Pixar Place Hotel Disneyland Resort

In 2024 Paradise Pier Hotel was renovated to become the Pixar Place Hotel Disneyland Resort. I have only stayed at the hotel when it was the Paradise Pier Hotel but I did visit the hotel within a few days of the grand opening in order to be able to share updated information with you. Please note that the room photos are from when it was the Paradise Pier Hotel and when I have the pleasure of staying in or seeing one of the renovated rooms I will update those as well. 

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Pixar Place Hotel

Disney’s Pixar Place Hotel is one of three hotels at The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Each of the three hotels offers its own distinct decor and experience. The other two hotels are the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian. Which hotel is the right choice for you will depend on your preference, budget, and availability. Overall Pixar Place tends to be the most affordable of the three hotels but pricing can vary. 

 

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When this hotel was Disney’s Paradise Pier the theming was styled to the beach and boardwalk. It was a fun California theme but didn’t have a strong Disney feel to it. With the Pixar Place Hotel, the hotel truly feels like you have stepped into the world of Pixar. From the moment that you drive or walk up to the hotel the sliding doors are filled with some of your favorite characters. Be sure to pay attention to the change of color on Mike Wazowski when the door slides open. 

Upon entering the lobby guests will see the iconic Pixar lamp and Luxo ball. At certain times of day, Bing Bong from Inside Out will be in the lobby for meet and greets with guests. The lobby is filled with so many cute spots for photo ops. There is an adorable couch that looks like Heimlich from A Bug’s Life. If you look up you’ll see stained glass images hanging from the ceiling to represent a variety of Pixar characters. To get a better view of the stained glass characters be sure to head to the second floor.

You might also notice the UP-themed elevator going up and down in the lobby. If you want to ride in the UP elevator it is elevator D. I loved seeing Dug on the floor of the elevator. Be sure to keep an eye out for the characters on the floor. There are 16 in total. 

If you go to the left of the lobby you’ll see the check-in area. There is a good amount of seating in this area as well as several murals and different maquettes of Pixar characters. You will also find Joe Gardner from Soul playing the piano near a staircase. With Bing Bong and Joe Gardner, it feels extra special to be at this hotel and have these exclusive experiences that you can’t have inside the parks. It’s wonderful that anyone is welcome to come inside the hotel and see Joe and some of these other awesome additions. 

Pixar Place Rooms

My most recent time staying at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel was May of 2023. At that point in time the rooms felt very dated and worn out. However, from what I have seen online of the renovated rooms they feel very refreshed and look adorable. Most of the rooms can accommodate up to 5 guests if you book a room with two beds. There is also a twin-size pull-out couch in the rooms. In your room, you’ll find a mini fridge, a Keurig coffee maker, a safe, an iron, and a hair dryer.

Premium view rooms overlook Disney California Adventure Park. On a previous stay, I had a small view of DCA but I would imagine the premium view rooms are higher up. If you can see World of Color from your room you can turn the TV to channel 61 to hear the music from the show.

Club Level – Creators Club

The new club is set to open up by late 2024. I have only had a club-level experience at The Disneyland Hotel but it was one of my best Disney experiences yet. The club provides guests with drinks, food, and a place to relax. You also get access to a dedicated concierge team to assist you with requests that you might have.

For current pricing of the Pixar Place Hotel Disneyland Resort be sure to visit the official website here.

Pools and Recreation

This area is located on the third floor. The pool itself is average but there is a Finding Nemo splash and play area as well as a slide. We loved seeing the Pixar-themed fire pits with Ember, Lava, Jack-Jack, and Anger. The fire was not turned on when we were there but it is perfect for SoCal evenings. There is a recreation area with multiple games that hotel guests can play.

At check-in, you should be provided with an activity schedule that will let you know of any special events like movie nights taking place during your stay.

Firework Viewing

You can view the Disneyland fireworks from the Downtown Disney side of the pool area.

Fitness Center & Spa

The fitness center is small but still has treadmills, free weights, as well as other equipment.

