixar Fest at the time of this post’s publishing, so I’m doubtful. Besides, other than the parks and hotel, there are no other locations where a Pixar character meet and greet would make sense.

Pixar Fest Characters at Disneyland Park

DCA may be considered the “Pixar Park”, but Disneyland proper is also getting in on the action. However, the majority of all Pixar Fest characters meet with guests in the same area, and that area is the Fantasyland Theatre across from the it’s a small world attraction.

The meet and greets occur between the hours of 11:30am and 5:30pm daily during the Pixar Pals Playtime Party. It consists of a high-energy stage show featuring many Pixar characters, about a half dozen Pixar-themed photo-opps, and several meet and greets with rare characters.

The first two you’ll likely encounter are Russell and Dug from the movie Up. During our visit, they were greeting guests near the entrance of the theatre, just prior to the official start time of the party. Note that this isn’t the talking version of Dug that you would meet at DCA.

Their official meet and greet area is to the left of the stage, up against the Up-themed backdrop. Again, I’m sure there was a staffing shortage during my visit, as none of the characters were ever out at the same time. It seemed as though the same two or three cast members were pulling double-duty and acting as multiple characters each.

In the upper area of Fantasyland Theatre, just behind the stands, are two additional meet and greets. Both of which are brand new to the parks. They are Ember and Wade from Elemental, and Luca and Alberto from Luca. Unfortunately, Alberto never came out during our time there. We did, however, get some quality time with Luca.

Both Ember and Wade made their appearances together while we were there, but I’ve recently read that both have been making sporadic solo appearances. Again, the recent cast member unionization and/or staffing shortages are the likely culprits. If you have your heart set on a photo with them together, you may have to camp out for the opportunity.

Additional newcomers, Barley (left) and Ian (right) Lightfoot from Onward, are also available for meet and greets in front of Barley’s mighty steed, Guinevere, located to the right of the theatre stage. For us, these two and Ember and Wade were the main highlights.

Much like Russel and Dug, the Lightfoot’s meet and greet area is in the lower level of the theatre, mixed in with all the Pixar-themed backdrops. Don’t get scared away if there’s a performance of the Playtime Party stage show happening, as the brothers will still make their scheduled appearances.

Another character that has been popping up around the theatre lately is Merida from Brave. Based on the photos I’ve seen, she’s been hanging around in the upper area of the theatre, near Troubadore Tavern.

Finally, the Pixar Pals Playtime Party stage show features numerous Pixar characters in a high energy song and dance performance. The show occurs in thirty-minute intervals between 11:30am and 5:30pm. At the conclusion of each performance, a few of the characters actually leave the stage to dance with guests.

The characters appear in phases, starting with Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and Bo Peep. Joy and Sadness then join the party, before concluding with appearances by Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, and Edna (subject to change, as always).

Joy and Sadness spent the most time dancing with guests. I have to admit, the highlight of the day was watching Sadness dance as unhappily as she could to Taylor Swift’s mega-hit, Shake it Off. The second was snagging the above-displayed rare photo of four of the main characters from The Incredibles.

Outside of Fantasyland Theatre, there isn’t much going on in the way of Pixar meet and greets aside from Miguel, from Coco, who often greets guests in his charro (a suit often donned by mariachi performers) in Frontierland near the Day-of-the-Dead display. To see Miguel in his regular clothes, you’ll need to watch the Better Together parade at DCA.

It’s baffling that they didn’t set up a temporary meet and greet for Coco-related characters near Paradise Garden Grill in DCA, considering that this particular restaurant’s entire menu is being billed as “Coco-inspired” during Pixar Fest, but I digress.

To recap, Pixar characters and locations in Disneyland Park are:

• Barley and Ian Lightfoot, Ember, Wade, Luca, Alberto, Russell, Dug and Merida at Fantasyland Thestre

• Joy, Sadness, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bo Peep, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone, and Edna during the Pixar Pals Playtime stage show

• Miguel in Frontierland

• Buzz Lightyear makes occasional appearances in Tomorrowland as well

Attractions Featuring Pixar Characters

Costumed and face characters aren’t the only way to get your Pixar character fix as there are many attractions throughout both parks featuring several Pixar IP’s. Currently, none of these attractions are listed on the refurbishment calendar and since Pixar Fest is still going on, the chances of it staying that way are good.

The vast majority of Pixar-themed attractions are in California Adventure. They feature a whopping ten rides versus Disneyland park’s two. So if your goal is to remain in the Pixar bubble as much as possible, DCA is likely where you’ll want to spend most of your time.

So which rides can you see Pixar characters on at Disneyland? They are:

• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (DL)

• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (DL)

• Incredicoaster (DCA)

• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind (DCA)

• Jessie’s Critter Carousel (DCA)

• Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (DCA)

• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree (DCA)

• Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Resue! (DCA)

• Pixar Pal-A-Round (DCA)

• Radiator Springs Racers (DCA)

• Toy Story Midway Mania (DCA)

• Turtle Talk with Crush (DCA)

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, and especially if during Pixar Fest, read my Pixar Fest Ultimate Guide to help navigate all of the offerings. Additionally, see many of the Pixar Fest food and drink offerings by reading The 24 Pixar Fest Foodie Offerings We Tried to see pictures, prices, and more. Furthermore, photos from our tour of the new Pixar Place Hotel. Finally, for great deals on Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line vacation packages, visit my partners at Get Away Today.

Pixar Fest 2024 Ultimate Guide

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

With Pixar Fest 2024 in full swing at the Disneyland Resort until August 4, you may be wondering what’s being offered and what there is to do. We’ve recently visited the resort to experience Pixar Fest for ourselves and man, we honestly don’t remember the last time we’ve had so much fun at the park.

There’s so much to see, experience and eat that it could seem daunting to even attempt to experience everything (pro tip - it is). If you have a few days at the parks, you shouldn’t have any issues seeing most of it. If you only have one day, however, you may need to pick and choose.

