I don’t know what it was but since 2018 when Pixar Pier opened at DCA it’s felt so stale and corporate (like most modern Disney endeavors nowadays). This isn’t just a thread to stomp on current management and Iger or to just flat out complain, because there was some good elements to the overhaul, but overall it could’ve been more well handed. I’ll go over my likes and dislikes/ fixes for this land which could’ve been done so much better.
CONCEPT
Bad. Just flat out bad. I don’t know what the recent obsession has been with PIXAR as a brand has been at the parks in recent years. The Pixar Place at DHS in Florida (at least that closed down), the Disney After Dark event coming soon, Pixar FEST.. then Pixar Pier. I don’t know when it became Pixarland? That being said I actually enjoy most products from Pixar movies- but when “Pixar” as an IP isn’t used. Midway Mania or Astro Blasters as examples. Pixar is the name of a studio/ brand- not the basis of a land. With Pixar making such a wide variety of IP’s, that alone made Pixar a flimsy basis for a theme park land.
THEMATIC CHANGES
Pixar Pier completely ignores any type of thematic cohesion that Paradise Pier 2.0 was aiming for. The days of the traditional Victorian 19th century seaside fair are gone- traded for a more sterile and plastic version of that theme. However, I’m not entirely mad Disney for aiming for a more colorful, bright approach. Being there, it feels more alive and how you’d THINK a seaside fair would feel instead of actually feeling like one. For one, I enjoy the more colorful motifs and the brighter color story. I believe that suspension of disbelief is what helps the classic Disneyland lands feel timeless. The bright sparkly new look of the castle achieved this perfectly, suspending the belief that a real life medieval castle WOULD be pink by making it timeless and magical. (but the brighter more unrealistic pallets and construction actually improved the general aesthetics of the area vs how it used to look). The thematic inconsistencies are made worse when the “neighborhoods” are introduced. (did Disney learn nothing the last time they refused to call a themed area a “”land””). All of which having such a distinct aesthetic it’s almost impossible to say they belong in the same land. The archway and postmodern style of the Incredibles neighborhood is such a sharp distinction from the carnival-like surroundings, and everything about the Toy Story area is awful. The stationery figures and oversized props blocking the walkways make it such a juxtaposition to the building style of Midway Mania and the incredicoaster. The Promenade is cute enough, and I like the paint and classical carnival motifs around the area. All that is thrown away when you enter the Inside Out neighborhood, which instead of looking like the real world location of Inside Out (SAN FRANCISCO) which would actually FIT the area and would add something to the dying name “California” over the parks entrance- they take you to a section inside of the brain control room- just slapped onto the cement surrounded by a rollercoaster. WHAT WERE THEY GOING FOR HERE?!? I’m genuinely baffled this exists in real life. The stationery plastic figures around add to the tackiness of it all. For what it’s worth, Bing Bongs Sweet Stuff is genuinely cute and makes more sense near the promenade than the “eMoTiOnAl WhIrLwHiNd”.
Attractions
Easily a downgrade. They kept the track from California Screamin, (not because they thought it would provide an easy, clear canvas to tell a story on but because it’s cheaper). The Incredicoaster Is a total joke. The stupid static figures, forced story. The only moderate improvement was the bright red tubes and the amazing score from the movies, (however I believe the Screamin’ score worked just as well, the music just serves the purpose of the ride). The Critter Carousel is cute enough, I like the figures but the theming in the entirety of that area is a mess as mentioned above^. The Games are the same, just reskinned so there’s no real problems. The “Pixar Pal-A-Round” is so forced it hurts. They could’ve just called it the “Pixar Fun Wheel” and I’d have no issues. I’ve already spoken my distaste of the whirlwind so I won’t even go in on that. Just know I THOROUGHLY LOATHE the whirlwind.
“FIXES”
For aesthetic fixes, all I would do is take out those tacky, plastic figures from the Toy Story and Inside Out Neighborhood. I’d probably gone down the exceedingly bright yellow and replace it with a rich tan- and make the bright blue more navy for color contrast. I’d finally fix the weird carousel to match the (if slightly simplified) colorful Victorian wooden style the rest of the land has been doing for years. Same for the Incredicoaster queue- make it that playful kiddie-fied Victorian style- Same for the rest of that neighborhood. (also no stupid neighborhoods!) As for the Incredicoaster proper, just take the figures out and leave it alone. Not all rides need stories you know! Sometimes a good rollercoaster is all something needs to be! Let WDI do something more inventive and creative with the Incredibles as an IP! Paint the Fab 5 back on the buckets for the Ferris Wheel and let it be! There’s enough Pixar shoved down our throats 24/7 and itd be nice to see them there again. I actually have 0 gripes with the Sweet Store. Just make it “Paradise Promenade”. UNINSTALL THE WHIRLWIND- for the love of Walt Disney! And finally, let it just be Paradise Pier again! I miss not having whole lands based on IP, (unless they’re good- I’m looking at you Cars Land and Galaxy’s Edge!). With some easy fixes- It’d be easy to fix that mess of a land. Thank You so much if you made it this far! I know I have some strong opinions, but you’re always free respond for any feedback or with your thoughts. Thank You!
