Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel has a new theme! The Pixar Place Hotel revamp has sprinkled Pixar magic throughout the entire property. It's situated off Disneyland Drive, across from Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and next door to Downtown Disney. This hotel is located just five minutes from Disney California Adventure, making it about a 10-minute walk to Disneyland! Guests who visit Disneyland Park can take the Monorail from Downtown Disney straight into Tomorrowland or cut through Disney's Grand Californian Hotel to Downtown Disney. A visit to the Pixar Place Hotel is like visiting an art gallery filled to the brim with Pixar art!
Overview of the Pixar Place Hotel
The Pixar Place Hotel is the only fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States (and it's the only place you can meet Bing Bong). Pixar Place Hotel officially opened on Jan. 30, 2024! It has its own entrance into Disney California Adventure near Pixar Pier, which makes this hotel super convenient. Although the hotel is open, you may still see some construction and rooms (or other areas) being remodeled. However, most of the public spaces are complete as of Jan. 30.
With a rooftop pool and an all-new splash pad — in addition to an existing toadally cool waterslide — it's a kid-friendly spot that comes with all the benefits of staying on-site. However, it offers a gentler price tag than the other two on-site hotels.
The Pixar Place Hotel weaves Pixar art into a contemporary setting. The hotel’s lobby highlights all-new artwork inspired by the humor and artistry present in every Pixar film. There, guests can see many elements of the animation found in popular Pixar stories — from early sketches to finished designs.
There are not only hidden Mickeys (in the ceiling lights) but also 16 hidden Pixar characters tastefully added to the floor design! (You may have to ride in each elevator to find them all.) Send the tadpoles to find them all, then let them make their own creations at the light tables.
You can't miss the Pixar Lamp balancing on the Pixar Ball — the new focal point upon entering the hotel.
Above them dangles an abstract mobile of stained-glass Pixar characters. One of the elevators is a glass elevator, enveloped in a design inspired by the "Up" house.
Subtler touches of art throughout the hotel lobby include 3D character models in light cases around the lobby.
Are you trying to decide where to stay at (or near) Disneyland? Here is everything you need to know about Pixar Place Hotel's rooms, amenities, dining and more. Keep in mind that the state of certain areas of the hotel may be in flux.
Elements of the hotel’s main lobby and the surrounding common areas are once again open to guests. You may wonder where that wonderful piano playing is coming from? Just off the lobby, it's Joe Gardner from “Soul!” He drops in to play piano while surrounded by art from the movie.
Characters
You can meet or see characters at the hotel! Bing Bong from “Inside Out” greets guests at the hotel. No, it's not your imagination. And, yes, everyone can see him! You can also enjoy Joe Gardner from "Soul" playing piano just off the lobby in the afternoons and evenings. You can meet him before or after he plays.
Check out our YouTube video of the new hotel.
Pixar Place Hotel Rooms
In the colorful, newly-themed Pixar Place hotel rooms, guests will see headboards, bedding and pillows enveloped in designs from Pixar films! Some of the art in the rooms was created by Pixar Animation Studios artists, especially for Pixar Place Hotel. The main color scheme consists largely of red, blue and yellow (the Pixar colors) — creating a soothing and upscale atmosphere through curated pieces.
Premium View rooms overlook Disney California Adventure Park. Some rooms have distant views of World of Color, while others face the pool and play areas. Turn the TV to channel 61 to hear the music for the show! We recently had a theme park view, and we toadally enjoyed watching the show before hopping into bed. It is not a substitute for seeing the full show in person, but it's great if your tadpoles have an early bedtime or for a night when you do not have a ticket or reservation for Disney California Adventure.
Standard View rooms may face parking areas. And generally, higher rooms have better views, as well as less road noise.
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Did you notice the Pixar lamp on the desk? The desk has a book of Pixar art and a safe in the drawer.
There are two new 2-bedroom suites! These themed signature suites are available for arrivals later in 2024. The Coco Suite pays tribute to Miguel and his family’s legacy through colorful Oaxacan art. The Incredibles Suite has a midcentury design with a “spy-fy” twist. Look for Parr family memorabilia, too.
The nice thing about the hotel rooms is they generally sleep up to five people. The couch turns into a twin daybed, so even a fifth person can be comfortable. Be sure to book a room with two queens and a daybed if you need space for a fifth person. There is plenty of storage under the beds for suitcases. Larger suites are coming later in 2024. But if you need a larger room, you can book suites and signature suites directly through Disneyland Hotel at this time.
Rooms come with a mini-fridge, high-speed internet Wi-Fi service, a Keurig coffee maker, a safe, an iron, a blow dryer and more. We love the Pixar touches throughout.