If you don’t already know, the Disneyland Resort has hosted only one other Pixar Fest back in 2018. It wasn’t all that popular at the time, largely due to Disney seemingly phoning it in, and didn’t return in 2019. From 2020 until now, the parks have been working to recover from the effects of the pandemic. That now seems to be the case, as Disney decided to bring it back for 2024 and this time around, inject of whole lot of effort into making it successful.

If you’re thinking of visiting the parks during Pixar Fest, or you’ve already booked dates, this information-packed guide will help you navigate all of the offerings so you can prioritize which elements of Pixar Fest you’d like to experience. Let’s get into it.

Pixar Fest Decorations

The entire resort is adorned in Pixar Fest decorations. In the esplanade (the open space between Disneyland and DCA) there are numerous banners on the posts and a giant Pixar Fest display showcasing dozens of Pixar’s most popular characters and the infamous Luxo ball in the center.

It’s an impressive display during the day, particularly when the sun is hitting the panes near the top. In the evenings, though, it’s a bit of a dud as there’s nothing to illuminate it. That’s a huge (and surprising) miss on Disney’s end. It would’ve been an attraction all its own had it lit up at night.

Additionally, there are several smaller versions of this display scattered throughout Downtown Disney, as well as more banners. The main attraction are the two cars in Woody and Buzz Lightyear cosplay displayed against the former ESPN Zone building.

The parks are no different as both Main Street U.S.A in Disneyland and Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land are also adorned in Pixar Fest banners. Additionally, the parks each feature their own large display, similar to the ones in the planters in Downtown Disney, but much larger in scale.

While these don’t light up either, there are spotlights installed at their bases to give them some illumination. In Disney California Adventure, the display is located in the hub area, in between the Carthay Circle building and the Elias & Co gift shop. It interacts with MagicBands, if you have one.

The display in Disneyland is located in Town Square near the flagpole, where the Christmas Tree and Mickey Head Pumpkin are displayed during their respective holidays. Unlike the display in DCA, this one does not interact with MagicBands. It is a popular PhotoPass spot, though.

Better Together Pixar Parade

The Better Together Pixar parade is one of the main features of Pixar Fest and runs twice daily at Disney California Adventure. It isn’t entirely new, as many of the floats and characters appeared in the former Pixar Play Parade during Pixar Fest 2018.

This year, however, the parade has a new name, theme song, and features a few new floats/characters, including those from Turning Red, Luca and Soul. While it’s possible this could change, the floats and characters you can expect to see in this parade (in order), are:

• Luxo Lamp

• Turning Red featuring the giant panda

• Up featuring Carl and Dug

• Soul featuring Joe Gardner

• Inside Out featuring Joy and Sadness

• Luca featuring Luca, Alberto and Giulia

• The Incredibles (not on a float) featuring Mr. and Mrs. Incredible

• Toy Truck featuring Woody

• Pixar Grand Finale featuring Miguel (Coco), Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, Sully, and Mike (Monsters Inc.)

You can see the difference in quality between the floats from the Pixar Fest of 2018 and new ones made for the 2024 version. The Luca float, in my opinion, was the best of the bunch. However, it felt like a wasted opportunity to hold two day time parades and not reserve one for nighttime, as many of the floats (the Soul float in particular) would’ve looked amazing lit up at night, but I digress.

Better Together Parade Route

The Better Together parade runs the same route as every other parade at DCA. Since there’s two per day (once at 4pm and again at 6:30pm) the first parade begins from behind Hollywood Land (adjacent to Mission Breakout), down the main street of Hollywood Land, through Buena Vista Street, down the Performance Corridor and then through Paradise Gardens Park, before concluding just before Pixar Pier.

The second showing will be the exact opposite, starting in Paradise Gardens Park and concluding at the end of Hollywood Land near Mission Breakout. Generally, many (myself included) feel the second showing of any parade or show at Disney is best as there’s often less competition for the most coveted viewing spots.

Better Together Parade Viewing Spots

There are several viewings areas for Better Together (or any parade that happens to be showing at DCA). One of the most popular of which is in Paradise Gardens Park in the stretch between the Little Mermaid attraction and Corn Dog Castle.

Another popular spot is along the street of Hollywood Land. This is especially true for the second showing, as there’s typically a lot of shade in this area. My personal favorite (and it’s from here where I took the photos you see in this section) is the island where the water fountain is, directly across from Carthay Circle and facing the entrance to the Performance Corridor.

This was where I stood for the 6:30pm showing and I had a great, mostly unobstructed view of the characters and floats. In addition to that, it was well shaded. Though by this time the sun was already working its way down, so I imagine that would be especially advantageous during the 4pm showing.

Keep in mind that if you choose a spot at the opposite end of where the parade begins, you won’t actually see any floats until 15-20 minutes after the official start time. For example, if your spot is in Hollywood Land for the second showing, which begins at 6:30pm, don’t expect to see any floats until closer to 6:45 or 6:50, possibly later if there any delays.

Better Together Parade Dining Packages

Unlike for other parades, such as the Frightfully Fun parade during Oogie Boogie Bash, there’s only one dining package offered for Better Together and it’s more of a dessert party than anything else. However, it does come with a reserved seat along the parade route in the Performance Corridor.

The cost is $69 per person (2 and under are free, but they must sit on your lap). At one hour to forty-five minutes prior to your selected parade time, you’ll check in at Sonoma Terrace, where your reserved seating is. The earlier you arrive, the better as seats are first come, first serve. If you snag a table at the front, you’ll have an unobstructed view of the parade. Though you’ll have the sun beating down on your as there are no umbrellas for these tables.

The tables behind the front row still have a great view and depending how you look at it, may be better than the front row, as they’re slightly elevated and come with umbrellas. If having others in front of you doesn’t bother you, these may be preferable.

