A rare Pixar character who is part elephant, part cat and mostly cotton candy has parked his rainbow rocket wagon at the Disneyland resort so fans can pose for photos with Riley’s imaginary friend from “Inside Out.”
Bing Bong from the 2015 Pixar animated film is now posing for photos at Disneyland’s new Pixar Place Hotel in his first appearance at any Disney theme park resort worldwide.
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The multimillion-dollar transformation of the former Paradise Pier Hotel into the new Pixar Place Hotel debuted on Tuesday, Jan. 30 after three years in the making at the Disneyland resort in Anaheim.
Bing Bong is the imaginary friend of 11-year-old protagonist Riley Andersen, who is guided by the emotions Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness in the control center of her mind in Pixar’s “Inside Out” film.
With the head of a pink elephant, fuzzy tail of a purple cat and a body of cotton candy, Bing Bong looks unlike any other character in animated film history, clad in a brown plaid jacket, mini bowler hat, fingerless gloves, polka dot bow tie and a rainbow flower on his lapel.
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Bing Bong was voiced by actor Richard Kind who has also voiced characters in “A Bug’s Life,” “American Dad,” “Family Guy” and “Big Mouth.” The “Inside Out 2” sequel hits theaters on June 14.
The Bing Bong meet-and-greet character at Pixar Place Hotel is massive with a prodigious belly of pink cotton candy and a towering height of more than 7 feet. He poses for photos in front of his Rocket Wagon with broom boosters and cardboard wings carrying a swooping inflatable rainbow arch.
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For now, Bing Bong can only be seen during select times at the Pixar Shorts Court play area near the Pixar Place Hotel rooftop pool. Anybody can come and visit with Bing Bong — not just hotel guests or theme park visitors.
Other “Inside Out” characters like Joy and Sadness often appear for meet-and-greet photos near the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind ride in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure.
Posing for group photos at the neon rainbow display in Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff candy shop with one of Disney’s more flamboyant characters has become an annual tradition during the unofficial Gay Days Anaheim mix-in event.
Thanks to everyone who joined us at Bing Bong’s for our group photo today!#GayDaysAnaheim #Disney #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/PRmK1DU4FP
— Gay Days Anaheim (@GayDaysAnaheim) October 6, 2019
Bing Bong isn’t the only Pixar character making appearances at the new Pixar Place Hotel.
Joe Gardner — the central character in Pixar’s “Soul” — plays jazz songs from the animated movie on a baby grand piano under a staircase just off the main hotel lobby.