One thing I always look for in a hotel room is strong bathroom lighting. The Pixar Place Hotel bathroom has a light-up magnifying mirror, which is perfect for getting ready to go. You'll find a full-length mirror outside of the bathroom. The bathroom has a shower, an adjustable shower head and dispensers filled with shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
Each side of each bed has a built-in booklight, as well as a spot to place to put your water, book, glasses, etc. (in addition to the nightstand).
Outlets and Charging Ports
Let's talk chargers and outlets. Between the beds, you'll find a panel with several outlets, USB and Lightning USB ports. The alarm clock has a magnetic charger on top as well as a USB port and a USB-C in front. There are some on the desk as well. Basically, it's fine if you just bring the cords and leave the plugs/adapters at home.
Elevators
The elevators at this hotel operate using a different system from the other hotels. After choosing a floor (including the pool or fireworks viewing) on a pad, you will be directed to your respective elevator. There are four separate elevators taking guests to different areas of the hotel. You do not need to punch any buttons once inside. Pay attention when you choose your floor, and don't just hop in the first door that opens because it may not take you where you want to go. Elevator D is a new glass elevator that has the "Up" balloon on it.
When you exit the elevator, you'll see a mural depicting the theme for your floor. It plays out in the colors, designs and even the carpeting of your hallway. We stayed on a floor themed after The Incredibles!
Amenities, Recreation and Shopping at the Disneyland Hotel
When you check in, you'll receive an Activities guide that will list all of the recreational activities available during the week of your visit. It contains art classes, fitness classes and a schedule for movie nights. Another sheet should tell you all about the hotel amenities. Here are a few Disneyland Hotel amenities, recreation and shopping you'll want to know about.
Pools
One of the perks of staying on-site is being able to walk to the hotel midday and cool off in the Pixel Pool! Our tadpoles love to splash in the pools at Pixar Place Hotel. Hotel guests can enjoy the 186-foot waterslide, Crush's Surfin' Slide. Lily toadally loves the new Nemo's Cove pop-jet splash pad, featuring Hank. Life jackets for the pool are included.
You must be a guest at the hotel and wear a wristband to utilize the pool. Visit the pool concierge on the pool deck to get your wristband. You can rent cabanas, daybeds or pods. After you make your hotel reservation you can call to reserve one of these spots. A half-day rental is six hours. A Cabana is $425. A bed is $325. There are plenty of other seats around the pool though. Note the pool and waterslide hours on the Activities guide. They can change seasonally. In the cooler months, the pool is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the slide is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In summer, look for daily 30-minute pool parties with Disney characters! The characters come out to dance and play games with the kids.
The nearby pool bar — Small Bytes — is open to everyone as of March 2024.
Another fun perk is viewing fireworks from the Downtown Disney side of the pool deck, complete with music and narration! You can also find new themed fire pits shaped like hot-headed characters' heads such as Jack-Jack and Anger just outside the pool gates.
A family play court — the Pixar Shorts Court — has activities inspired by Pixar’s famous short films. Enjoy interactive games and imaginative free play that celebrate favorite friends from “La Luna,” “Bao,” “For the Birds” and “Burrow.” Relax with food and drinks under the love-struck umbrellas from “The Blue Umbrella.” The court is open now and its operating hours match the waterslide's operating hours. The court closed at 5 p.m. when we visited in the winter, so be sure to visit in the early afternoon for ample time.
The tadpoles can get their wiggles out on the Pixar Ball green space adjacent to the court.
A Hotel Guest Walkway Right into Disney California Adventure
Avoid the front gate entrance and lines. Head across the street, tap your room key to open the gate, walk a short path (we clocked it at three minutes) and head straight into the theme park. It's about a 5-minute walk between the hotel and the park. You'll enter the park between Corn Dog Castle and the souvenir shop. It's for Pixar Place Hotel guests but any on-site hotel guest's key will open the gate. It's our new favorite theme park entrance. There are very short security lines and you find yourself right in the middle of a theme park!
Fitness Center
You can book classes at the fitness center through the Tenaya Stone Spa. The new, expanded fitness center — offering treadmills, free weights and more fitness equipment — opened with new Pixar wall art.
Spa
You can use the Tenaya Stone Spa, which is located inside Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Movie Nights
Check the activities guide for movie night showtimes and viewing locations.
Souvenir Shops
Inspired by the film "WALL-E," browse through Pixar merchandise at the newly themed gift shop, STOR-E. It is located near the main lobby and is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. You can even purchase Pixar Place Hotel merchandise here.
ATM
The ATM is open 24 hours.