You’ll receive a variety of Pixar-themed foods and desserts, along with two mocktails and unlimited water, tea, coffee and soda. Once the parade begins, though, they will no longer bring any beverages to your table. So be sure to get your monies worth before the parade start time. To book this package, go here.

Pixar Pals Playtime Party and Club Pixar

Club Pixar Hours and Offerings

Club Pixar is in the backlot area of Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure. During the day, there are several Pixar-themed backdrops you can take photos with, in addition to a Mr. and Mrs. Incredible meet and greet in their blue retro super hero suits. This is also where the Hanger Management food marketplace is located.

Once it starts to cool down, Club Pixar comes further to life with neon lights themed to Pixar characters, live performances, dance lessons, photo-ops, games, and more. Additionally, there’s an area themed after a drive-in where you can watch Pixar shorts while relaxing in a classic car. Seating is limited and competitive here.

Another element to Club Pixar are the games guests can play. One such game is a giant chess board (with accompanying pieces) themed after the Pixar short, Geri’s Game. These games, in addition to the live performances, are only accessible to guests between 4:30pm and 8:30pm.

Many were hoping that Club Pixar would be a call-back to the nighttime events, Mad T Party and ElecTRONica, Disney used to put-on in the backlot area. There was live music by local DJ’s, themed cocktails served in a pop-up style bar, lighting effects and more. These events were immensely popular with teenagers and adults.

Alas, that has proven to not be the case, as Club Pixar is more on the family-friendly side of things. It isn’t a bad thing, as the offerings in this area are unique and fun in their own right, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much of a missed opportunity I feel it is to not feature a Pixar version of the Mad T Party during Pixar Fest.

Pixar Pals Playtime Party Hours and Offerings

The Pixar Pals Playtime Party takes place at Disneyland Park in the Fantasyland Theatre across from the It’s a Small World attraction. A sign out front states the hours are between 11:30am and 5:30pm but when we were there, a few of the characters began coming out for meet and greets right at 11am when the cast members dropped the rope.

There’s a lot going on in this relatively small space. The main feature is a high-energy stage show starring many of Pixar’s most beloved characters, such as Woody, Bo Peep, Jessie the Cowgirl, Sadness, Joy, Edna, Frozone, The Incredibles and more. At the conclusion of the show, many of these characters leave the stage and dance with the crowd. If you’ve never seen Sadness dancing to “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift, you’re in for an entertaining treat.

Another feature of Pixar Pals Playtime Party are the incredible (no pun intended) amount of character meet and greets going on. The day-to-day ones include Dug and Russel from Up, Ember and Wade from Elemental, Luca and Alberto from Luca, and Barley and Ian Lightfoot from Onward. Lately, Merida from Brave has also been making sporadic appearances.

Down on the dance floor, there are several themed backdrops for guests to take pictures with, including the Piston Cup from Cars and Boo’s door from Monsters Inc. This is where there seemed to be a lack of forethought, as there where several things all happening in one cramped area. For instance, during the stage show, both Joy and Sadness were dancing in the crowd while Barley and Ian Lightfoot came out for a meet and greet, all while guests were taking photos with the backdrops.

Also here is one of the main food locations during Pixar Fest. Troubadore Tavern, which is located at the entrance to the Fantasyland Theatre, has received a Pixar makeover, offering several themed dishes, drinks and snacks with a Pixar flare. These include:

• Roundup BBQ Potato

• Una Papa Loca Potato

• Firetown Mac and Cheese Bites

• Mixed Emotions Popcorn

• Joyful Tenders and Mac (kids)

• Lotso Berry Lemonade

• “Adventure is Out There” Cold Brew (pictured above)

We tried nearly every Pixar Fest item at Troubadore Tavern and for the most part, all of them were tasty. We didn’t get around to trying every food item during our Pixar Fest visit (there were over 80, after all), but we did try 24 that you may want to learn more about.

Pixar Character Meet and Greets

Disney rolled out all the stops when it comes to character meet and greets for Pixar Fest, as there are well over twenty beloved Pixar characters out interacting and taking photos with guests. While some are the usual characters you would normally see in the parks, there are several new additions. Including:

• Ember and Wade from Elemental

• Barley and Ian Lightfoot from Onward

• Luca, Alberto, and Guila from Luca

• Mei and Ming Lee from Turning Red

• Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc.

• Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story

• and many, many more

For us, the rare character meet and greets are our favorite aspect of these special events. It’s why we attend Oogie Boogie Bash every year and it’s why we’ll likely continue to attend Pixar Fest. Some have standard queues, while others, including Mei and Ming Lee, had huge queues. Checking the app (or with a Cast Member) about when they’ll be making their appearances and being there early is key if you want a photo with your favorites.

READ: Pixar Fest Character Locations Guide

Pixar-Themed Food and Drink Items

As we briefly discussed above, Disney has rolled out over 80 new food and drink items for this year’s Pixar Fest. Many restaurants and snack carts in both parks are participating, as well as several eateries in the Downtown Disney District.

Exclusive to Disney California Adventure are the six Pixar-themed marketplaces. You may recognize these marketplaces as they’re the same ones used during the California Food and Wine Festival, Festival of Holidays and Lunar New Year. Their names and locations are:

• The Spark, inspired by Soul

• 4*Town Favorites, inspired by Turning Red

• Gusteau’s To-Go, inspired by Ratatouille

• Portorosso Pasta, inspired by Luca

• Hanger Management, inspired by Inside Out

• Elemental Table, inspired by Elemental

The Hanger Management marketplace is located in the Club Pixar (Backlot) area of Hollywood Land while the remaining five are placed along the Performance Corridor between the main entrance to Avengers Campus and the Little Mermaid show building.

We tried several offerings at these booths and found them to be hit and miss. The Jumbo Panda Bao was the clear winner for us, especially with the accompanying chili-garlic sauce. Another favorite was the Kol Nut Whoopie Cookie Pie from Elemental Table.

