17 Pixar Themed Experiences We Love at Disney World

Pixar Animation Studios and The Walt Disney World Company go together better than Dole Whips and Mickey Ice Cream Bars! These mind-blowing animation entities officially joined forces in 2006, when the Walt Disney World Company purchased Pixar. This enormously beneficial relationship has made the animation experience jump leaps and bounds! Thanks to the partnership, we now have a whopping seventeen Pixar-themed experiences to enjoy at Walt Disney World.

1 – Toy Story Land @ Hollywood Studios

An entire land devoted to a Pixar film franchise? You bet! The new Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort, inspired by Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films, turns guests of all ages into “honorary toys” and allows them to “play big” in the whimsical world of a child’s imagination. A world of toys surrounds guests: giant building blocks, Tinkertoys, yo-yos, board-game pieces, dominoes, Scrabble tiles, and even a giant roller coaster set. The entire land encourages the best playtime ever. It really is a very cool-themed land. The land is very immersive, and you’ll actually feel like you are in Andy’s backyard. It tops our must-do list!

2- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! @ Animal Kingdom

Simply incredible – the recently updated Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! in DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom should be on your must-see list! We absolutely love this musical where a talented cast sing and present a theatrical experience through puppetry of the Pixar/Disney film, Finding Nemo. If you think back on Finding Nemo, you will remember that the movie wasn’t at all a musical. There really weren’t a lot of songs in the film, and it was more about the story. That means that most of the songs in the musical are originals that were created just for this stage version of the show, so you and your family will likely leave with some new songs stuck in your head! This is the first time that Disney had made a musical stage show from a non-musical film. We’re so glad they did!

3 – Slinky Dog Dash @ Hollywood Studios

The main attraction for Toy Story Land is Slinky Dog Dash. From his Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit, Andy has assembled his roller coaster for maximum family fun. But instead of just using the roller coaster vehicle that came with the kit, Andy has put his Slinky Dog on the track. The result is a family-friendly thrill ride around the backyard that includes two launches. Tracks and supports in bright colors of red, orange, yellow, and blue were snapped together according to Andy’s hand-drawn plans. Rex and Jessie helped by stringing lights above Andy’s stacked Jenga game pieces. Riders of all ages delight as Slinky Dog bends and twists his coils (you’ll hear that sound on the ride) around curves, over hills, and down drops in the Slinky-est coaster ever. In each 18-passenger coaster train, riders zip around and above Toy Story Land, catching great vistas of all the new land has to offer. In a first for a Disney coaster, Slinky Dog Dash features a second launch at its midpoint as riders experience cool sound effects and spinning lights, darting through a series of rings. You’ll actually be pulled back, just like you would pull a toy car back before you dash forward on your way to the attraction’s finale featuring Wheezy, the squeaky penguin from the Toy Story films.

4 – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure @ EPCOT

You’ll feel as if you have shrunk down to the size of a rat and race through Gusteau’s restaurant in the new family-friendly Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the expanded France pavilion. You’ll enter a theater and eventually find yourself on the rooftops of Paris. Gusteau then invites you to join Remy for a special meal the “Little Chef” is creating. Donning 3D glasses, you’ll board colorful rat-shaped vehicles and begin an adventure seeing everything from a “rat’s-eye view.” This is now the headliner attraction at EPCOT and you don’t want to miss it!

5 – Toy Story Mania @ Hollywood Studios

An attraction so popular Pixar Place at Hollywood Studios had to add an extra ride track! Toy Story Mania is a must-do of ours that we can’t get enough of. Even with the addition of two new attractions in Toy Story Land, this attraction continues to have a long wait time! Ride along while blasting targets and wearing 3D glasses to get the most of this 4D attraction. It’s fun to see all your favorite Toy Story characters cheer you on as you rack up the points arcade style.

