Planning a Disney Parks vacation is both a lot of work and a lot of fun. A great way to prepare for your vacation is to watch the Disney films that are heavily represented in the Parks. Though not necessary to do to enjoy your vacation, it is a way to enhance your experience by being familiar with these characters and stories. Disney is also known for all of their magical details throughout their Parks and it is a lot of fun to be able to recognize those details and be “in” on the magic.
This series will begin with the top Pixar films to watch before heading to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. It will scale each film from 1 – 5 with 1 being a low priority to watch beforehand and 5 being high priority. It will also include a rating for both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. Check out which Classic Disney Animated Films to watch as well.
Toy Story:
Disneyland = 5
Walt Disney World = 5
Toy Story is everywhere in the Disney Parks! At Disneyland there is Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters as well as Toy Story Midway Mania! over at Disney California Adventure. Buzz Lightyear and Woody are popular meet and greet characters as well.
At Walt Disney World, an entire Toy Story Land just opened up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It has three attractions as well as a quick service. At the Magic Kingdom, there is the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin attraction as well.
Toy Story 2:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4
The reason to include Toy Story 2 as well is because Jessie and Bullseye are popular characters but are only introduced in the second film. Jessie is a popular meet and greet character and there is a lot of merchandise featuring both Jessie and Bullseye. It would be ideal to be familiar with their story in Toy Story 2 as well.
A Bug’s Life:
Disneyland = 5 (if visiting before September 4, 2018) or 1 (if visiting after)
Walt Disney World = 3
A Bug’s Life is a unique case. There is an entire A Bug’s Land in Disney California Adventure and so watching A Bug’s Life before a trip there is a top priority. However, the land is closing on September 4, 2018 and afterwards there will no longer be any representation at the Disneyland Resort (at least none announced by Disney).
Over at Walt Disney World at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there is the It’s Tough to be a Bug attraction. This 4D show can be quite scary but it might be easier for children who are familiar with the characters ahead of time. (Though it wasn’t for me… I am still scarred from that attraction!)
Monsters, Inc.:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! is an attraction at Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure. It is a dark ride that takes guests through the story of the film.
At the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is an attraction featuring the characters from the film. It is an interactive comedy show that is based on a key plotline of the film.
Finding Nemo:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 5
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. At Disney California Adventure, there is Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show in the Animation Building in Hollywood Land.
At Walt Disney World, there is Finding Nemo – The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and there is an entire pavilion themed to Finding Nemo in Epcot. It includes The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction and Turtle Talk with Crush, as well as real aquariums. Finding Nemo is a themed section of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
The Incredibles:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 3
A few weeks ago, The Incredibles would not have even made this list, must less be rated at a 4 for priority. The Incredicoaster just opened at the new Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure and many of the characters are now meet and greet characters.
Walt Disney World is hosting their Incredible Tomorrowland Expo at the Magic Kingdom for this summer. The end date is scheduled for September 3, 2018.
Cars:
Disneyland = 5
Walt Disney World = 2
Cars is a huge priority to watch before heading to Disneyland. Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is not only a Cars theme land, but is a replica of Radiator Springs. It is just like stepping into the film. Believe it or not, some of the characters are even meet and greet characters.
There is not too much representation of Cars at the moment. Sometimes the characters appear in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and there is merchandise from Cars. Cars is also a themed section at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. However, in early 2019 a new show called Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Up:
Disneyland = 2
Walt Disney World = 3
Up is an amazing film; it was even nominated at the 2010 Oscars for Best Picture! But there is little representation at the Disney Parks.
Russell, Dug, and sometimes Carl Fredrickson are meet and greet characters at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a bird show called Up: A Great Bird Adventure features Russell and Dug as well.
Inside Out:
Disneyland = 3
Walt Disney World = 2
Similar to Up, Inside Out is another amazing Pixar film with little representation in the Disney Parks.
At Disney California Adventure’s Pixar Pier, Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff just opened up and is part confectionary and part merchandise shop. In 2019, the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind will open at Pixar Pier.
At Epcot, guests can meet Joy and Sadness in Future World.
Bonus: Small Fry:
Disneyland = 3
Walt Disney World = 1
If you are unfamiliar with Small Fry, it is a Toy Story Toon short that was the theatrical short before The Muppets (2011). It centers on a support group for discarded toys that meet at a fast food restaurant where Buzz Lightyear gets trapped inside. One of the discarded toys is the kids’ meal version of Buzz Lightyear. The fast food restaurant is called Poultry Palace, which is now a snack cart at Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure.
Note: The majority of these characters are also part of the Pixar Play Parade at Disneyland and the Paint the Night Parade at Disney California Adventure.
If you only have time for two movies before your trip, I would recommend Toy Story and Cars before heading to Disneyland and Toy Story and Finding Nemo before heading to Walt Disney World.
Enjoy your trip!
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Such a great idea to prepare for a Disney holiday through watching films, we have done that before with Paris. Interesting to see how many Pixar films are featured in some way in the parks.