Laundry
Traveling with kids? You might want to know where you can do laundry because spit-up happens. The budget-friendly laundry facilities are usually open 24 hours at Disney's Pixar Place Hotel. Bring credit or debit cards for payment. Dry cleaning and valet laundry services are unavailable but you can find laundry facilities on the second floor.
Creators Club
Concierge-level guests have a new lounge to enjoy by late 2024. Guests can enjoy snacks and beverages throughout the day amid concept art, maquettes and attraction posters. A dedicated concierge may assist with any requests during the visit.
Digital Room Key and Key to Magic
You can use your phone as a digital key or choose to receive traditional key cards from the front desk. Your Key to the Magic card is your room key, resort charge card and parking permit. You can receive your card when you check in at the front desk. To charge purchases back to your room, simply present your Key to the Magic card — along with a photo ID — when buying merchandise, tickets and meals at select locations throughout the theme parks, hotels and the Downtown Disney District.
Use your key to gain Early Entry access into a theme park 30 minutes early every day. You'll also use it to access the pool, the special theme park entry for the hotel and the other hotels on the property.
Housekeeping
Light housekeeping comes by every other day of your stay to remove trash and used towels. If you need anything else, just ask Guest Services.
On-Site Car Rentals
Need a car during your stay? There is a convenient Alamo and Enterprise car rental office on-site! Speaking of car rentals, if you know you'll need a car, add it to your cart when booking a hotel room or buying discount theme park tickets at Undercover Tourist. When you put them in your cart together, you'll unlock savings of up to 50 percent off your car rental!
Fun Classes and Entertainment
When you check in, you'll receive an activities guide for fun classes and events for all on-site hotel guests. Learn to draw a Disney character. Sign up for fitness classes in a theme park! There are many magical offerings for hotel guests.
Keep an eye out for special entertainment. Sometimes signs in the hotel will alert you to special performances.
Meet Bing Bong once an hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. He may be in the lobby or up on the pool level. Listen to Joe Gardner play piano in the afternoons and evenings.
Parking
Hotel guests pay $70 per night per vehicle for valet parking and $40 a night for self-parking. Taxes are added to parking fees. Guests can drop off members of their party and luggage at the front lobby before parking in the hotel’s structure.
Note that valet parking is temporarily unavailable until construction is completed.
For day guests:
- Self-parking is $40 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $80.
- Valet parking is $70 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $140. (May be temporarily unavailable.)
- Oversized vehicle parking is $45 per vehicle for the first hour plus $10 for each additional hour, with a maximum rate of $85.
The self-parking lot of the hotel has a small amount of ChargePoint charging ports. To use a port, you’ll need to set up a ChargePoint account on the ChargePoint app and tap your phone.
Dining at Pixar Place Hotel
Hotel guests can enjoy preferred access to select hotel table-service restaurants during the dates of their stay. Here's where to eat and drink at the Pixar Place Hotel.
Great Maple
This self-proclaimed modern American eatery has restaurants in the San Diego, Newport Beach and Pasadena areas. Whether you are the type to go for fried chicken and doughnuts or an all-vegan brunch, you'll find fun eats here all day long. And we mustn't froget about their famous maple bacon doughnuts!
We have a whole post on Great Maple's flagship restaurant, located on the first floor of the hotel. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long with its all-day menu. (Reservations available as well as walk-ins.) The restaurant has a bar with four television screens, two on each side, making it the spot to catch a game. You can also enjoy patio seating with fire tables, heaters and even a theme park peek view.
Guests can try a variety of dishes, including Cajun Shrimp & Cheddar Biscuit Benedict and Soda Pop-Braised Baby Back Ribs. Great Maple also operates other food and beverage locations throughout the hotel. This includes the Sketch Pad Café coffee shop, as well as a new pool bar menu known as Small Bytes (open as of March 2024), which serves up salads, wraps, assorted cheese plates and signature beverages. Dining is open to hotel guests and others.
The Sketch Pad Café
This new breakfast spot off the lobby is open from about 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. for quick bites and beverages. You can choose to Build Your Own Brew by picking a creamer, syrup and toppings! The Sketch Pad also has an Espresso bar for espressos, lattes, seasonal drinks and hot teas or tea lattes. Grab some fruit, string cheese, overnight oats and yogurt cups on your way to the park. Or, savor a quick hot meal in the form of a mini frittata, pizza bagel or avocado toast.
Of course, there are croissants, muffins, bread, cookies, brownies and more! You'll have a short wait while your food and drink are being prepared, so enjoy viewing the Pixar-themed sketches in the meantime.