The mac and cheese from Hanger Management, however, we loathed. It was an obvious move on Disney’s part to provide a safe option for picky eaters, but it was too safe of an option. The mac itself was cold and overcooked and to make matters worse, the Cheeto puffs were stale.

Outside of the marketplaces, there were several excellent Pixar Fest offerings. For starters, the “Shake 2319” sold at Schmoozies in DCA was one of the best shakes I’ve ever tasted. Also, while basic in nature, the Pixar Fest cake, sold at the Plaza Inn in Disneyland Park, was perfectly moist and had just the right frosting to cake ratio.

If you’re looking for actual food, the Bruno sandwich sold at Jolly Holiday Bakery and the Una Papas Loca Potato sold at Troubadore Tavern are both solid options. I wish I could recommend the Coco-inspired menu at Paradise Garden Grill in DCA, but it mostly fell flat for us (the sole exception being the Tres Leches Parfait).

In total, we tried 24 Pixar Fest food and drink items during our visit. If you’d like, you can read through that post to see what we do and do not recommend. No matter your palette, there’s something for everyone at Pixar Fest.

Search for Hidden Pizza Planet Trucks

I’m sure you’ve heard of hidden mickey heads, but have you ever heard of hidden Pizza Planet trucks? I’m doubtful, because it’s new for this year’s Pixar Fest. Scattered throughout the resort are creatively themed and decorated Pizza Planet trucks that do an excellent job blending in with their surroundings.

There’s no official guide book, checklist, or anything like that, but there are fifty of them for you to find. To my knowledge, they’re only in the two parks. The truck photographed above is in one of the window displays of the Emporium on Main Street. I’ve seen others in the DCA Starbucks, Mission Breakout and in Adventureland.

It’s too bad Disney didn’t offer something similar to what they do for Easter and sell people an official checklist that offers clues to help you locate all fifty trucks. If you’re successful, you’d turn it in and receive a pin or something similar. Honestly, if you want to keep the kids busy and distracted, just have them search for these trucks. They could spend an entire day on this.

Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular

Much like the Better Together parade at DCA, the Together Forever Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at Disneyland is a rehash of the 2018 version, with several familiar moments from Toy Story, Inside Out, Coco and The Incredibles retained, and new scenes added from Turning Red, Luca, Soul, Onward and Elemental.

As far as where to view the show from, the same rules that apply to other fireworks shows at Disneyland, also apply here. The cream-of-the-crop spot is dead-center in front of the castle. For that view, you’ll need to arrive several hours prior to showtime and loiter until cast members put the ropes up.

Our personal favorite is in between and near the end of the Main Street buildings. My reasoning is twofold, in that you still get a great view of the projections and fireworks in and around the castle, but you also get to see the projection on the Main Street buildings as well, which adds to the experience in my humble opinion.

If you watched the 9:00pm showing of Fantasmic, specifically from one of the reserved viewing areas, you can stay put and watch the fireworks from there. The music will be piped in and you’ll (somewhat) see the projections on the water walls on the Rivers of America. In my opinion, it isn’t a great spot but if you’re already there, it beats having to fight your way through the crowds to the Main Street.

The show happens nightly at 9:30pm but due to local noise ordnances, the fireworks aspect of the show occurs only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. During the week the show will be featured with projections only. Either way, you’re in for a great show.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to stay privy to ride closures with my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. Furthermore, don’t get caught off guard by non-availability at your favorite restaurant by reading my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide and 10 Best Disneyland Tips: Dining. Also, learn about the recent changes to Disney’s DAS program here. Finally, for great savings on tickets and vacation packages to Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line, visit my partners at Get Away Today.

The 24 Pixar Fest Foodie Offerings We Tried (+ Our Recommendations)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

A couple of months ago, Disney released the 2024 Pixar Fest Foodie Guide and we were floored by how many items would be offered throughout the event. Over 80 new and returning treats are now available for guests to try.

The last Pixar Fest took place in 2018, and it didn’t have nearly the amount of food and drink that are being presented this year. I asked various cast members around the resort if Disney is trying to make Pixar Fest an annual foodie festival of sorts and while no one could (or would) say for sure, the general consensus was learning towards a “yes”.

No complaints here. Personally, we love the food festivals DCA puts on every year, especially Food and Wine Festival. Combine our love of trying new foods with our resounding millennial-loyalty to the Pixar characters we grew up with and Disney has a recipe for success.

There was no way we were going to be able to try everything in the three days we were there (we were also trying Season of the Force offerings as well), but we gave it our best. In total, we tried 24 Pixar Fest offerings in three days. Some were great, some were just ok and some were downright bad. In this list, we’re going to show you what we tried and what we liked/didn’t like about them, along with information such as price, where they’re sold, etc.

Finally, they’re in no particular order. Let’s get into it.

1) Panda Apocalypse

Location: 4*Town Favorites Marketplace (Performance Corridor)

Price: $6.75

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 7

This dessert features several layers of chocolate chunk brownie and New York-style cheesecake, finished with a topping of orange and red cream cheese frosting. It is inspired by Mei Lee’s (Turning Red) favorite fictional band, 4*Town.

The brownie portion was moist, not dry in the slightest. However, it was mostly all frosting. Additionally, the sweetness from the frosting overtook the hearty-ness of the brownie instead of complimenting it. All in all, it was good, but it isn’t something I would plan a visit to park around.

2) H2O-Rita

Location: Elemental Table (Performance Corridor)

Price: $17.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 8

The H2O-Rita is one of two cocktails offered at Elemental Table. It’s made with a tequila base and mixed with blue curacoa syrup, lychee nectar, yuja puree, lime juice and garnished with a rock candy stick. Essentially, it tasted like a blue-raspberry margarita.

Admittedly, the serving size took me by surprise (in a good way) as I was expecting a much smaller cup. The price tag is on par with most cocktails at the Disneyland Resort (maybe a buck or two cheaper, actually).

