Towering Tinkertoys

As we've mentioned before, the Pixar Play Parade at DCA is one of the most charming day parades Disney's ever produced. Today we've got a look at the Tinkertoys man, strutting happily with the assistance of two very courageous cast members stuck in the goofiest costumes on Earth.

Talk about team players; Give these guys a raise!

Like many elements in this parade, this scene makes the crowd smile with its clever, unpretentious way of focusing on the pure fun of childhood toys. It's one of DCA's most pleasant surprises--Just watch out for the water spray from his fingers!

Photos by Lana Whitham

Heimlich in Hollywood Land

Everyone's favorite ravenous caterpillar winds his way (in several pieces) along Hollywood Blvd. during the Pixar Play Parade at DCA. This parade never fails to make me grin as it passes by. It's impressive and filled with ingenious costume and puppetry concepts, yet manages to feel completely casual, light-on-its-feet and unpretentious.

By the way, that's DCA's best shop in the background: Off the Page. Filled with Disney art prints, cels, books and collectibles, it also gives you a chance to commission a personalized character sketch from an on-duty Disney artist. You could request a drawing of anything from Mufasa to Mickey to...well, how about Heimlich?

A DCA Moment: Slinky Dog

This is why the parks rule: There simply aren't enough giant, good-humored, stretchy pull-toy canine hind legs high-fiving people in the real world.

Beast Says...

Organized meet n' greets have their place, but I prefer to see the characters out and about in the parks, intermingling, chatting and goofing around with the guests. In this lovely shot I took of a bunch of guest's heads a couple of years ago, Belle had begun an impromtu game of "Beast Says" with a group of children. She was so earnest and delightful that even Cinderella paused to watch the fun.

Beast played along like a big, genial goof as Belle called out things like, "Beast says, 'Cover your eyes!'" and, "Beast says, 'Stand on one foot!'"

It would have been awesome if the game had ended with "Beast says, 'GET OUTTA MY CASTLE!!!!'" -- and then have Beast chase everyone around...but that didn't happen.

Next to the Fab Five, Belle and Beast are my favorite park characters. I'm certainly glad they let Beast stay Beast, instead of Mr. Learned-His-Lesson-Prince from the end of the film. If they had went with the human dude, everyone in the parks would be saying, "There's Belle and...some guy..."