The Ultimate Pixar Experience

Who doesn’t love Pixar, right? Movies that tug at the heartstrings and show us the world from a new perspective. If you have a big Pixar fan in your group, this post is a must for you. I’m going to tell you where to find all things Pixar at Walt Disney World. Attractions, characters, food, and more, we’re going through it all. I’m going to tell you what’s there, where it is, and all by film or franchise. Everyone knows Toy Story Land, but Pixar in the parks goes so much further than that. Ready to go? Adventure awaits!

Let’s start with the big one: Toy Story. Toy Story is by far the most represented Pixar franchise in Walt Disney World. I mean, it got its own whole land. However, there is more to Toy Story than just Toy Story Land. Buzz Lightyear has his own attraction over in Magic Kingdom. It’s called Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and it’s really fun. It’s a target shooting game, competing with the person next to you to see who can rack up the most points, defeating the Evil Emperor Zurg in the process. Back in Toy Story Land, there are three attractions to choose from. Toy Story Midway Mania is a fun 4D experience where guests play midway games and compete with the other people in your vehicle to see who can score the most points. It’s fun for all ages, and is very high in repeatability. It also gives you a chance to see inside Andy’s room and see Toy Story characters that you don’t get to see anywhere else. You can also see and interact with Mr. Potato Head inside the queue line. Slinky Dog Dash is the big draw in Toy Story Land, and it’s an incredible roller coaster built by Andy himself. Slinky Dog is fun, and see Jessie and Rex towering over the attraction putting up string lights. Alien Swirling Saucers is a fun ride that’s great for little ones, although I highly encourage adults to try it at least once. It really is a fun ride riding behind the little green aliens trying to avoid getting caught by the claw. There are also several Toy Story characters available for meet and greets. Woody meets in Toy Story Land near the entrance to Toy Story Midway Mania. Jessie also meets in the same area. Buzz Lightyear meets in two locations: near the Toy Story Land entrance, and at the Buzz Exit Courtyard in the Magic Kingdom. The Green Army Drum Corps also makes appearances in Toy Story Land throughout the day. Check the My Disney Experience app for times on all character appearances. Toy Story Land also gets its own food locations: Woody’s Lunchbox and Roundup BBQ. Woody’s Lunchbox is a quick-service location that is known for its Lunchbox Tarts and Totchos. It’s fabulous, and I highly recommend it. Roundup BBQ is a new table-service restaurant, and I haven’t been there yet, it has good reviews online. I think that’s it for Toy Story, so let’s move on to the next Pixar film.

Monster’s Inc. is the next Pixar film that has several things for it. In the Magic Kingdom, you will find the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor over in Tomorrowland. Watch this hilarious show where Mike Wazowski and his amateur comedians make you laugh to fill up a huge laugh canister. Just hope that you don’t end up being “That Guy” during the show. Sulley does a meet and greet over in Hollywood Studios in Pixar Plaza. Check the My Disney Experience app for the exact location and times. As far as food goes, there are only a couple of things for Monster’s Inc. Over in the Magic Kingdom, the Lunching Pad has a Mike Wazowski cake, and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café has a Sulley Slush. Both of these locations are in Tomorrowland. That’s it for Monster’s Inc., so let’s move on to the next film.

Finding Nemo actually gets its own pavilion in EPCOT. The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a ride that leads into the Seas pavilion in the World Nature area of EPCOT. Inside the pavilion, you can also find Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show with Crush the sea turtle that is popular with little ones, and a Bruce the shark themed play area. There are also tons of references to other Finding Nemo characters inside the pavilion. The ride a very cute and goes through the story of Finding Nemo, complete with the characters appearing inside the enormous aquarium tank. It’s one of those moments of Disney magic that can’t be explained, but makes the entire experience incredible real. Be sure to check out The Seas with Nemo and Friends. It’s one of my favorite pavilions at EPCOT. Be sure to go by and say hello to the manatees for me! Finding Nemo also gets a stage show in Animal Kingdom called Finding Nemo: The Big Blue….and Beyond! It’s a fantastic Broadway-style show that has some memorable songs that will be stuck in your head. It also makes for a great air-conditioning break from the Florida heat.

Cars is another Pixar franchise that has an attraction in Hollywood Studios: Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. It’s a high-octane, first-of-its-kind show that puts you right in the middle of the Cars universe. I personally haven’t done it, but I know that it’s popular with little ones. I have friends who take their kids, and it’s their favorite attraction. If you have a Cars fan, then definitely make time for this one.

The Incredibles don’t have an attraction, but they do have lots of meet and greet opportunities. At Pixar Plaza in Hollywood Studios, you have the chance to meet Edna Mode, Mr. Incredible, and Mrs. Incredible. Check the My Disney Experience app for times and exact locations. Also at Pixar Plaza, check out the Market and the Neighborhood Bakery for Jack-Jack’s Num-Num Cookie. It’s an enormous chocolate chunk cookie that’s been taking Instagram by storm for years. That’s all there is for The Incredibles, so let’s move on to the next Pixar film.

