Pixar Fest 2024: The Best Merch and Popcorn Buckets at the Big Disneyland Celebration
29.04.2024 - 18:11
/ ign.com
There's something truly magical about special events at Disney Parks, and one of the most exciting parts is all the new, exclusive merch you can snag up and wear or display with pride. Keeping up with that trend, Pixar Fest has a ton of wonderful options for fans of all ages, and Disney invited me out to Disneyland to check out what guests can expect from the event that has officially started and will run through August 4.
While there is a ton to talk about, the popcorn buckets may just be the highlight of all the merch out there. Pixar Fest will allow guests to purchase three buckets - a Coco Guitar, an Alien Pizza Planet Truck, and one modeled after Up's Dug that's exclusive for Magic Key holders - and they are all spectacular. You can read their full descriptions below, but they are great for so much more than just popcorn as you can play the guitar, play with the truck, and can make the Dug bucket talk.
Move aside Dune 2 and whatever ridiculousness Deadpool & Wolverine will throw our way, as we have some new champions in town!
Speaking of the Alien Pizza Planet Truck, the team behind Pixar Fest really made them a focus as it has also put 50 unique Alien Pizza Planet Trucks around Disneyland for guests to find. I won't spoil where they are, but I will tell you there is a Guardians of the Galaxy one in Disney California Adventure and a Mad Max-esque truck with Grogu as the driver (!) in Downtown Disney! Happy hunting!
As for the merch as a whole, the Pixar Fest team built the items with a theme of "friendship and beyond" and wanted to go with a style that could unite all of these films that all have their own unique look to them.
"The coolest thing for Pixar Fest 2024 is that there are 15 unique items that all celebrate the ‘friendship and beyond’ idea and what we love about Pixar," Disney's Carlos Martinez told me. "For me, I love the fact that everything has that comic book style, which is very unique, and it bonds all the characters together from across the different stories. After all, it's not very common that you get to see Woody and Miguel together in a store with Mei and Lightning McQueen. This comic book style gives us that opportunity to be able to celebrate all the stories in one, unified way.
“Also, there is a versatility of having items that are gender inclusive, so it's not a male or female thing. There's sizing for young and old, big and small, and it's a just great opportunity to be able to just showcase your love for Pixar no matter who you are.”
Inside Out 2 was a big question on a lot of minds going into Pixar Fest 2024 as it is set to be released in theaters on June 14, 2024. While the original Inside Out is represented, there is nothing yet quite specific to the sequel in the merch