Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival (An Attraction Guide)
The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival is an attraction located in the Magic Eye Theater, adjacent to the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot. Formerly, this space was home to Captain EO, which featured Michael Jackson.
However, a while back, Disney turned the theater into an attraction featuring an 18-minute festival of popular Disney and Pixar short films. Below, we’ll go over the information you need to know to experience this attraction, discuss the best times to experience the film festival, and touch on whether or not it’s worth taking up your valuable touring time.
Below is a quick reference chart for experiencing the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival.
| Disney and Pixar Short Film | Epcot Attractions |
|---|---|
Location: | Imagination Pavilion |
Height Requirement: | None |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, with Multi Pass (Tier 2 Category) |
Early Theme Park Entry: | No |
Extended Evening Hours: | No |
Our Traffic Signal: | Green Light (Anytime) |
Ride Type: | Cartoon films |
Seating: | Theater |
Duration: | 18 minutes |
Good For: | Taking a break. |
Scare Factor: | Low |
Must Do List: | Low |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
Special Mention: | This is an excellent place to wait out an afternoon rain shower. |
Additional Info: Guests with accessibility needs may remain in wheelchairs or ECVS. Video captioning and handheld captioning are available.
See our Disney World Lightning Lane Guide if you’re planning to use Disney’s skip-the-line system.
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
The Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival combines three shorts (cartoons) from Disney and Pixar. A few warnings are listed outside the entrance. They indicate that the films are presented in 3D animated shorts with loud noises and musical soundtracks. A warning notes that the attraction might be frightening for children.
At the theater’s entrance, there is a Lightning Lane and standby queue. The only wait you should expect is for the next show to begin. Therefore, you probably don’t want to select this option for a Lightning Lane.
Once inside, you’ll continue straight ahead.
The following short films play inside the theater.
- “Get A Horse”
- Piper
- Feast
You’ll pick up a pair of 3D glasses as you continue to the waiting area.
Here is a look at the pre-show. Most everyone who arrives early ends up grabbing a seat on the floor.
Overhead, the pre-show shares fun facts about Pixar’s history. Every couple of minutes, the screen provides the wait time until the next show begins.
Then, the doors to the theater open, and everyone is asked to find a seat.
Within a few moments, the first film begins. It’s usually “Get A Horse,” featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Peg-Leg Pete, Horace Horsecollar, and Clarabelle Cow. While you’re watching the three films, a few unique effects occur. For instance, the theater slightly shifts and shakes during abrupt moments. However, it’s not jarring by any means.
The Resorts Gal Spin on the Disney Pixar Short Film Festival
We give this attraction the red light. Ultimately, while the Short Film Festival is cute, it might not be worth your valuable touring time. Most of the cartoons are available in various places online if you would like to see them. But, of course, you won’t get the full effects of the 3D theater.
However, if crowds are high or you need a break, the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival is an excellent location. It’s also a great stop if you end up touring Epcot on a rainy day. The Imagination Pavilion offers a variety of things to do in a covered area, and since the Short Film Festival is only a few feet away, you can quickly access the theater from the Pavilion or vice versa.
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
Final Thoughts
For more attraction reviews, you might enjoy the following:
- Living with the Land Review
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Frozen Ever After
For more on Epcot, you might also enjoy the following:
- List of Epcot Attractions and Entertainment
- Our Complete Guide to Epcot’s World Showcase
- Epcot Festivals Guide
For more planning details, refer to our Disney World Parks Planning Guide, or you might enjoy our complimentary course offering below.
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