If you liked Ratatouille, then you have to go to EPCOT and check out Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure over in the France pavilion. It is a fun, 4D experience, where you are shrunk to the size of a rat and go on an adventure through Gusteau’s kitchen. It’s an adorable attraction that I believe everyone should do at least once. It’s located in the back of the France pavilion, and can be difficult to find if you’re not paying attention. There’s a pathway to the right of the pavilion, closest to the bridge coming over from the United Kingdom pavilion. Follow that pathway around the corner, and you will enter the world of Ratatouille. Notice how the architecture is a little different here. The gutters aren’t exactly straight, for starters. It’s those little details that make the magic and the atmosphere for the attraction.

A Bug’s Life also gets an attraction over in Animal Kingdom: It’s Tough To Be A Bug. Here, you are shrunk down to the size of a bug, and hosted by Flit while the other bugs tell you their stories. Hopper crashes the show to add a bit of drama. The best thing about this show is that it is located inside the Tree of Life, so you get an up close look at the roots and carvings on the tree in the queue line. While this is not my favorite show, I do recommend doing it at least once. It really is a cute show. I just don’t like bugs very much. However, it has always been a favorite with my brother. Also, keep an eye on the menu at nearby Creature Comforts. Sometimes, they have bug-themed items available. If you like A Bug’s Life, then be sure to check this out. Make sure that you read the posters in the queue line, as well. They are bug-themed takes on classic movies and Broadway shows. It’s quite creative. How many can you figure out?

If you are a fan of the Pixar movie Coco, then you have to go to the Mexico pavilion in EPCOT. There is a whole display themed to Coco. You will also see so many of the influences of the film featured throughout the pavilion. The Mexico pavilion is a great place to go to get out of the Florida heat. This is the only representation of Coco in the parks. Miguel is sometimes found on the Adventure Friends Cavalcade in the Magic Kingdom, but that is the only other thing. Many fans hope to see Coco better represented in the parks at some point in the future, but only time will tell.

Brave is another Pixar film that doesn’t have much representation is Brave. Currently, Merida has a meet and greet opportunity in the Magic Kingdom. Her location is changing, so check the My Disney Experience app for times and location. Brave does have a float in the Festival of Fantasy parade in the Magic Kingdom, and it is very cool. Fans of Brave will love the float, and it is a fantastic parade that I can’t recommend enough.

The Pixar film Soul doesn’t exactly have representation in the parks, but there is an exhibit in the American Adventure pavilion dedicated to the history of jazz music. Because jazz is featured so heavily in Soul, it was the inspiration behind the exhibit. The exhibit is very interesting, and I recommend it to any music lovers out there.

Pixar movie Inside Out only has one experience available in the parks. It is a meet and greet opportunity with Joy. Her meet and greet is located inside ImageWorks in the Imagination pavilion in EPCOT. ImageWorks is the interactive area at the end of Journey into Imagination with Figment. Joy is an adorable character to meet, and I enjoy watching her interactions with young guests. If you have any Inside Out fans, make sure you go to visit Joy.

If you love the Pixar movie Up, then you have to go to Animal Kingdom to see the various representations for the film throughout the park. Feathered Friends in Flight has an Up theme to it, and there is an adorable photo op outside the attraction. There is also a meet and greet opportunity available to Up fans, if you can find it. Kevin roams around Discovery Island at varying times of the day, so if you can find her, then you have an incredible photo opportunity. Kevin is a fan favorite, and interactions with her are always memorable. Check the My Disney Experience app for times. This is the only dedicated Pixar film representations, but there are some others. We’ll cover those now.

Miscellaneous Pixar representations can be found at the Disney Pixar Short Film Festival, Disney Movie Magic, and the Wonderful World of Animation. The Disney Pixar Short Film Festival is located in the theater in the Imagination pavilion in EPCOT. It’s an adorable collection of short films done by Disney and Pixar over the years. It ends with an adorable short exclusive to this show. Disney Movie Magic and Wonderful World of Animation are both part of the nighttime shows that take place in Hollywood Studios. They are both projection shows that take place on the Chinese Theater. Pixar films are featured during both shows. All of these shows are good, and I recommend them to everyone. If you happen to be at Disney Springs, go by the Lego store. They sometimes have Toy Story statues around the store. Also, be sure to go by the Art of Animation resort. They have areas themed to Cars and Finding Nemo.

Put all of these attractions, shows, food, and character meet and greets together, and you have the ultimate Pixar experience. Mix and match them as you like to create your own Pixar experience. Just remember, there is no such thing as a perfect Disney trip. Keep your eyes open for the magic, and let it happen. It comes when you least expect it. So, keep your eyes open, believe in the magic, and go out there and have your own Pixar adventure.