Small Bytes (opening in March)
Across from the Pixar Shorts Court is a cute place to get a snack. Small Bytes serves up creative floats and tasty “bytes,” including ceviche, soft pretzels and nachos. It is also open to non-hotel guests. It sells chips and dips, hummus and veggies, sandwiches, burgers, salads and fun beverages. Little nibblers for the tadpoles include grilled cheese and fruit stix, a pizza bagel and a snackable (which is cheese crackers and fruit). There are snacks geared toward adults as well.
Nearby Hotel Dining
The Pixar Place Hotel is located between the Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. Both of those hotels have character dining, bars and more. They are each a quick hop, skip and jump away from the parks. Downtown Disney is also a short walk away. If you want fine dining, The Westin is about a block away (on Katella) with several nice dining options within walking distance.
Room Service
Room Service is not currently available. You can, however, use a QR code on the activities guide to order food from select Downtown Disney restaurants and have it delivered to the lobby.
Downtown Disney
Just a quick walk outside the hotel, you’ll find a bunch of quick-service and table-service dining choices. Hop over to our Downtown Disney restaurant post to find the best choice for you.
We recommend making a reservation if you want to dine at a table-service hotel, theme park or any of Downtown Disney's dining locations. Reservations can open up to 60 days in advance at 6 a.m. Some locations do open up reservation times later, so if you do not see what you want, keep checking. If you don't get a reservation, you may be able to join the walk-up availability list through the Disneyland app.
What to Consider Before Staying at Disney's Pixar Place Hotel
If you are trying to decide between staying at the Pixar Place Hotel, another Disneyland hotel or an off-site hotel, there are a few things to consider. The biggest thing to be aware of is that refurbishments are hoppening, so that may affect certain areas of the resort during your stay. Here is the link to the most up-to-date hotel construction information. A few things to note:
- Hotel amenities remain open, including the dedicated entrance to California Adventure.
- You can find some snacks and drinks in the gift shop.
- The pools, fire pits and pool deck for fireworks viewing are open.
- Hotel guests must wear wristbands to use the pool and pool deck.
- The Fitness Center is open.
- The family play court is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. (subject to change seasonally).
- Construction and updates (including Pixar Place Hotel room updates) may continue for some time.
- Construction hours are 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Location
Pixar Place is close to each of the other hotels, but this hotel is the farthest from Disneyland Park. It is much closer to Disney California Adventure than the Disneyland Hotel. It's a short walk to Downtown Disney and within a short walking distance of the other two hotels if you want to go there for dining.
Take the Monorail from Downtown Disney into the Disneyland theme park for a shorter trek. We like to take a shortcut through the Grand Californian Hotel to get to Downtown Disney, partly because we love to visit the lobby and fireplace of that hotel when coming or going, and partly because it saves time. You can use your room key to access that hotel.
Budget
This hotel is usually the lowest-priced hotel of the three on-site Disneyland hotels. You can save money on a room when you book your Disneyland Hotel stay through Undercover Tourist (psst ... we sell discount theme park tickets too!). Use your savings to get a nice meal at one of the nearby hotels or in the park.
View
The view can vary per room. The theme park-facing rooms offer frogerrific views of Disney California Adventure. The other sides of the hotel overlook the pool or parking lots. You can watch fireworks from the third-floor pool deck area. The fireworks music is piped in, so you can hear it in designated areas. It's a distant view, but it works well for nights without a theme park ticket or for when you want to get the tadpoles bathed and in their jammies so they can go straight to bed after the show.
Early Entry to Theme Parks
Disneyland Resort hotel guests can enter one theme park 30 minutes before the parks open to access select attractions, dining and shopping! If you arrive early enough you can use it for check-in day! Hop over to our Early Entry post for the details. The special Pixar Place theme park entrance to Disney California Adventure is open at Early Entry (when that park hosts Early Entry).
As of Jan. 20, 2024, only one park per day hosts Early Entry. On Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Early Entry is held at Disney California Adventure. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, it's held at Disneyland. We'll let you in on a little secret. The park that does not host Early Entry is the least crowded at the official park opening time! We used the Pixar Place Hotel entrance to Disney California Adventure as soon as the park opened on a day that Disneyland hosted Early Entry. It put us right at Pixar Pier, where we always love to start our day and the lines were so short for the first two hours! So if Early Entry is just a little too early for your family, don't stress. Reserve the park that does not host Early Entry that day instead.
How Much Time Are You Planning to Spend at the Hotel?
If you want to come and go between the hotel and the theme park to take breaks to use the pools and cool off or relax within the Disney magic, then this is your place. However, if you are an open-to-close theme park warrior, you might not be spending a lot of time at the hotel. If you want the benefits of staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel for the most affordable price, this is your place. A short walking distance is nice, but if you want to save money on your lodging, you can find less expensive hotels near Disneyland for less.