CONCEPT
Bad. Just flat out bad. I don’t know what the recent obsession has been with PIXAR as a brand has been at the parks in recent years. The Pixar Place at DHS in Florida (at least that closed down), the Disney After Dark event coming soon, Pixar FEST.. then Pixar Pier. I don’t know when it became Pixarland? That being said I actually enjoy most products from Pixar movies- but when “Pixar” as an IP isn’t used. Midway Mania or Astro Blasters as examples. Pixar is the name of a studio/ brand- not the basis of a land. With Pixar making such a wide variety of IP’s, that alone made Pixar a flimsy basis for a theme park land.
THEMATIC CHANGES
Pixar Pier completely ignores any type of thematic cohesion that Paradise Pier 2.0 was aiming for. The days of the traditional Victorian 19th century seaside fair are gone- traded for a more sterile and plastic version of that theme. However, I’m not entirely mad Disney for aiming for a more colorful, bright approach. Being there, it feels more alive and how you’d THINK a seaside fair would feel instead of actually feeling like one. For one, I enjoy the more colorful motifs and the brighter color story. I believe that suspension of disbelief is what helps the classic Disneyland lands feel timeless. The bright sparkly new look of the castle achieved this perfectly, suspending the belief that a real life medieval castle WOULD be pink by making it timeless and magical. (but the brighter more unrealistic pallets and construction actually improved the general aesthetics of the area vs how it used to look). The thematic inconsistencies are made worse when the “neighborhoods” are introduced. (did Disney learn nothing the last time they refused to call a themed area a “”land””). All of which having such a distinct aesthetic it’s almost impossible to say they belong in the same land. The archway and postmodern style of the Incredibles neighborhood is such a sharp distinction from the carnival-like surroundings, and everything about the Toy Story area is awful. The stationery figures and oversized props blocking the walkways make it such a juxtaposition to the building style of Midway Mania and the incredicoaster. The Promenade is cute enough, and I like the paint and classical carnival motifs around the area. All that is thrown away when you enter the Inside Out neighborhood, which instead of looking like the real world location of Inside Out (SAN FRANCISCO) which would actually FIT the area and would add something to the dying name “California” over the parks entrance- they take you to a section inside of the brain control room- just slapped onto the cement surrounded by a rollercoaster. WHAT WERE THEY GOING FOR HERE?!? I’m genuinely baffled this exists in real life. The stationery plastic figures around add to the tackiness of it all. For what it’s worth, Bing Bongs Sweet Stuff is genuinely cute and makes more sense near the promenade than the “eMoTiOnAl WhIrLwHiNd”.
Attractions
Easily a downgrade. They kept the track from California Screamin, (not because they thought it would provide an easy, clear canvas to tell a story on but because it’s cheaper). The Incredicoaster Is a total joke. The stupid static figures, forced story. The only moderate improvement was the bright red tubes and the amazing score from the movies, (however I believe the Screamin’ score worked just as well, the music just serves the purpose of the ride). The Critter Carousel is cute enough, I like the figures but the theming in the entirety of that area is a mess as mentioned above^. The Games are the same, just reskinned so there’s no real problems. The “Pixar Pal-A-Round” is so forced it hurts. They could’ve just called it the “Pixar Fun Wheel” and I’d have no issues. I’ve already spoken my distaste of the whirlwind so I won’t even go in on that. Just know I THOROUGHLY LOATHE the whirlwind.
“FIXES”
For aesthetic fixes, all I would do is take out those tacky, plastic figures from the Toy Story and Inside Out Neighborhood. I’d probably gone down the exceedingly bright yellow and replace it with a rich tan- and make the bright blue more navy for color contrast. I’d finally fix the weird carousel to match the (if slightly simplified) colorful Victorian wooden style the rest of the land has been doing for years. Same for the Incredicoaster queue- make it that playful kiddie-fied Victorian style- Same for the rest of that neighborhood. (also no stupid neighborhoods!) As for the Incredicoaster proper, just take the figures out and leave it alone. Not all rides need stories you know! Sometimes a good rollercoaster is all something needs to be! Let WDI do something more inventive and creative with the Incredibles as an IP! Paint the Fab 5 back on the buckets for the Ferris Wheel and let it be! There’s enough Pixar shoved down our throats 24/7 and itd be nice to see them there again. I actually have 0 gripes with the Sweet Store. Just make it “Paradise Promenade”. UNINSTALL THE WHIRLWIND- for the love of Walt Disney! And finally, let it just be Paradise Pier again! I miss not having whole lands based on IP, (unless they’re good- I’m looking at you Cars Land and Galaxy’s Edge!). With some easy fixes- It’d be easy to fix that mess of a land. Thank You so much if you made it this far! I know I have some strong opinions, but you’re always free respond for any feedback or with your thoughts. Thank You!

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