Pixar Fest - Reviews and Thoughts, plus Soft Opening News

[TP2000]

Pixar Play Parade feels even sadder in DL than it did in DCA. It's absolutely shameful that it is still running, and the new "floats" don't match the rest of the parade and are dinky in comparison.

I think it's really dumb to have a lamp and a ball lead that sad old parade. The lamp is an obscure reference to an obscure corporate logo that at least 95% of Disneyland visitors won't get. And even if they got it, or it kind of triggers a memory of seeing the lamp corporate logo in the title sequences of a Pixar movie, why would they care about a desk lamp?

The person or people who approved spending money on this, in an attempt to suck up to Pixar executives up in Emeryville, needs to seriously question their storytelling skills.

That's just so dumb. Look at the people sitting there lifelessly staring down the street waiting for the regular parade to arrive, while the random corporate lamp trundles by. Love the guy on his phone too. This photo could be a great analogy for all Disneyland visitors, looking down the street into 2019 for the real Disneyland to return.

 

[smile]

This photo could be a great analogy for all Disneyland visitors, looking down the street into 2019 for the real Disneyland to return.

real disneyland? in 2019?? that's rich.
... let's hope they're looking a bit farther out.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

I think it's really dumb to have a lamp and a ball lead that sad old parade. The lamp is an obscure reference to an obscure corporate logo that at least 95% of Disneyland visitors won't get. And even if they got it, or it kind of triggers a memory of seeing the lamp corporate logo in the title sequences of a Pixar movie, why would they care about a desk lamp?

The person or people who approved spending money on this, in an attempt to suck up to Pixar executives up in Emeryville, needs to seriously question their storytelling skills.

That's just so dumb. Look at the people sitting there lifelessly staring down the street waiting for the regular parade to arrive, while the random corporate lamp trundles by. Love the guy on his phone too. This photo could be a great analogy for all Disneyland visitors, looking down the street into 2019 for the real Disneyland to return.

All this. The lamp, the ball. No one cares.

 

[Rich T]

There it is!!! The Face of Pixar Pier!!!

THIS should be at the center of the Fun Wheel!

 

[brb1006]

The only one I like is the Up "float". Kevin was a nice surprise. But, like.. why is Inside Out there? The music doesn't match the rest of the parade at all. The new opening music has You Got A Friend in Me when the Toy Story unit has... the same exact song. I don't understand why they thought the majority of these changes were necessary. The Monsters University stuff was bad enough.

Mike is now motionless, he's just sitting now and not moving.

 

[mickEblu]

My wife would have kicked me in the nads if I proposed to her in front of the castle.

How about outside of the Disneyana restrooms?

 

[Deleted member 107043]

There it is!!! The Face of Pixar Pier!!!
View attachment 278556
THIS should be at the center of the Fun Wheel!

LOLOLOLOL

 

[FerretAfros]

I think it's really dumb to have a lamp and a ball lead that sad old parade. The lamp is an obscure reference to an obscure corporate logo that at least 95% of Disneyland visitors won't get. And even if they got it, or it kind of triggers a memory of seeing the lamp corporate logo in the title sequences of a Pixar movie, why would they care about a desk lamp?

The person or people who approved spending money on this, in an attempt to suck up to Pixar executives up in Emeryville, needs to seriously question their storytelling skills.

That's just so dumb. Look at the people sitting there lifelessly staring down the street waiting for the regular parade to arrive, while the random corporate lamp trundles by. Love the guy on his phone too. This photo could be a great analogy for all Disneyland visitors, looking down the street into 2019 for the real Disneyland to return.

Not to mention that the signage says Pixar Fest rather than Pixar Play Parade. This makes it all too easy for them to extend or revive Pixar Fest "due to popular demand", and drag the old gal out to limp down the parade route once more. But with the sign slowly rotating around the float, most guests probably won't see it anyway, so I guess it's moot.

What a dumb design. They're really overestimating how strongly people feel about "Pixar" as a brand

 

[Practical Pig]

There it is!!! The Face of Pixar Pier!!!
View attachment 278556
THIS should be at the center of the Fun Wheel!

This needs a visual deployment.

 

[TragicMike]

The Luxo Lamp is pretty iconic. Just like how everyone knows the Universal and Fox logos, the Luxo Lamp has been the intro to the most successful animation company both commercially and critically since the mid-90s.

