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Pixar Pier Opens at Disney California Adventure June 23

February 14, 2018 By Daniel Hale

The Disneyland Resort will open Pixar Pier, the re-theme of Paradise Pier on June 23rd. “Guests will explore four new imaginative neighborhoods, newly themed attractions, entertainment, encounters with Pixar pals, plus themed food and merchandise, all inspired by beloved Pixar stories.” says the official press release.

Pixar Pier Marquee

The new neighborhoods include areas inspired by, The Incredibles, Toy Story, Inside Out, and a various selection of all other Pixar properties like A Bug’s Life, La Luna, and Wall•E.

Pixar Pier Birds Eye

“The permanent, new land of Pixar Pier, opening June 23, offers guests their first chance to experience the new Incredicoaster, a thrilling adventure with everyone’s favorite Super family and theming inspired by the newest Disney•Pixar film, “Incredibles 2.” The Incredicoaster replaces California Screaming.

Incredicoaster

Mickey’s Fun Wheel will be newly-themed with 24 new gondolas featuring Pixar characters. The Inside Out neighborhood will get a new attraction and Ariel’s Grotto Resturant and the Cove Bar will also get a Pixar re-skin.

But the Pixar Carzyness doesn’t end there.

Announced at the D23 Expo in Japan, Paint the Night, the popular nighttime parade will appear for the first time at California Adventure with an all-new float inspired by “The Incredibles.”

Paint the Night - Incredibles Float

The entire Disneyland Resort will be celebrating Pixar this summer with, Pixar Fest beginning April 13th.

Filed Under: Articles, Disney California Adventure, News/Rumors Tagged With: Disney California Adventure, Incredicoaster, Pixar, Pixar Fest, Pixar Pier

Is “Brave” Merida the Next Disney Princess?

July 1, 2011 By Daniel Hale

Is Rapunzel going to have to step down from her high pedestal above Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Snow White in “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade”?

I know not.

I know nothing of this Merida, except that she is a princess.

But being a princess alone is not enough to be one of the Disney Princesses ™. I’ll refer you to the “Dissed By Disney” rant I wrote back in February if you seek a “for instance”.

Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom.

In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish.

Now you know as much as I do.

So if Merida wishes to enter to Royal Disney Clique, all she really needs is two major things:

1. Box office numbers. Pixar’s track record for telling great stories, kinda makes this a given.

While “Cars 2” is being considered a “not great” sequel, the “not greatness” of it is being pinned on Disney’s record with sequels rather than Pixar’s record with stories. Many of the complaints I’ve heard (none of which came from true-blue Disney fans) were that this was expected when Pixar married itself to Disney.

2. She needs to get herself a man. Unmarried princesses don’t make the cut.

After doing some research, a.k.a. racking my brains, the only Disney Princess that makes the husband factor an open question is Pocahontas. Clearly she does not marry John Smith, in fact, in “Pocahontas II” she dumps that fool in favor of John Rolfe (in a very transparent effort for Disney to be at least a little historically accurate).

At the end of that movie, she’s seen sailing off into the sunset with Rolfe. Historically, Pocahontas does marry John Rolfe, which, to me, makes her as much his wife as original Greek mythology makes Meg (Megara) from “Hercules” a princess, so there you go.

But I digress…

So assuming Merida fits the requirements of the Disney Princess line, the question is, where in the Disneyland Resort will she fit in?

Yes, she’s digital like Rapunzel, but she’s a Pixar character. Rapunzel is pure Disney magic and doesn’t stand under the Pixar banner, so I wonder what the deal is going to be, don’t you?

Seeing as Pixar has dug itself into Disney’s California Adventure Park like P.T. Flea, it begs the question. Will Merida rule DCA alone, single and proud, or will she buckle to social convention, hook up with some dude and join the Princess club in Disneyland?

I mean, Pixar Princesses Atta and Dot are nowhere near the Disney Princesses.

They’re ants though– they’d get Raid in the face or squished.

I’m pretty sure that  Mulan can’t take that cricket anywhere near Cinderella, though it’s perfectly okay for Cinderella to hang out with rats. Hypocrite.

Disney/Pixar’s “Brave” won’t hit theaters until summer next year. That’s a whole year for them to figure it out, if they haven’t figured it out already.

All we can do is wonder.

Of course if “Brave” sucks, we’re talking about nothing here.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LepcCZi_zk8

Filed Under: Editorial, News/Rumors Tagged With: California Adventure, Disney Merchandise, disneyland, feature, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, movies, Pixar

“Brave” Given Release Date

April 28, 2011 By Daniel Hale

Disney/Pixar's “Brave” (formerly known as "The Bear And The Bow") will be arriving to Theaters on June 15, 2012 – just a few months before the new “Monsters Inc 2” movie debuting in November.

The movie is directed by Brenda Chapman who worked on the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars.” The movie will star Reese Witherspoon (or her voice) as the Scottish Princess Merida, who would rather be an archer. Against her mother’s wishes, Merida makes a reckless choice that will unleash peril on her father’s kingdom and on her mother’s life! Yikes!

Sounds exciting and we can’t wait to see it!


 

Concept Art:

Filed Under: News/Rumors Tagged With: feature, movies, Pixar

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