Tag: PIXAR Play Parade

The Pixar Play Parade returned to Disney’s California Adventure yesterday after about a week off due to damage on the Bug’s Life unit. Due to the damage, the Bug’s Life float has been temporarily pulled out of the parade, & we have no idea yet as to when it will return.

On Wed March 19 during the Pixar Play Parade, at Disney’s California Adventure, an incident occurred on the Bugs Life Unit. One of the swings came undone from its rigging. It fell vertically down to the unit. The performer on the unit heard a loud crack and was able to jump off. The units have to be re-inspected to be sure they are show safe for continuing performances ASAP. Brady McDonald from LA Times contacted Disney’s Media Relations Dept and received this official information:

During the March 19 performance of the Pixar Play Parade at Disney’s California Adventure, one of the pendulum swings onboard a float vehicle came unhooked from its post. No Cast Members or Guests were injured. In an abundance of caution, we temporarily suspended performances of the Pixar Play Parade on March 20 and 21 to allow for further inspection and evaluation.

The parade is also canceled for Sat, March 22, and Sun, March 23. If you would like to be notified when the parade is back up an running you can stay tuned here or call Disneyland Guest Relations at (714)781-7290.

Information received from a Parade Support source and from MiceChat

Disney’s California Adventure’s new Pixar Play Parade — or, as I’ve taken to calling it, Pixar Puddle Parade — is about as much fun as watching a parade in the rain. Actually, it’s exactly like watching a parade in the rain.Some people like to get wet at theme parks. I prefer to keep water where it belongs — in water parks. The mere sight of drenched people stepping off a white-water raft ride sends chills up and down my spine.

The new Pixar parade, which features characters from the animated movies, replaces the old Pixar parade, Block Party Bash, which — wait for it — featured characters from the animated movies.

The water theme of the new parade is immediately evident as “Cars” star Lightning McQueen leads the procession accompanied by a pair of women dressed as mops (no, sadly, I’m not kidding) who squirt the crowd with water bottles and sponge off the red roadster. The car wash gag is an apt metaphor because you are about to be put through a soaking fit for a Ford Mustang.

Before the first float had even passed, I’d been squirted in the eye twice and dried my face three times with my shirtsleeve. By the time the second float went by, I was suitably annoyed — as were others who were fleeing the parade route as if attacked by a swarm of bees. As the third float passed, I uttered words not appropriate for a family publication.

After the 12th and mercifully final squirting, spitting and splatting float rolled by, a mop brigade brought up the rear — a first for any parade I’ve ever seen. And an apt ending to a parade that, in my opinion, is all wet (sorry, it was unavoidable).

It’s a shame, really, because the Pixar Play Parade looks like an improvement over Block Party Bash, of which I was never a big fan. I loved the beautiful new floats, the must-see “Incredibles” hovercraft and the twirling acrobats.

But mostly I felt bad for the 100-odd performers in the show, from whom I shielded my eyes for fear they’d assault me with a water pistol or douse me with a fire hose. Sadly, it may take a tragic slip and fall by one of the 12-foot-tall stilt walkers to force the Disney lawyers to switch the H20 to bubbles.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

New articles always keep popping up about the new PIXAR Play Parade. The latest one is in the latest Disney Insider newsletter issue. Take a looky!

Today at 5:15pm there was a soft opening performance for the PIXAR Play Parade. Fishbulb of MiceChat was there, & has posted a bunch of pictures. Take a looky!

We’ll have our own coverage of the parade’s first official performance for you this Saturday!

ANAHEIM, Calif. – March 14, 2008 – All the exciting and colorful worlds of the Disney•Pixar pals – from “Toy Story,” “a bug’s life,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” “Cars” and “Ratatouille” – will come to life in the all-new “Pixar Play Parade,” debuting March 14, 2008, in Disney’s California Adventure as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disneyland Resort.

Characters from every Disney•Pixar motion picture will appear in the magical immersive parade, which will invite guests of all ages to take part in the playfulness of a whirling, spinning, fun-for-all animated playground. The parade features acrobatics, bungees, high-energy choreography, interactive surprises and lively bubble and water effects.

“Pixar Play Parade” features a dozen parade floats up to two stories tall, themed to Disney•Pixar movies and equipped with fun and surprising movement and effects. The cast and crew number more than 100, and behind the scenes is a creative team of top entertainment professionals including Emmy-nominated director Fred Tallaksen (a choreographer for Madonna and numerous television and stage productions), puppet designer Michael Curry (of “The Lion King” on Broadway), costume designer Mirena Rada (“Avenue Q”) and composers Matthew Girard and Robbie Nevil (“High School Musical”).

Girard and Nevil composed brand new tunes for Pixar Play Parade, including the “Countdown To Fun!” theme, which brings the show to life as it travels through Disney’s California Adventure.

Encouraging everyone to dance, play and clap along, Mike, Sulley and their monster buddies from “Monsters, Inc.” will lead the procession. Even sourpuss Roz will put in an appearance – and what an appearance! She’ll be the drum major, slithering her way down the parade route.

Next up is a flowerbed of hopping, swinging bugs: the colony from “a bug’s life.” Then “The Incredibles” will zoom into view, superhero style, aboard amazing hovercrafts. But watch out! The sinister Omnidroid is on the loose and baby Jack-Jack could burst into flames at any moment!

From there it’s into the bubbling world of Dory, Marlin, Crush, Bloat and the colorful underwater friends from “Finding Nemo,” who invite everyone to “play in schools” (schools of fish, that is). “Ratatouille’s” Remy and Emile are serving up fun, too, turning their kitchen into a super soapy pool of creativity with kids and families as the main ingredients.

Woody and the “Toy Story” gang arrive next to encourage guests to kick up their heels, while Buzz Lightyear and the Little Green Aliens celebrate just how “universal” play can be, in any galaxy. Finally, after the parade has been revving up guests throughout the route, lovable Mater and his flashy buddy Lightning McQueen from “Cars” will bring up the rear.

This information is confirmed by former Disney artist Kevin Kidney, who works very closely with PIXAR Play Parade designer, Jody Daily, on various projects:

“Soft opening” for the parade is TODAY, MARCH 10, although the official advertised debut is this Friday. The parade will run at 5:15 every day this week at Disney’s California Adventure Theme Park.