The parade float is awful tho.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

They're really overestimating how strongly people feel about "Pixar" as a brand

I think it's the opposite: this is all designed to promote and reinforce Pixar's brand identity in front of 10 million or so mostly ready and receptive consumers over the next 4 or 5 months. Disney doesn't care if the promotional menu items at Pizza Planet aren't high quality and tasty or whether you're watching a recycled decade old parade. They are counting on enraptured Disney fans mindlessly Instagramming their disgusting hamburger pizzas while sporting a fresh pair of made-in-China rose gold mouse ears, all of which is undoubtedly happening as I type this.

So maybe we should stop assuming A) that the folks behind these decisions don't know what they're doing, B) that it's business as usual at Parks & Resorts in 2018, and C) that somehow the average Disney fan is smarter than Disney.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

This needs a visual deployment.

View attachment 278773

I probably laughed harder at this than I should have. Hilarious!

 

[SuddenStorm]

So maybe we should stop assuming A) that the folks behind these decisions don't know what they're doing, and B) that it's business as usual at Parks & Resorts in 2018, and C) that somehow the average Disney fan is smarter than Disney.

It's definitely easy to forget how much data Disney collects on their guests- the demographics, spending patterns, interests, and that every decision is carefully curated to exploit this.

In this case, Disneyland appeals to the local high school APer who goes after school on Fridays- they don't care about the history, thematic integrity, etc- but they love the new limited edition merch, food, overlays, etc.

 

[Californian Elitist]

The real Disneyland definitely will not be returning in 2019. If anything, it’ll be taking one of its final bows.

I do agree that the new float is gross.

 

[SuddenStorm]

The real Disneyland definitely will not be returning in 2019. If anything, it’ll be taking one of its final bows.

I think Disneyland was perfected emotionally in 1995- ever since, the park has taken hits. Star Wars Land will dramatically change the dynamic of the park, and it'll be very interesting to see how it shapes what Disneyland is 10, 20 and 30 years from now.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I think Disneyland was perfected emotionally in 1995- ever since, the park has taken hits. Star Wars Land will dramatically change the dynamic of the park, and it'll be very interesting to see how it shapes what Disneyland is 10, 20 and 30 years from now.

Yep. I fear for the park’s future and the rest of the charm and classic feels that’s left. Not looking too bright, in my opinion.

 

[Curious Constance]

Yes, I can still go to the parks and have a great time with my family. That doesn't mean I'm going to remain quiet about dumb decisions they make in the meantime. I don't have to wait until I can literally have no fun before I can start vocalizing my opinions that the decisions they are making are detrimental to the future of the parks and at the expense of decades of American history.

 

[Rich T]

The Luxo Lamp is pretty iconic.

But out of context (that is, *not* at the start of a Pixar film), the lamp just looks like an ad for Office Depot.

 

[Rich T]

Co

I think it's the opposite: this is all designed to promote and reinforce Pixar's brand identity in front of 10 million or so mostly ready and receptive consumers over the next 4 or 5 months. Disney doesn't care if the promotional menu items at Pizza Planet aren't high quality and tasty or whether you're watching a recycled decade old parade. They are counting on enraptured Disney fans mindlessly Instagramming their disgusting hamburger pizzas while sporting a fresh pair of made-in-China rose gold mouse ears, all of which is undoubtedly happening as I type this.

So maybe we should stop assuming A) that the folks behind these decisions don't know what they're doing, B) that it's business as usual at Parks & Resorts in 2018, and C) that somehow the average Disney fan is smarter than Disney.

Good points (especially "B"), but creating crap instead of quality doesn't sound to me like a recipe for long-time good will and loyalty. Oh, right-- For a moment I forgot the people making these decisions have no interest in any longevity beyond the current chapter in their career ladder-climb.

 

[Rich T]

Yep. I fear for the park’s future and the rest of the charm and classic feels that’s left. Not looking too bright, in my opinion.

Not too bright for long-time fans, but hopefully it'll remain a fun, worthwhile experience for upcoming generations. It'll be "Disneyland" in name only, though. I'm sad about this, but I'm sad about a lot of things in modern culture. At least the park still exists in some form.
(EDIT) For me, the park's still worth visiting as long as it keystones remain: A recognizable Fantasyland, The Castle, The Mark Twain, PoC and HM and Main St.)