north, as well as Legoland California
and SeaWorld San Diego down
south, add even more adventure and
nostalgia for families, thrill-seekers
and those who are simply children at
heart. And now, recently opened or
soon-to-launch rides and attractions
at each park will provide brand-new
ways to create lasting memories.
DISNEYLAND RESORT
As one of the most popular theme
parks in the world, Disneyland in
Anaheim continues to captivate
crowds with impressive additions
to the 62-year-old park. The most
anticipated attraction is Star Wars:
Galaxy’s Edge, an immersive new
world opening in 2019 that will be
the first of its kind at any Disneyland
park. Inspired by the ever popular
sci-fi franchise, visitors will get the
chance to pilot the Millennium
Falcon, meet lovable robot BB-8 and
enjoy unique drink concoctions in
the cantina.
But before the futuristic fun gets
underway, Disney is celebrating with
a special festival centered on charac-
ters created by animation company
Pixar. Deemed Pixar Fest, the fête
kicked off on April 13 and will fea-
ture a variety of happenings through
the start of September. At Disneyland
Park, spectators can enjoy a new fire-
works display titled Together Forever
– A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular,
which comprises a flyover by Buzz
Lightyear, the floating house from
“Up,” music from “Coco” and more.
Also in Disneyland, the Pixar Play
Parade returns with new characters,
such as those from “Inside Out.”
Additionally, Disney California
Adventure Park’s Paint the Night
parade has returned with a whole new
set of characters. The dazzling, light-
filled parade, which incorporates 1
million LED bulbs, is led by Sorcerer
Mickey, while also incorporating
Lightning McQueen from “Cars,”
Mike and Sulley from “Monsters,
Inc.” and the Incredible family.
Then, in late June, the former
boardwalk area will reopen as Pixar
Pier, where the roller coaster will be
reimagined as the Incredicoaster, a
whimsical playground dedicated to
“Inside Out” will open and the pier’s
carnival games will be redesigned with
Pixar characters. This area is also cur-
rently home to the Toy Story Midway
Mania! ride, which will stay the same.
“As a travel concierge and mom of
three children, who are each passion-
ate in their love for Disneyland, … [I
am] always excited to visit the parks,”
says Nanci Weinstein of Moments of
Magic Travel, a company that spe-
cializes in planning Disney vacations.
“… I am looking forward to sharing
the Pixar theming with my clients
because it focuses on the unbreak-
able bonds of friendship. The new
additions will enable guests of all ages
to interact with these storylines like
never before.”
KNOTT’S BERRY FARM
While this farm-turned-theme park
in Buena Park doesn’t have numerous
enhancements to offer this year, the
one it does have is big: HangTime,
the first dive coaster on the West
Coast, opened in May, bringing with
it a variety of unique elements that
are sure to keep visitors enthralled.
Ringing in at 150 feet, the twisty
steel track takes riders up a 15-story
vertical lift before suspending them
over the 96-degree drop for several
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