6 – Alien Swirling Saucers @ Hollywood Studios

The second attraction added to Toy Story Land is a spin ride called Alien Swirling Saucers. Brace yourself for out-of-this-world thrills because the Aliens have powered up their flying saucers! Alien Swirling Saucers immerses guests in the playful world of Andy’s imagination. This galactic space toy is designed as a playset Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant. The adorable little green Aliens from Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story swirl about in toy rocket ships with guests in tow, while “The Claw” hangs overhead. Two sets of 11 saucer/rocket-ship pairings spin guests through a multi-colored galaxy to a raucous, energetic musical beat.

7 – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and be prepared to watch animation come to life! With Disney/Pixar films Cars and Finding Nemo taking the spotlight as well as Disney’s Little Mermaid and The Lion King – this is one of the more affordable resorts and is an excellent place for all Disney/Pixar fans! Stay in one of the Cars or Finding Nemo-themed rooms to get the full Pixar experience. Throw off your flip-flops and take a swim in Finding Nemo “Big Blue” Pool (the largest pool on Disney property!) or in the Cars-themed “Cozy Cone” Pool.

8 – Meet Buzz, Jessie, and Woody @ Hollywood Studios

There’s nothing like greeting Andy’s favorite toys while visiting Toy Story Land. Guests can greet Buzz Lightyear and then Woody and Jessie near the entrance to Toy Story Land.

9 – Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin @ Magic Kingdom

Head over to Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg by shooting targets to gain points while taking a ride (and controlling) a spaceship of your own! This attraction has the same concept as Toy Story Mania but doesn’t pull in the 4D effect. 

10 – The Seas with Nemo and Friends @ Epcot

Who’s ready for an adventure with Nemo and Friends? Climb aboard a clamshell to ride through a slow-moving tunnel filled with REAL sea creatures, plus our favorite Pixar fish friends! This attraction ends as you are dropped off in what is known as Sea Base – a beautiful 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium. We could spend all day here!

11 – Turtle Talk with Crush @ Epcot

Dude! Crush, one righteous turtle from Disney/Pixar, Finding Nemo, talks to you at Sea Base in Epcot! That’s right, Crush takes center stage of his aquarium in this attraction where we see into his world, and he sees into ours. Kiddos sit up front and have a chance to interact with Crush by asking him questions and answering questions he might have as well!

12 – Monster, Inc. Laugh Floor @ Magic Kingdom

At this attraction, you have one job – to laugh! That’s right… head into this Comedy Club in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom to interact through jokes and laughter with some of our favorite monsters from the Disney/Pixar film, Monsters, Inc. Our favorite part of this attraction is that guests have the opportunity to text in their funny jokes before the show for a chance to have them shared during the show.

13 – It’s Tough To Be A Bug @ Animal Kingdom

The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom isn’t just for looks! In fact, inside the Tree, you’ll find a bunch of bugs that have decided to put on a show! Head into the bug theater for a 3D experience where friendly (and not so friendly) bugs from Disney/Pixar’s A Bug’s Life film ask you to become an honorary bug for the show. This is a fun one and typically isn’t crowded – but you’ll want to think twice before taking little ones into the theater as it does get loud and dark at specific points.

14 – Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival @ Epcot

Nestled in the front of Epcot, in the Imagination Pavilion, you’ll spot the Magic Eye Theater (former Captain EO location), which now holds the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival. Slap on some 3D glasses and get ready to experience an 18-minute festival with three great Disney/Pixar Short Films in 4D!

15 – See Kevin @ Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The wilderness is meant to be explored, and while at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can see and greet Kevin, an exotic bird who loves to explore and greet with guests! She roams around Discovery Island so be sure to be on the lookout!

16 – See Joy @ Epcot

Editor’s Note: Joy will be moving to Pixar Place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning June 10, 2024.

You can visit Joy in the Imagination! pavilion in the new World Celebration neighborhood of EPCOT. She meets with guests in ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs.

17 – Ratatouille Hide & Squeak @ Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival

At the Food and Wine Festival, Epcot has Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak, an interactive scavenger hunt that took guests around the World Showcase in search for ingredients for none other than Remy’s signature dish, Ratatouille. This experience was a fun way to remember the Pixar/Disney Film, Ratatouille, and the cost was just under $10.