The rock candy stick gives the drink “gram” appeal, but doesn’t add much of anything to the flavor profile. The drink isn’t too strong, leading me to believe that there isn’t much tequila in it. If you enjoy margaritas, though, you’ll certainly enjoy this.

3) Ramon Nachos

Location: Studio Catering Co. in the Backlot

Price: $12.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 10

It’s an interesting choice on Disney’s part to omit the possessive from Ramon Nachos (for example, Ramon’s Nachos), but that’s just a nit-picky thing on my part that 99.99% of the remaining population cares nothing about. That’s literally my only “complaint” as these nachos were absolutely on-point.

The chips seem to be the same ones used in the Lobster/Barbacoa Nachos at Lamplight Lounge. They’re thick, crispy, salted just enough, and don’t sog under the pressure of its toppings. Speaking of toppings, they include grilled chicken, queso blanco, refried beans, pico de gallo, salsa verde, cotija, serrano peppers and radishes.

Again, no complaints here. The chicken had a smokey flavor profile and wasn’t dry. The flavor combination of the queso, salsa verde, and serrano peppers was astonishing. If I had to list a negative, it would be the amount of queso. There wasn’t much and I wish there was more. That’s it, though. Highly recommend.

4) Nobody Like U Cooler (non-alcoholic)

Location: 4*Town Favorites Marketplace (Performance Corridor)

Price: $7.50

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 9

The Nobody Like U Cooler is the sole drink offering at the Turning Red marketplace and to me, was the clear winner of all the drinks we tried (including the cocktails). It is made with a Joffrey’s Raspberry Rose Tea base, finished with white cranberry, lime & orange juices and cherry syrup, garnished with an orange wedge gummy.

Obviously, this drink is sweet, fruity and is essentially candy in liquid form. I didn’t find it offensively sweet, though, and orange is the flavor that comes through prominently. That tells me it’s the citrus saving this drink from being too sweet.

5) Sea Monster Friends Parfait

Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery (Disneyland)

Price: $6.79

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6

The Sea Monster Friends Parfait sold at Jolly Holiday Bakery is layered with graham cracker crumbs, mascarpone cheesecake, berry blue gelatin and blue chantilly topped with an edible Luca chocolate decoration.

We were fairly split on this one, as Kisha felt the flavor of the gelatin grossly overpowered the dessert (and had a bad taste to begin with). While I didn’t mind it too much, I can agree that it definitely overpowers the rest of the ingredients.

The cheesecake and graham crack crust alone, without the gelatin, worked well together and unlike other parfaits we had during Pixar Fest, the crust wasn’t soggy and had an actual crunch to it. However, once you add the gelatin to the mix, it definitely takes it down a few notches.

6) 2319 Shake

Location: Schmoozies! (DCA)

Price: $9.79

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 9

The 2319 Shake was one of our favorites from Pixar Fest. If you don’t know what “2319” is, it was the code used in the animated film Monsters Inc. whenever a human-related contamination was found. One of the scarers in the film, George Sanderson, was often the ill-fated victim of this.

The shake is sold at Schmoozies, which is located in Hollywood Land near the entrance to the Backlot. It’s a shake made with orange, vanilla, guava and pineapple, topped with shaved coconut, whipped cream and garnished with an orange cone.

Much like most shakes from Schmoozies, it’s huge! Both of us split one and it was still too much. If you’re coming with a group of three to four, there would plenty for everyone to get multiple spoon fulls. That helps to stomach the nearly ten dollar price tag. Again, we loved this one and wouldn’t hesitate to get it again.

7) Joyful Mac and Cheese

Location: Hanger Management marketplace (Backlot)

Price: $8.50

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 3

This is where things take a turn for the worst. If you read my initial post about the then-upcoming Pixar-themed marketplaces, I mentioned how I felt the offerings at the Hanger Management booth were, at best, underwhelming and lazy. I get it, Disney needed to satisfy picky eaters, but this, in my opinion, was too dumbed down.

I knew I would hate it, but for research purposes, we tried the Joyful Mac and Cheese. We almost ordered the half and half dish, which featured a split plate of the Joyful and Angry Macs, but we just couldn’t stomach the idea of eating the red-dye loaded Angry Mac.

In short, the Joyful Mac and Cheese was a slight step up from its boxed counterpart, but a massive step down from mac dishes you’ll find throughout the resort (such as the Truffle Mac & Cheese at Hearthstone Lounge). Our dish, in particular, was cold, the Cheeto puffs were stale and the macaroni was overcooked. We both felt it would’ve been slightly better had the puffs been crushed and baked into the mac.

Needless to say, it’s a hard pass for us. If there’s an individual in your family (or perhaps it’s you) who is a picky eater, this is their safe option. Outside of that, I’m going to recommend staying far away from these dishes as there are other, far superior options throughout the resort.

8) Pixar Fest Cake

Location: Plaza Inn (Disneyland)

Price: $9.29

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 7

This cake is the flagship offering during Pixar Fest and is one of the only returning items from the 2018 event. As such, we had to try it. It’s sold at Plaza Inn which is located adjacent to the entrance to Tomorrowland in the hub. You cannot mobile order anything here, but the cake slices are readily available near each cash register.

We were happily surprised by how moist the cake was, especially considering how mass-produced it is. The red, yellow, and blue colors you see are simply food coloring to give it that Pixar flare and thus, do not add any flavor to it. The frosting was sweet, as you’d expect, but didn’t overpower as it was layered evenly with the cakes.

It isn’t something I would go out of my way to get, but if I found myself near Plaza Inn and wanted a slice of cake, the Pixar Fest Cake fits the bill nicely. I will say that the price point is way too high for what is essentially a basic (albeit good) slice of cake.

