Disney’s Pixar Play Parade is all wet
Disney’s California Adventure’s new Pixar Play Parade — or, as I’ve taken to calling it, Pixar Puddle Parade — is about as much fun as watching a parade in the rain. Actually, it’s exactly like watching a parade in the rain.
Some people like to get wet at theme parks. I prefer to keep water where it belongs — in water parks. The mere sight of drenched people stepping off a white-water raft ride sends chills up and down my spine.
The new Pixar parade, which features characters from the animated movies, replaces the old Pixar parade, Block Party Bash, which — wait for it — featured characters from the animated movies.
The water theme of the new parade is immediately evident as “Cars” star Lightning McQueen leads the procession accompanied by a pair of women dressed as mops (no, sadly, I’m not kidding) who squirt the crowd with water bottles and sponge off the red roadster. The car wash gag is an apt metaphor because you are about to be put through a soaking fit for a Ford Mustang.
Before the first float had even passed, I’d been squirted in the eye twice and dried my face three times with my shirtsleeve. By the time the second float went by, I was suitably annoyed — as were others who were fleeing the parade route as if attacked by a swarm of bees. As the third float passed, I uttered words not appropriate for a family publication.
After the 12th and mercifully final squirting, spitting and splatting float rolled by, a mop brigade brought up the rear — a first for any parade I’ve ever seen. And an apt ending to a parade that, in my opinion, is all wet (sorry, it was unavoidable).
It’s a shame, really, because the Pixar Play Parade looks like an improvement over Block Party Bash, of which I was never a big fan. I loved the beautiful new floats, the must-see “Incredibles” hovercraft and the twirling acrobats.
But mostly I felt bad for the 100-odd performers in the show, from whom I shielded my eyes for fear they’d assault me with a water pistol or douse me with a fire hose. Sadly, it may take a tragic slip and fall by one of the 12-foot-tall stilt walkers to force the Disney lawyers to switch the H20 to bubbles.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Photo: Disney]
15 Comments on “Disney’s Pixar Play Parade is all wet”
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March 16th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
There wont always be water, the water will be replaced with bubbles in the winter. While the water is a bit of a pain in the summer itll be very nice during all those hott days. The water may be a bit of an annoyance but the very very pretty floats and super cute music that accompanies each one of them makes up for it completely.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Seems like the Disneyland Resort has forgotten to treat the guests as guests in this new parade.
March 17th, 2008 at 1:35 am
They do warn everybody before the parade starts that they’ll get wet….
March 17th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Yes, they do warn you…just look in your park map. I loved the parade and you need to stop hating on Disney for being the best thing out there. You should just leave Disney alone and go to Six Flags.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Oh grow up, its not like disney is shooting acid at you, its just water. Disney has GRR and Splash to get people wet whats the difference.
March 17th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
It boggles my mind how Disney will not give the American parks the same quality of entertainment as they do at Tokyo Disney resort! The sad part is most Americans aren’t even aware of the Japan resort which is why Disney can get away with mediocre productions in the states. The following link is a brief glimpse of Tokyo Disney resorts entertainment offerings, it’s a small video that will automatically play in the lower right hand corner (it’s an advertisement for a DVD collection celebrating all the parades and shows of the past…You think you’d ever see an item like that for sale at Disneyland or Walt Disney World)?
http://wdshe.jp/disney/special/TDR/
March 17th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
It seems very rude to squirt guests with water guns.
March 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
There are many indications that the parade will feature water. Simply stand back a row or two from the curb and all your problems are solved.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
MousePlanet’s weekly Disneyland Update and MiceAge’s Dateline Disney column offer comprehensive photo slide shows of the new Pixar Play Parade.
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times staff writer + theme park blogger
March 17th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I always laugh at this wroters reviews. Obviously he was not paying attention when they announced that the parade involved water.
This guy always sounds like vineger filled old man that has no sense of fun.
Oh and why would the parade not have characters, Its always been a disney tradition.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Its sad that in a place like Hong Kong Disneyland where a similiar parade has been succesful and apreciated that in a place of Fun and Sun, California, people can not just be a child for a moment and have some fun. What happen to that child innocense of enjoying a little water. This writer has no clue.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
This parade is wonderful and the water adds to the fun people should have when watching the parade.
I just can’t understand why people complain about DCA a lot, and now that we finally got a new parade people are still complaining, I just cannot believe it.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
[...] Originally Posted by mickeysgirlz CHECK OUT THIS LINK I FOUND: IT SHOWS, DL PARADE, PLAYHOUSE AND THE NEW RIDE CARS!!!! COOL! Disneyland Park Update (Disneyland Park Update) by MousePlanet Staff Quoting myself . . . here is another review . . . it’s funny!! Disney’s Pixar Play Parade is all wet - Travel - LATimes.com __________________ 7 times before we became Florida Residents! ~2005~ July-POP~Oct-Off-site-MNSSHP~Nov-ASM ~2006~ Mar-DayTrip~Oct-Sports~Oct-ASM-MNSSHP~Dec-CS-MVMCP ~2007~ Mar-POP-P&PP~Apr-POP~May-ASM~July-PORS~Aug-ASM~Nov-POP-MNSSHP ~2008~ Feb-POFQ-P&PP "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." —Walt Disney My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Easter was BLACKED OUT, so we’re going the Next Weekend!! 9 days, 3 hours, 1 minutes [...]
March 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Check out a video podcast from Disney which offers a rare backstage look at the making of Pixar Play Parade featuring concept art, float blueprints, costume making and dance rehearsals.
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
wow really? lol is water really that bad? sheesh calm down dont watch the parade if ur jus gonna complain about it! its that simple u dont like water WALK AWAY 4rm the route its not like they force u to sit there and hold ur head and make u watch….. u complained about bpb now its gone and now what do u kno ur complainin bout this too GO TO DISNEYLAND AND WATCH POD THEN!!!!!!!!!!!11