Countdown to Fun – Shared Music, Unique Shows
What do the Pixar Play Parade at Disney California Adventure (March 2008–August 2017), the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade at Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios (January 2011–April 2013), and the Pixar Play Parade – Pixar Fest Edition at Disneyland (April–November 2018) all have in common?
I’ll give you 5, 4, 3, 2… FUN.
Yes, they’re all Disney/Pixar parades—and they all share the same infectious soundtrack: “Welcome to our world of play. Come on, it’s time to celebrate…” followed by the unmistakable “5, 4, 3, 2, Fun!”
Same Soundtrack, Different Floats
Although the music and many of the characters are consistent across these parades, the floats themselves are dramatically different. DCA’s Pixar Play Parade featured unique floats with built-in water jets that sprayed guests—a detail never replicated in Florida.
At WDW, the Countdown to Fun Parade was largely made up of floats recycled from the Block Party Bash (March 2008–January 2011), which was itself a rework of the original Block Party Bash at Disneyland for the park’s 50th Anniversary (May 2005–January 2008). So essentially, a traveling stage show originally designed for Disneyland made its way to Hollywood Studios, got reworked into a parade using the same music as DCA, and lives on in some form today.
Meanwhile, Disneyland continued to innovate with its floats. For Pixar Fest 2018, the parade moved to Disneyland with all-new units featuring Luxo Jr, Inside Out, and Up, giving fans fresh visuals while Mickey’s Soundsational Parade went on hiatus.
California-Only Appearances
Although many Pixar favorites appeared coast to coast, some characters and floats were exclusive to California. These included:
- Luxo Jr (2018)
- Inside Out (2018)
- Up (2018)
- Ratatouille (2008–2010)
- Cars (2008–2017)
You can also spot some familiar float structures across these parades. From DCA’s Block Party Bash to Countdown to Fun, the float chassis stayed the same—even if the décor was rewrapped and rethemed. It’s Disney magic… and resourcefulness.
A Double Feature Worth Watching
This episode of SamsDisneyDiary (#114) features footage from both parades: the Pixar Play Parade at DCA from July 2017 (just one month before it ended), and rare personal footage of the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade at WDW Hollywood Studios from March 2012—the only time I recorded it.
You’ll immediately notice the differences. The Pixar Play Parade at DCA kicks off with Monsters University—complete with cheerleaders and characters like Scott Squibbles, Art, Terri and Terry, Roz, Sully, and Mike Wazowski. Then comes The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story, and Cars.
In contrast, Countdown to Fun at WDW featured The Incredibles, A Bug’s Life, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc., Up, and Toy Story—without the water effects and with far tighter spacing between units.
One of the biggest differences? Parade pacing. At DCA and Disneyland, parades include intentional gaps between units for guest crosswalks. At WDW, that’s not a thing. It keeps the flow tighter but changes the rhythm and length of the parade entirely.
Looking for more parades from Disney Parks? Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade. Disneyland Soundsational. Christmas Fantasy. Disneyland Paint the Night. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade. Festival of Fantasy or Count Down to Fun Move it, Shake it with Mickey.
