ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Every time a new Pixar character came into view, happy yells from children filled the air during the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration parade at Disney California Adventure Park.
The high-energy parade also brought plenty of smiles to the adults watching on Wednesday during a media preview that was also open to the public as a surprise-and-delight moment for guests. And delight it did. Despite no previous advertising, park guests lined the parade's route.
The parade is part of Pixar Fest, a celebration of all things Pixar at the Disneyland Resort that runs from April 26 to Aug. 4.
Better Together stars more than two dozen Pixar characters new and old. For the first time in a Disney park, characters from "Luca" and "Turning Red" appear in the parade, and so do old standbys like Woody from "Toy Story" and Mike Wazowski and Sulley from "Monsters, Inc."
In the finale of the Better Together parade, Mike Wazowski of "Monsters, Inc." waves to the crowd. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
The characters and their floats are a highlight, from an oversized Pixar lamp leading the way to the finale where Mr. and Mrs. Incredible and Frozone lead the way in hovercraft vehicles. They are followed by some of Pixar's most iconic characters on a float, like Buzz Lightyear and Jessie from "Toy Story."
The nearly 70 performers that dance -- and ride -- alongside the floats provide high energy, too. A highlight was the performers on beach cruiser-style bicycles circling around the Luca float, which featured Luca and Alberto from the film in their part human, part sea-creature forms.
Woody from “Toy Story” during the Better Together parade. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
Better Together has a new soundtrack of compilations from various Pixar films. In the finale, it blends Toy Story's" "You've Got a Friend in Me" with "If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc.
I watched the parade from outside of the Little Mermaid -- Ariel's Undersea Adventure. It was the perfect spot with Pixar Pier, the Incredicoaster and the Pixar Pal-A-Round wheel in the backdrop. Riding the Incredicoaster right after the parade kept the Pixar vibes going.
I'll admit to not being completely up to date on Pixar flicks, but that didn't take away from enjoying the parade. It even inspired me to play catch-up with Pixar's latest offerings, something I'm sure will thrill my daughter.
Pixar Fest and the Better Together parade officially begins on Friday, April 26, and runs through Aug. 4. This is the first time Disneyland has held Pixar Fest since its inaugural run in 2018, when Pixar Pier -- a retheming of Paradise Pier -- opened.