One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Disney's New Inside Out Ride Is An Emotional Rollercoaster -- But That's Not Why It Looks Familiar
We feel you, Sadness. (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)
Pixar wants to emotionally destroy you. That's what happens at the climaxes of all their movies (we're still not over the Toy Story 3 incinerator), and now they're putting that emotional journey into ride form.
A ride based on the movie that was actually about emotions quietly opened recently at California Adventure's Pixar Pier: the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind. But don't worry, parents -- this is a ride designed to be enjoyed by kids who are hopefully too young to appreciate the emotional distress of the film. We'll never forget you, Bing Bong!
"Take her to the moon for me, OK?" *sobs forever* (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)
But the ride isn't exactly brand new -- it's a re-themed version of Flik's Flyers from the dearly departed A Bug's Land, which was closed down to make room for a new Marvel Land next year. (We're hoping Bug's Land's Heimlich's Chew Chew Train gets converted into a ride based on the Endgame diner scene with the Hulk.)
Joy, can you NOT SEE how your friend is feeling?! Have some sympathy, come on. (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)
When you approach the Emotional Whirlwind you're welcomed by statues of Sadness and Joy. The ride is lined with the movie's trademark memory orbs. You jump on one of eight Memory Movers as you help 11-year-old Riley sort through her emotions, aka you go up and ride around in a circle for a little bit.
Sponsored message
You hear the characters' voices as you journey around, so be careful not to listen to Disgust so much that you get motion sickness. Sadness and Joy characters are also stationed nearby in the Inside Out Headquarters neighborhood of Pixar Pier, so you can go interact with them and grab a photo. Extra points if you can make the actor playing Sadness smile -- especially since it's a costume head with an expression that doesn't move.
So get ready to feel the emotions of joy, and maybe terror if you're afraid of heights. We're just hoping this large-scale journey to understand our inner selves doesn't inspire Disney to make their next attraction The First 10 Minutes Of Up: The Ride. I mean, would it be cool? Sure. Would Anaheim flood from all the tears? Certainly yes.
Jump on for this Emotional Whirlwind video ride, which is only slightly less adventurous than the actual rather gentle all-ages attraction and/or actual therapy:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
