Since the first time we saw “Big Hero 6,” we’ve wanted to bury ourselves in a squishy Baymax hug and visit the fictional city of San Fransokyo. That dream is becoming a reality as the Pacific Wharf area of Disney California Adventure is being transformed into San Fransokyo Square. It’s a visual East meets West mash-up of both cities, and it will provide dining and shopping locations inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning film. Plus, Baymax and pals are there for hugs and photos! Here’s what we know so far about San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure.
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Overview of San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure
San Fransokyo Square Public Works Department is hard at work transforming Pacific Wharf into San Fransokyo Square, a shopping and dining area of Disney California Adventure. The city stems from the alternate version of San Francisco in "Big Hero 6!", containing a fusion of culture from San Francisco and Tokyo. The new area even has a very special and frogciting backstory! As the technology industry began to emerge and the local fishing trade fell on hard times, entrepreneurs came together to reinvent seaside canneries into a vibrant, multicultural district of neighborhood restaurants and small businesses. Here, visitors can eat and shop to their heart's content.
As Pacific Wharf is themed after a coastal California cannery town, it’s not a huge stretch to add touches of San Francisco. The area remains open for dining while it’s under construction. Some entrances may be temporarily closed, such as the bridge, during construction.
Where Is San Fransokyo?
You can find San Fransokyo Square between Cars Land and Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort. An iconic bridge, which mashes San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge style with Asian architecture, welcomes you in from the obelisk at Paradise Gardens Park near the base of the pier. As you enter the square, you’ll see the floating wind turbine above an old fishing net tannery, powering the district from high in the sky.
When Does It Open?
San Fransokyo Square is set to open in summer 2023. More specific details and an opening date are yet to come. Stay tuned, froggy friends!
Characters in San Fransokyo
At the south end of San Fransokyo Square, you will be able to meet Baymax and friends from "Big Hero 6!" outside of a converted warehouse workshop.
In the meantime, Baymax fans will be hoppy to know that there is an exciting addition to the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show at Disneyland Park. Baymax (in his red armor suit) flies above Sleeping Beauty Castle on all nights, even on nights only projections are shown.
Dining in San Fransokyo
As far as we know, we can still get our yummy favorites — such as soups in sourdough bread bowls, ice cream sundaes, delicious Mexican fare, new Asian dishes and more — during this transformation. One new location, to the side of Cocina Cucamonga, is the Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería. It’s inspired by its three cultural influences with signage in English, Japanese and Spanish. Enjoy a cold one outside in a fun and inviting beer garden decorated with festoon lights and papel picado.
Currently, Pacific Wharf is home to four quick-service restaurants and a few beverage and snack locations:
- Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
- Pacific Wharf Café
- Lucky Fortune Cookery
- Cocina Cucamonga
- Rita's Baja Blenders
- Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. (not staying)
According to a cast member in the area (which we take with a grain of salt), all the locations will be part of San Fransokyo Square except the Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. beer cart (that may be the new Baymax meet and greet area). Instead, visitors can visit the Cervecería for their brews.
Some of our favorite foods at Disney California Adventure — fresh sourdough bread (especially as a bowl for soup or the classic deli sandwich) and quesabirria tacos — are in this area, and we certainly hope they are not going anywhere.
In the Bakery Tour, hosted by Boudin Bakery, you can pick up a free sample of fresh sourdough bread and learn how it's made. The cast member who gave us our sample on a recent visit says it's staying in place (fingers crossed!).
Shopping in San Fransokyo
Along with the reimagining of the space, new shopping opportunities will be introduced! Currently, the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop is the only store/ice cream shop in the area.
Events in San Fransokyo Square
One of the popular annual events at Disney California Adventure is the Lunar New Year celebration. It takes place annually from late January to mid-February. San Fransokyo Square will serve as a central hub for this yearly event! We cannot wait to see how frogtastically decorated this area will be.
Are you excited to visit San Fransokyo Square in Disney California Adventure? Be sure to keep hopping back as more details are released. You can save on multi-day Disneyland Resort tickets through Undercover Tourist.
Related: What’s Coming to Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood
Related: The Best Quick-Service Restaurants at Disney California Adventure Park
Hoppy planning!