9) Pineapple Coconut Float

Location: Tropical Hideaway (Disneyland)

Price: $9.29

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 8.5

This was another favorite treat of ours. It’s sold at Tropical Hideaway in Adventureland and is inspired by the Pixar short film, “Lava”. It is made with Dole Whip pineapple soft serve, blue Dole pineapple-coconut juice, strawberry “lava” (syrup) and topped with a turtle gummy.

I’m not a huge fan of coconut, so I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t like it but honestly, the coconut didn’t come through as much as I thought it would. It actually helped to balance out the sweetness from the pineapple and strawberry syrup nicely.

Again, this is another item I feel is priced too high, even by Disney standards, but it’s definitely splittable between two people. Additionally, this location doesn’t offer mobile order and does not give Magic Key discounts. Despite the lack of competition from mobile order, the line here can get long. So plan to arrive close to opening (11am) if you want to avoid that.

10) Una Papa Loca!

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $10.49

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 7.5

The Una Papa Loca! is one of two baked potato “snacks” offered at Troubadore Tavern during Pixar Fest. If you’re unaware, Troubadore Tavern is a walk-up style snack stand situated near the entrance of Fantasyland Theatre.

The baked potato is topped with various ingredients, including chicken, cheese, avocado salsa, sour cream, onion, cilantro and spiced corn chip crumble. In case you’re wondering, those “spiced corn chips” were essentially crumbled up hot Cheetos.

Our only real complaint was the potato itself could’ve used seasoning as we felt there wasn’t any. They seemed to heavily rely on the toppings providing all the flavor, which they did. However, the potato having an appropriate amount of seasoning would’ve made this decent dish a great one.

11) Mood Stabilizer Cocktail

Location: Hanger Management marketplace (DCA - Backlot)

Price: $17.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 6

This Pixar version of a Makers Mule was decent enough. Again, the size of the cup took me by surprise as Disney doesn’t usually serve cocktails in cups this big, but I’m not complaining. The watermelon came through in a big way, making this a rather refreshing drink on a hot day. Which is something you usually don’t associate with a bourbon-based drink.

12) Mr. Potato Head Churro

Location: Churro cart near Goofy’s Sky School (DCA)

Price: $7.25

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 10

The Mr. Potato Head churro is sold at the churro cart near the stand-by entrance to Goofy’s Sky School in Paradise Gardens. This is one of three special churros offered for Pixar Fest and was he hands-down winner of the three.

There’s literally nothing I didn’t like about it, except maybe there was a tad too much chocolate sauce used on mine. As you can see in the photo above, my churro was practically swimming in it.

The saltiness from the chips (Lays, essentially) blended in perfect harmony with the sweetness of the churro and chocolate. I went into this wanting to dislike it but one bite in and I was hooked. I would order this again and again.

READ: Pixar Fest Character Locations Guide

13) Firetown Mac & Cheese Bites

Location: Troubadore Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $11.49

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 8

These mac and cheese bites were getting a lot of hate online, so I was eager to try them for myself as I’m known to indulge on these whenever I see them on a restaurant’s appetizer menu. To make them even more appealing, Disney used gouda cheese (which I love) and tossed them in a four-chili rub to give them a spicy kick.

I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to spice, but I found these to be tolerable. If you’re a connoisseur of all things spicy, you may even find these not spicy at all. To me, they are more about the flavor of spice rather than containing an actual heat.

My only two complaints were the price and the lack of an accompanying dipping sauce, which I feel it needed. I ordered a side of BBQ sauce with mine, but it doesn’t come with the dish on its own. Offering a chili-spiced ranch or even a jalapeño-queso dip would’ve been fantastic.

14) Mixed Emotions Popcorn

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $8.79

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 8.5

This popcorn has every reason to be hated but to be honest, we thoroughly enjoyed it. In the box, you’re given a mixture of ube-flavored popcorn, M&M chocolate candies, freeze-dried skittles and pretzel sticks. I never would’ve imagined that these four ingredients would work so well with one another, but they do.

For the price, you’re given a rather decent portion size. The popcorn is served in a box with theming to the original opening-day lands of Disneyland; Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. I wish it was served in a bag instead of a box, though, as that would’ve been easier to stash in my backpack, but I digress.

15) Red Panda Bao

Location: 4*Town Favorites marketplace (DCA - Performance Corridor)

Price: $9.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 6 (7 with the sauce)

The Red Panda Bao is a jumbo vegetable and pork stuffed bao served with a side of chili-garlic dipping sauce. It takes inspiration from Mei Lee, the main character in Turning Red, who turns into a giant red panda when she experiences strong emotions.

The bun was cooked to perfection, however, we felt there should’ve been more stuffing inside considering this is being billed as a “jumbo” bao. Additionally, the pork was mostly flavorless. However, once you add that chili-sauce to the mix, it kicks it up a couple notches. It’s spicy, but not unbearably so. Without the sauce, it’s a fairly basic bao not worth going out of your way for.

16) Kol Nut Cookie Whoopie Pie

Location: Elemental Table marketplace (DCA - Performance Corridor)

Price: $7.00

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 8.5

This dessert sold at the Elemental Table marketplace takes inspiration from the rocks from Pixar’s sleeper hit, Elemental. It’s two cake cookies baked with cocoa powder, with cream cheese frosting sandwiched between and topped with crushed cinnamon candies.

All told, this dessert was delicious. The hero is the creamy frosting in the middle, but the cake cookies were perfectly moist with the cinnamon candies on the top cookie giving it a “burnt” texture, without actually being burnt. It was an all around great dessert option.

17) Lotso Berry Lemonade

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $9.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6.5

The Lotso Berry Lemonade is made with strawberry-flavored lemonade with a sweet cream topper and “garnished” with an Outshine strawberry fruit bar. Yes, you get a whole ice cream bar included with your lemonade.

This drink is practically liquid sugar and is delicious, but only in small doses. Here’s a tip, use the ice cream bar as a stir-stick to mix the lemonade and the sweet cream together. It gives it a thicker consistency and ups the ante on the overall flavor.