Laundry

On the second floor, you will find laundry facilities that are open 24 hours. You will need a credit or debit card for payment.

Dining at Pixar Place Hotel Disneyland Resort

I was really hoping that character dining would return to this hotel and thought it would be so fun if they had a Pixar-themed one. Unfortunately, that did not happen but I have been really excited by the addition of Great Maple. I cannot wait to dine here.

Great Maple

This looks like a fun place to eat and I love the look of the outdoor patio. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a great variety of food on the menu with items like hot chicken, a steakhouse burger, maple bacon doughnuts, fish, steak, and more.

Sketch Pad Cafe

At the Sketch Pad Cafe, you can find grab-and-go pastries, coffee & tea, as well as pre-packaged snacks and sandwiches.

Small Bytes Pool Bar

There is a quick-service eatery located by the pool and entertainment area on the third floor. There is a small but good selection of food from small snacks to larger portions. They have nachos, a smash burger, chicken fingers, salads and more.

Shopping

There is one gift shop called Stor-E located near the lobby. Inside the store, you’ll find a great selection of Pixar merchandise in addition to Disneyland Resort merchandise. They do have a small selection of swimsuits and sundries. You can also purchase bottled drinks in the store and candy.

Parking

If you need to rent a car there are onsite offices for Alamo and Enterprise at the hotel. Behind the hotel is a parking garage where you can self-park for $40 per night. Valet parking is $70 per night. Day guests have different rates with one-hour parking starting at $40 and increasing $10 for each additional hour with a maximum rate of $85. However, Downtown Disney parking is also located near the hotel so for day guests that might be a better option.

How to Meet Bing Bong

Bing Bong has two meet-and-greet locations. Guests can find him in the lobby or on the third floor by the recreation area. Bing Bong is usually out between 11 am to 5 pm.

How to See Joe Gardner

I think having Joe Gardner from Soul playing piano is one of the coolest additions to Pixar Place. Joe normally plays in the afternoon and evenings.

Perks of Staying at Pixar Place Hotel

• Early Entry

Did you know that guests staying in one of the Disneyland Resort Hotels get early access to the parks? Early access has changed over the years. How it is currently working as of 2024 is hotel guests can get into the parks 30 minutes early. Disneyland Park has early entry on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Disney California Adventure Park has early entry on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

Make sure you don’t join the crowd of people waiting for the regular park opening. Have your room keys out and ready to scan and show cast members so that you can be let into the areas that are open for hotel guests.

If you have ever wanted to be the first guest on Storybookland Canal Boats and get to sign the Captain’s Log being a hotel guest gives you the best chance. They don’t open early, they open with the park. However, by already being able to be in Fantasyland when the park opens you can keep an eye on a line forming and try to be the first guest on the ride and have a magical moment. 

As long as you have checked in on the Disneyland App even if you haven’t gotten the keys for your room yet you can still get early entry into the park on the first day of your hotel stay.

Not all of the lands and attractions are open for early entry. 

Early Entry Attractions at Disneyland Park

Fantasyland Attractions

• Alice in Wonderland
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Mad Tea Party
• Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
• Snow White’s Enchanted Wish

Tomorrowland Attractions

• Astro Orbitor
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Disneyland Monorail
• Space Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

Early Entry Attractions at Disney California Adventure Park

Hollywoodland 

• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission BREAKOUT
• Monters Inc – Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!

Pixar Pier

• Incredicoaster
• The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure

Carsland

• Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

Grizzly Peak

• Soarin’ Around the World

Avengers Campus

• Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

• Exclusive Entrance to Disney California Adventure Park

When you want to go to Disneyland Park from Pixar Place it is a good walk from the hotel to the park entrance. However, for Disney California Adventure Park a special entrance has been created that is exclusive to Pixar Place guests. To access this entrance you will cross the street going towards the Grand Californian but instead of walking straight to the hotel you’ll take a slight right and enter directly into Pixar Pier.