After months of renovations, Pixar Place Hotel has finally opened at Disneyland. The tired Paradise Pier Hotel has been transformed into a sleek new space, resulting in the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the USA.
Disney unveiled a brand new lobby area on 30th January, 2024, celebrating the artistry of Pixar Animation Studios. The hotel, which overlooks Disney California Adventure Park, largely remained open throughout the renovation and will continue to receive new updates throughout the remainder of 2024.
A Redesigned Lobby, Guest Rooms, and Dining
Much of the overhaul at the Pixar Place Hotel has taken place in the lobby. The new design is a nod to the Pixar artists, with a large sculpture of the iconic Pixar Lamp balancing on its ball at the center. Above this hangs an abstract mobile, featuring characters in their early stages from movies.
The guest rooms are light and bright, though they contain some not-so-subtle nods to Pixar. Headboards feature early concept art from the much-loved movies, while each room also has a mini Pixar lamp and pillows.
The vibrant new rooftop pool area boasts the main Pixel Pool, plus Crush’s Surfin’ Slide and the Nemo’s Cove splash pad area for the little ones. Guests can also rent private day beds or cabanas, while there are nighttime fire pits shaped like some very recognizable fiery characters – namely Ember from Elemental and Anger from Inside Out.
Other amenities unveiled include the Pixar Shorts Court, where you can play outdoor games with influences from the likes of Bao, For the Birds, and Burrow. And, next to the lobby, there’s a brand new retail space, cleverly titled STOR-E, after the Pixar classic WALL-E.
Hungry? Pixar Place Hotel now offers a new culinary offering in the form of Great Maple.
This ground-floor restaurant is open to hotel guests, theme park goers, and locals, and serves elevated takes on American classics. Signature dishes include buttermilk fried chicken, maple bacon donuts, and tasty cajun shrimp.
Small Bytes, a quick service location near the rooftop pool, will open in March.
Character Experiences
The hotel has also announced some exciting character experiences available for hotel guests. Joe Gardner from Soul will be found near the hotel's staircase tinkering on the piano, while Bing Bong from Inside Out will also have a meet and greet exclusively at this hotel – he made his debut at the Pixar Place Hotel opening event.
This hotel renovation is a hint at what’s to come, as Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said, “We are looking to turbocharge expansion at Disneyland Resort over the coming years, and the transformation of Pixar Place Hotel is a demonstration of how we’re creating high-quality guest experiences infused with our most popular stories.”
Pixar Place Hotel will also boast two new two-bedroom themed signature suites and a concierge lounge – both of which are set to open later this year.
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