18) Blackberry Churro

Location: Tomorrowland Churro Cart (Disneyland)

Price: $7.25

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 1

I never thought I would be giving a Disneyland churro such a low rating but for us, this blackberry-flavored churro was a miss. While we all know the flavoring for the churros is often artificial, Disney usually does a better job at hiding the taste. That wasn’t the case here, as it had “artificial” written all over it.

The banana-strawberry dipping sauce didn’t help matters, as it wasn’t anything to write home about either. All told, there was nothing redeeming about this churro for us. For our money, we’ll stick with the traditional churro or head across the esplanade to pick up the above-mentioned Mr. Potato Head churro.

19) Carnitas Wet Burrito

Location: Paradise Gardens Grill (DCA)

Price: $13.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6

The Carnitas Wet Burrito served at Paradise Gardens Grill is from the eatery’s special Coco-inspired menu during Pixar Fest. For me, it falls under the category of didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it either. It was simply ok. The filling inside the burrito was decent, but I felt the carnitas could’ve used more and/or better seasoning.

The tortilla itself is really where it fell apart for me. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been spoiled with fantastic Mexican food, but I found the tortilla to be doughy and flat in flavor. If there was an option to make this dish a burrito bowl, I would likely rate it much higher.

20) Multi-Colored (Sulley) Churro

Location: Hollywood Land Churro Cart (DCA)

Price: $7.25

Magic Key Discount: No

Mobile Order: No

Rating (out of 10): 5

The Multicolored Churro (or what I affectionately refer to as the, “Sulley” churro) is sold at the Hollywood Land churro cart. Sometimes the cart is placed in the Backlot and other times it’s parked near the entrance of the Backlot.

This churro is one of three Pixar-themed churros offered during Pixar Fest and to be perfectly honest, it was only mildly better than the blackberry version discussed above. The flavor from the white-cherry drizzle comes through in a big way and distracts from the churro. If you like artificial white-cherry, you’ll love this.

21) “Adventure is Out There” Cold Brew

Location: Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland)

Price: $6.79

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 9

The “Adventure is Out There” cold brew is the final Pixar Fest-themed treat we tried at Troubadour Tavern. It’s made with dark chocolate cold brew with a butterscotch cream topper and garnished with confetti quins and a wafer cookie.

We all know the running joke about Disneyland and their cold brews. My personal favorite (and the only one worth getting more than once) is the Black Caf at Docking Bay 7. This cold brew, however, was exceptional and came extraordinarily close to claiming that title. This needs to stay on the regular menu once Pixar Fest concludes.

22) Chile Verde Chicken Flautas

Location: Paradise Gardens Grill (DCA)

Price: $13.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 6

This dish is also from the Coco-inspired menu at Paradise Gardens Grill and much like the burrito discussed above, was also in a gray area in terms of how we liked it. Reason being is the chicken inside the flautas was flavorless with seemingly no seasoning at all. Disney relied solely on the toppings to provide all the flavor. Additionally, the accompanying refried beans tasted like they came out of a can.

23) Silenzio Bruno! Sandwich

Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery (Disneyland)

Price: $14.99

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes

Rating (out of 10): 9

The Silenzio Bruno! sandwich is served at Jolly Holiday Bakery located near the entrance to Adventureland in the hub. It’s a cold sandwich on an Italian roll filled with chopped ham, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pickled onion and pepperoncini with Italian dressing and served with house-made potato chips.

Kisha reports that the sandwich is the perfect meal on a hot day. It isn’t overly dressed, contains the perfect amount of filling (not too much or too less of a certain ingredient) and the bread itself seemed hallowed as to not contain too much bread, which is a common issue with sandwiches.

24) Red Velvet Tres Leches Parfait

Location: Paradise Gardens Grill (DCA)

Price: $7.49

Magic Key Discount: Yes

Mobile Order: Yes (does get taken off mobile order from time to time)

Rating (out of 10): 9.5

The Red Velvet Tres Leches Parfait was probably the most delicious dessert out of everything we tried. It’s served at Paradise Gardens Grill and is layered with a pink cinnamon mousse, churro crunch, red velvet cake and orange mousse, garnished with a chocolate skull decoration.

All the flavors of this parfait came together so well that it was hard to put down. We both regretted not getting our own. So why did I give it 9.5 and not 10? The churro crunch in the middle had no crunch to it at all, which was a bit of a let down. Had it been crunchy as advertised, this parfait would’ve exceeded a 10.

Planning a Disneyland vacation? If so, be sure to consult my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar to stay on top of ride closures. Also, learn about the different aspects of dining, such as mobile order and advance dining reservations, by reading my 2024 Disneyland Dining Guide. Furthermore, learn about the recent changes to Disney’s DAS program here. Finally, for great pricing on Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line vacation packages, visit my partners at Get Away Today (use code “INKED10” for $10 off your purchase).

An Overview of the Six Pixar-Themed Marketplaces at Pixar Fest

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

When Disney released details of what to expect during Pixar Fest in 2024, one of the offerings mentioned were several Pixar-themed marketplaces in the Hollywood Backlot area. If you’ve ever attended a Food and Wine Festival or Lunar New Year, you’d know exactly what those “marketplaces” are.

If you don’t know, they’re essentially themed food booths with certain elements having to do with whichever festival is taking place. For example, during Food and Wine, one of the marketplaces was called “Garlic Kissed” and featured food items related to - you guessed it - garlic.

They’ve proven to be insanely popular, so it only made sense for Disney to theme after some of Pixar’s most beloved films and use them to elevate the offerings during Pixar Fest.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at the names of these marketplaces, which film they’re themed after, and images and descriptions of what each one is going to offer. Unfortunately, I can confirm that there will not be a Sip and Savor Pass for sale during this event.

