You know that everything you do is better together when you share the experience with a friend or loved one. The all-new "Better Together Parade: A Pixar Pals Celebration" at Disney California Adventure celebrates friendship and family by pairing up characters with their family and friends during Pixar Fest. Grab your best buddy to watch the parade and explore Pixar Fest together at Disneyland Resort in late spring and summer 2024.
Let's hop to it and discuss all the details about the Better Together Parade at Disney California Adventure and how to get the best view of the parade.
Details of the Better Together Parade at California Adventure
Naturally, you have some questions about this all-new parade, and we do too! Your froggy friends are here to tell you all you need to know so you can plan to see it. The parade is part of a larger celebration that also includes Club Pixar and Pixar-themed food booths at Disney California Adventure. At Disneyland Park, the celebration includes the return of the nighttime spectacular Together Forever fireworks and projection show (with new scenes), as well as the new Pixar Pals Playtime Party.
Hop over to our Pixar Fest guide for all the details. Plus, our Disneyland fireworks post has some hopful advice about watching Together Forever. You're going to want a multi-day Disneyland ticket to see and do it all!
When Is the Parade?
Better Together is a late afternoon parade. It runs during Pixar Fest, taking place from April 26 through Aug. 4, 2024. There are usually two parades a day at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. You can find the parade times in the Disneyland app as your visit approaches.
This is the first parade at Disney California Adventure since the last Pixar Fest ended in 2018. During that celebration, Paint the Night ran nightly. And we frogs really miss that awesome parade (when can we do this again?). That's why we are literally hopping with anticipation for an all-new parade!
What Characters Are in the Parade?
The Better Together Parade is filled with colorful floats, high-energy dancers and more than two dozen Pixar characters! The parade features some favorite Pixar friends plus new characters from the latest Pixar films, including "Turning Red," "Luca" and "Soul."
Here's what we know so far about Together Forever Parade characters:
- "Turning Red" — You’ll spot Red Panda Mei and her friends rocking out to their favorite boy band, 4*Town on a float
- "Soul" — Joe Gardner and 22 celebrate the sweeter things in life
- "Luca" — Luca, Alberto and Giulia enjoy their time together on the water’s edge in Portorosso (Silenzio, Bruno! This is our favorite new float! Giulia sits on the Vespa.)
- Keep an eye out for characters and floats from the former Pixar Play parade such as Joy, Sadness, Bing Bong, Russell, Kevin, Carl and Dug
- The grand finale — It brings together Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Elastigirl from “The Incredibles,” Miguel and Dante from “Coco,” Mike and Sulley from “Monsters, Inc.,” and Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from “Toy Story”
Keep hopping back for more details!
Getting the Best Viewing of the Better Together Parade
Getting a good view of the parade is going to enhance your viewing experience. The parade route runs between Guardians of the Galaxy and Silly Symphony Swings, passing by Cars Land and San Fransokyo Square. Here's what to watch out for!
Keep the Parade Direction in Mind
It's always important to know what direction the parade will be traveling in. That way you can situate yourself in a spot in which you can see the parade approaching. The first parade starts at Guardians of the Galaxy and runs to Silly Symphony Swings. The second parade travels in the opposite direction.
Watch for Sun and Shadows
You have to watch out for the strong California sunshine, especially if you hope to take great pictures of the parade. Choose a spot where you won't be staring into the sun. It backlights the floats and characters, making them harder to see and photograph. Plus, you don't want the sun in your eyes. But also watch out for inconsistent lighting and shadows, which can also wreak havoc on your photos. May the sun be at your back and your lighting consistent (all shadow or all sun).
Avoid Pedestrian Crossings
At certain points in the parade route, cast members allow park guests to cross the street between floats if space allows. If you are sitting behind one of these crossings, it can be distracting and affect your view to have people in your way all the time. That's why if you know the direction the parade is coming from, you can choose a spot with the crossing behind you where you won't even notice it.
Know When to Get in Place
This is always a tough call. Usually, the newer the parade, the earlier you have to get in place. That may be an hour or two before the parade if you want to be in the front row. We usually recommend viewing the second parade, for which people might not line up as early. As this is a summer parade, you want to reduce your sun exposure. The second parade is cooler and out of the most intense rays of the day. Mobile order food to pick up before you jump in place so you can dine while you wait for the parade.
Grab a Seat
Hollywood Land has curbs and a few benches (claim them early). The rest of the route is flat without curbs and has a few bends in the road. It can be less comfortable to sit on the flat ground for hours as an adult frog. Again, knowing the parade direction can help you choose a good sight line from your spot. Also, you might want to choose to be on the right or the left side as the parade approaches, especially if there is a certain character you must see on the side of a float.
What to see "Better Together Parade: A Pixar Pals Celebration" now? Check out our YouTube video.
Indulge in a Dessert Parade Package
If you want a reserved spot to watch the parade and some sweet treats to enjoy, reserve the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! Parade Viewing Dining Package. Reservations are live. For $69 you get:
- A selection of Pixar-inspired foods, desserts and cheeses
- Unlimited soft drinks and bottled water, plus coffee and a specialty mocktail
- Reserved seating for parade viewing at Sonoma Terrace
The parade starts about 45 minutes after your dining package return time. Seating may be shared with other parties and you might not get front row. You must cancel at least one day prior. You must have a theme park reservation for Disney California Adventure or a park hopper ticket in order to access this package and watch the parade. Disneyland has parade dining packages for all its parades. They do not run on holidays (such as the Fourth of July).
What character are you most excited to see in the Better Together parade at Disney California Adventure? Let us know in the comments section below. We are toadally excited to see Panda Mei! Pixar Fest offers a lot to do and see. We recommend a 4-day ticket to do it all. You can save money on your Disneyland tickets and hotel stays when you buy through Undercover Tourist. Get a Genie+ ticket to lock in the lowest price. Southern California residents should look into our affordable promo ticket deals to save even more!
Related: Our 'Friendtastic' Guide to Disneyland Resort's Pixar Fest
Related: Every Magical Detail of the Magic Happens Parade at Disneyland
Hoppy planning!