What Kind of Vibe Are You Looking For?
If you are a huge Pixar fan — and who isn't? — this is your place. This hotel is a family-friendly choice. It's less luxurious than Disney's Grand Californian and takes up less space than the other two hotels, as most of its amenities can be found in one building. But that also means that parking is close by. This is a good place to stay if you want a smaller location. We understand that it's much easier to deal with a shorter walk to the room, especially in those moments when your small kids need that tube of sunscreen you forgot at the hotel. But if you want to be on-site and don't need pampering, this is your best choice for solid savings.
If you want more of a luxurious resort feel, go with Disneyland Hotel or Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa — which is of the highest caliber and the closest to the parks. But if it's the hotel lobby and restaurants of the Grand Californian Hotel you most admire, you can just hop across the street and enjoy them while you stay at Pixar Place!
Pixar Place's pool is a bit more basic than the other on-site choices, but has a nice splash pad for the smaller tadpoles, a slide and a brand-new play court and green area, making this a great spot for families who like to play, run around and chill by a fire pit.
How Big Is Your Party?
Most standard rooms at Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel have larger rooms and a day bed for a fifth person (or if you have party members who do not want to share a bed). That makes this a good on-site property for larger families. Keep in mind that standard occupancy is two adults (with up to three kids). Extra occupancy charges may apply for additional adults.
There are family suites that may appeal to larger parties. You can book those directly through Disneyland.
How Old Is Your Party?
If you have kids ranging from toddlers to teens, this is a solid hotel choice. The pool has a slide and a themed splash pad. Our toddler, Lily, loves splashing in the splash pad. Her tween brother Tad is hoppy with the slide.
Security
You will need to prepare to go through a security bag check and metal detector every time you enter Downtown Disney to head to the theme parks. We encountered no wait for security or to scan our tickets when using the Pixar Place Hotel theme park entrance. It's such a great perk!
MagicBand+
MagicBand+ is at Disneyland Resort. Disney World fans know how convenient it is to use MagicBand wristwear for theme park admission, Disney Genie+, PhotoPass and more. It is not yet used for room charges and to unlock the door of your room though. It's also one way to keep your hands free and avoid pulling out your phone in the parks.
Which Disneyland Ticket and Reservations Do You Want?
You have a lot to think about in terms of theme park tickets and theme park reservations. Do you want to start your day in Disneyland Park so you can ride the Monorail from Downtown Disney? Or start at Disney California Adventure so you can take advantage of the short walk that puts you right near Pixar Pier? Do you want to book the park that hosts Early Entry, or start in the other park at Rope Drop? Trick questions. You cannot go wrong!
Keep in mind that all theme park guests must have a valid theme park ticket and theme park reservation to visit a park. That goes for hotel guests too. However, a major perk to staying on-site at a Disneyland Resort hotel is that hotel guests can link a hotel stay and open up a different pool of reservations. The hotel guests generally have a better selection of theme park availability. The earlier you reserve, the better the selection.
Is a Park Hopper Ticket Worth It?
We think so, especially for a multi-day ticket. Did you know park hopping costs less per day for a multi-day ticket than for a 1-Day ticket? You get your money's worth with a park hopper multi-day ticket. It allows you to start in one park and hop after 11 a.m., that way you can either start or end your day (or both) at Disney California Adventure. We suggest starting in each park at least once during your visit to take advantage of the shortest lines of the day.
Do You Have Disabilities?
Pixar Place Hotel offers accessibility services for guests with disabilities. Features include accessible travel paths in the parking lot, lobby, restaurants, convention spaces and shopping locations, in addition to wheelchair-accessible and hearing-accessible rooms. TTY equipment is available upon request at check-in. There are lifts for the pools. In fact, we saw many different families with wheelchairs enjoying the pool area.
If you'd like to rent a wheelchair or stroller for your visit, you can have it delivered to the hotel. ScooterBug, a private mobility rental company, is Disneyland's official provider. ScooterBug is the only company that can drop off strollers, ECVs and wheelchair rentals — including length-of-stay rentals — for guests staying at the Disneyland Resort hotels without the guest being present.
Check Undercover Tourist for a hoppin' deal on a room. If you need Disneyland theme park tickets, you can also get discount Disneyland Resort theme park tickets from your favorite froggy friends. Book a rental car at the same time you book a room to unlock even deeper discounts!
Related: All of the Magical Reasons to Stay at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
Related: Tips to Maximize Your Time at Disneyland
Hoppy planning!
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