1) “The Spark” - Inspired by Soul

Inspired by Pixar’s hit film Soul, “The Spark” will offer several brand new food and cocktail offerings, in addition to an exhaustive amount of beers and seltzers. The booth’s sole entree offering is the Supper Club Chicken & Potato Waffles with peach cobbler sauce and cinnamon-herb crumble. For dessert is the Half Note Jazz Cake which, by the website’s own admission, is essentially a basic red velvet cake.

The Great Beyond, one of two crafted cocktails at this booth, is made with gin, maraschino liquor, violet & blue curacoa syrups, lemon juice and pear nectar. The second cocktail, SPARK-ler, seems like it’ll be on the sweeter side with a concoction of varying syrups including mango, pineapple and cotton candy.

2) 4Town Fav*4*ites - Inspired by “Turning Red”

The Turning Red marketplace is the one I’m most looking forward to, as all of the offerings look stellar! First, the Red Panda Bao is a jumbo bao stuffed with vegetables, pork and a chili-garlic sauce. The word “jumbo” in the description indicates a single bao per purchase, though a sizable one.

You can follow this up with the Panda Apocalypse, a pan-baked, chocolate-layered brownie and New York-style cheesecake topped with orange and red cream cheese frosting. Finally, wash it all down with the Nobody Like U Cooler, a non-alcoholic beverage made with Joffrey’s Raspberry Rose Tea, white cranberry, lime & orange juices and cherry syrup, garnished with an orange wedge gummy.

3) Gusteau’s To-Go inspired by “Ratatouille”

It would’ve been criminal for Disney to feature Pixar-themed marketplaces at Pixar Fest and not include the most food-relatable IP in their portfolio. After all, Ratatouille’s entire premise was centered around a rat who loved to cook.

Gusteau’s To-Go’s criminally small menu consists of the Ratatouille Pizzetta topped with mozzarella, eggplant, squash, zucchini, a drizzle of tomato sauce, and a wedge of French camembert. The only other food offering is a macaron themed after Chef Gusteau, with creme brulee mousse and a caramel center.

The two alcoholic offerings, the Le Critique Cognac Sidecar and Little French Daiquiri, make up the only drinks on the menu, with no non-alcoholic options.

4) Portorosso Pasta inspired by “Luca”

Representing Italy, the Luca booth features only one food offering, but may be the most interesting of the bunch that has the potential to “steal the show”. It’s the Portorosso Pesto Pasta, Portorosso being the fictional Italian town where the movie is based. The dish is ribbon pasta tossed in a basil pesto with potatoes and green beans mixed in.

The non-alcoholic Sea Monster Lemonade consists of white grape juice, lemonade and peach syrup garnished with blue citrus mango jellies. Rounding out the drink offerings, the adults-only Silenzio Limoncello! has a Limoncello base with amaretto & Aperol liquors, blood orange syrup, lemonade and house-made oregano tea and garnished with micro daises.

5) Hanger Management inspired by “Inside Out” 

The Hanger Management marketplace offers a simple menu consisting of two variations of a basic macaroni and cheese dish. One of which is traditional yellow mac topped with a handful of Cheeto puffs and the other being the “angry” version topped with hot Cheetos. In all honesty, this is quite disappointing and uninspiring as it looks to be nothing more than boxed mac and cheese.

The cocktail appears to be a variation of a Maker’s Mule. It’ll have a bourbon base with watermelon liquor, candied orange & watermelon syrups, and orange & lime juices topped with ginger beer and garnished with watermelon candies.

I feel Disney dropped the ball here (the food, specifically). The food offerings are about as basic as it gets without any real creativity added whatsoever. Considering all of the mood elements featured in Inside Out, this marketplace could’ve been the stand-out with multiple incredibly creative dishes.

6) Elemental Table inspired by “Elemental”

If you’re looking for plant-based options, the Elemental marketplace is for you. Food offerings include a BBQ-spiced IMPOSSIBLE chicken dish with hot mustard sauce, pickles and charred onions, followed by the Kol Nut Whoopie Cookie Pie baked with cocoa powder and filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with crushed cinnamon candies.

The drink offerings, both of which are tequila-based, are visually stunning and will undoubtedly be popular. First is the H2O-rita made with tequila, blue curaçao syrup, lychee nectar, yuja purée and lime juice garnished with a rock candy stick. Lastly, the Exothermic Margarita consists of tequila, ancho chile liqueur, passion fruit nectar, lime & grapefruit juices and agave nectar garnished with a rock candy stick.

While there are some disappointments on the menus of the marketplaces (Hanger Management, specifically), overall, I’m looking forward to sampling the majority of them.

Of the all the cocktail offerings, the two at the Elemental marketplace are sure to be the clear stand-outs as they’re the most Insta-worthy of the bunch. As it pertains to food, I’m most looking forward to the jumbo bao at the Turning Red marketplace and the pesto pasta dish at Luca’s.

I’m going to reiterate my stance on what I believe is an epic let-down at the Hanger Management marketplace. I wish Disney would have gone the BBQ route here, offering a creative version of the classic pulled-pork sandwich with several emotions represented in different variations, or something similar.

Despite this, I’m predicting Pixar Fest will be a massive success. More and more, guests are clamoring for more “non-standard” Disney. Usually, that comes in the form of an After Dark event where in order to partake, you’d have to pay for another ticket.

Special events like Pixar Fest and Season of the Force, however, are available to all guests who hold a regular ticket or Magic Key, making it accessible for everyone to enjoy. With Pixar Fest looking like an un-official “foodie festival”, I hope to see it become a part of DCA’s annual line up of festivals. Time will tell.

Planning a trip to Disneyland? If so, be sure to stay on top of ride closures by reading (and saving) my 2024 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. To see all the activities taking place at Pixar Fest, read Pixar Fest 2024: 10 Things to Know. Additionally, to see the newly transformed Pixar Place Hotel, read my Tour of the Pixar Place Hotel post. Lastly, for deals on Disneyland tickets and vacation packages, see my friends at Get Away Today.