Disneyland Resort's three on-site hotels all offer exclusive perks — and, of course, extra Disney magic — but the newly reimagined Pixar Place Hotel is also the first fully-themed Pixar hotel in the U.S.
Following a multi-year transformation from Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, Pixar Place celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 30, and it’s a love letter to Pixar stories. “The updated Pixar Place is a game-changer for families,” said Becah Fliehs, a travel advisor with Sun and Sea Travel Co. “The colorful spaces make each movie come to life, and being surrounded by beloved characters adds to the magic of staying at Disneyland.”
Joe Gardner from “Soul” will be playing the piano in the lobby five days a week.
Credit: 2024 Disneyland Resort
What to Expect at Pixar Place Hotel
Guests are welcomed into the world of Pixar as soon as they step inside the hotel. The lobby features a gigantic Luxo Jr. lamp (Pixar’s mascot) perched atop the iconic yellow Pixar Ball — an exclusive pose created just for the hotel.
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“We really wanted to create a wonderful new location at the Disneyland Resort that celebrates the creativity and imagination that goes into Pixar films, and embraces the joy, whimsy, optimism and wonder within those stories
and characters,” said Kirstin Makela, an Imagineering art director for Disney.
That whimsical vision continues on the third-floor pool deck, with the reimagined waterslide and an all-new splash pad themed to “Finding Nemo,” as well as the “Shorts Court” play area themed to Pixar’s animated short films, including shuffleboard inspired by “La Luna” and a beanbag toss inspired by “Bao.” Clients can also cozy up to firepits depicting the four Pixar characters with fire coming out of their heads — the volcano from “Lava,” Ember from “Elemental,” Anger from “Inside Out” and Jack Jack from “The Incredibles.” A new outdoor fireplace offers the best views of Disneyland’s fireworks outside the park, with a synchronized soundtrack during the show.
“We’ve come up with entertainment that makes guests want to be here longer,” said Ron Silagyi, general manager for the hotel. “And we have more surprises to come.” Characters are a big part of any Disneyland vacation, but Pixar Place boasts two exclusive characters making their Disneyland debut: Joe Gardner from “Soul,” who tickles the ivories in the lobby, and Bing Bong from “Inside Out,” who appears daily for meet-and-greets. Most importantly, Silagyi notes, Joe and Bing Bong are only at Pixar Place: “You’re not going to find them in the parks.”
Reimagined guest rooms feature updated furnishings and bathrooms with subtle Pixar touches, including a Luxo Jr. desk lamp.
Credit: 2024 Disneyland ResortAll 498 guestrooms have updated furnishings and bathrooms with subtle Pixar touches, such as tone-on-tone Pixar-ball bedding, rugs with a custom Pixar lamp motif and a rainbow character mural. The desk lamp is — what else — Luxo Jr. Suites feature a king bedroom and living area with a kitchen and queen-size sofa bed; larger families can add an adjoining bedroom with two queen-size beds and a pull-out single bed to sleep up to nine (rooms on the third floor also have direct access to the pool deck).
We wanted to create a wonderful new location at the Disneyland Resort that celebrates the creativity and imagination that goes into Pixar films.
Later this year, the Creator’s Club will open for concierge level guests, and two signature suites themed to “Coco” and “The Incredibles” will be available for booking. In addition to early park entry, Pixar Place guests can also take advantage of a dedicated entrance into California Adventure, which puts them right in the heart of the park.
For dining options, the hotel offers the quick-service Sketch Pad Cafe — with all-day grab-and-go and made-to-order items — and the table-service Great Maple restaurant, which features a menu of American comfort food, including its signature maple bacon donuts. The poolside Small Bytes for burgers, sandwiches, salads and snacks will open in early March.
In April, Pixar Fest returns to Disneyland for the first time since 2018, with an updated nighttime spectacular and all-new daytime parade.
“With the return of Pixar Fest, clients can be immersed in the world of Pixar from start to finish,” said Kelly Higgins, an advisor with Pixie Dust By Us. “Parades, nighttime spectaculars and more will be part of the celebration, and what better way to tie it together than with a stay at Pixar Place?”
