The world’s first Coco attraction takes visitors on a musical journey through Santa Cecilia and under the Marigold Bridge to the Land of the Dead, along with Miguel, Hector and other characters from the 2017 Pixar film.
Construction of the new Coco Cruise at Disney California Adventure will begin in 2026.
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Here are five things you need to know about DCA’s new Coco ride.
1) What is the story behind the new Coco ride?
Released in 2017, the Pixar animated film follows 12-year-old Miguel Rivera’s journey to the colorful Land of the Dead in search of his family’s true story. Along the way, Miguel meets the charming trickster Hector, the famous musician Ernesto de la Cruz, and deceased members of the Rivera family.
Concept art for the new Coco ride shows an eight-person boat cruising leisurely through a Mexican village under papel picado banners and exploding fireworks. Marigolds line the side of the boat and a pink and blue sugar skull is painted on the stern.
Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the new Coco ride from classic Disney attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.
Courtesy of Disney
Concept art for the new Coco scene in Mickey’s Philharmagic at Disney California Adventure. (Courtesy of Disney)
2) Which characters will appear in the Coco ride?
“We’re bringing our skeleton characters to life in a great way using the latest audio-animatronics technology,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, during the D23 fan event. “These characters will appear in a way that you have to see to believe.”
The concept image shows Miguel and Hector on a stage and Ernesto de la Cruz on a billboard advertising his Gran Concurso de Talento (Great Talent Show).
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A skeleton mariachi band and folk dancers perform on the banks of the waterway.
A pair of rainbow-colored alebrijes spirit guides – Dante, the bird-like dog, and Pepita, the lion-eagle – are also expected to appear on the ride.
3) What music will be heard in the new Coco ride?
Disneyland has announced that the new Coco attraction will play the music you know and love from the cartoon – but without providing a song list for the ride.
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There’s a good chance that “Remember Me” will be part of the ride – especially after an Ernesto De La Cruz character sang the tune at the D23 Disney Parks event when the new attraction was announced.
Other songs from “Coco” have appeared in DCA attractions – including “Un Poco Loco” in a 2021 update of “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” and “Crossing The Marigold Bridge” in a 2023 update of “World of Color.”
4) Where will the new Coco ride be built?
The most logical location for a new Pixar ride would be DCA’s Pixar Pier. There are a few unused attraction areas underneath the Incredicoaster track.
A Coco-themed area has been touted as a possible Disneyland Forward expansion project – suggesting that the new attraction could be built in the parking lot south of the Pixar Place Hotel.
Disneyland has only announced that the new Coco ride will be built in DCA, but has not given any details.
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5) When will the Coco attraction open?
Disneyland has announced that construction on the new Coco attraction will begin in 2026, but has not set an opening date.
The opening of a major Coco attraction being built by Walt Disney Imagineering could take a year or two – the attraction will likely fall in 2027 or 2028 on the Disneyland development calendar.
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