Inside Look at the New Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland

The transformation of Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel at Disneyland Resort into the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the US is complete. The Pixar Place Hotel opened on Jan. 30, 2024, following a phased reimagining that was carried out while the resort remained open to guests. Those who’ve stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel will find the overhaul nothing short of jaw-dropping. Themed as a celebration of the art and storytelling legacy of Pixar Animation Studios, this bold, colorful glow-up introduces new characters, dining and recreation, and most importantly — sparkling new guest rooms. Here’s a closer look at the brand-new Pixar Place Hotel.

Located on Disneyland Drive, right across the street from Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa, Pixar Place Hotel is about a five-minute walk to the Downtown Disney District, a 10-minute walk to Disneyland Park, and — a major bonus — mere minutes to Disney California Adventure Park. Pixar Place Hotel guests can use their room key to access a dedicated entrance and security checkpoint into DCA that drops you right into the Paradise Gardens Park area. Your room key also doubles as a fun souvenir.

Pixar Place Hotel’s logo and branding naturally star the studio’s two mascots — Luxo, Jr., the iconic little desk lamp, and the red, yellow and blue ball on which Luxo, Jr. bounces. 

First introduced in the 1986 Pixar short, “Luxo, Jr.,” the “Pixar Ball and Lamp,” as Disney and Pixar now call them, have appeared with every Pixar feature and short film since “Toy Story.” Here, you’ll spot them in some form in nearly every corner of the hotel too, from bed linens and carpet patterns to animation on guest-room TVs, to Pixar Ball-shaped lights lining the walkway outside. 

Guests arriving through the hotel’s main entrance are welcomed by a giant version of the Pixar Ball and Lamp positioned in a new pose created specially for the hotel.

The Pixar Ball’s red, yellow and blue are also the hotel’s primary accent colors paired with neutral black, white and grays. Outside, a geometric patchwork of the same shades decorates the porte cochere. After dark red, yellow and blue lighting accentuates the tower’s 15 stories.

When guests enter Pixar Place Hotel, they are “walking into a world of Pixar,” Pixar Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter said during the opening-day dedication, describing the hotel as a place where Pixar stories come to life. “It’s like walking into a world of Pixar", Docter said. 

Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kirsten Makela described the main entrance as “a celebration of the start of the creative process.” In addition to the ball and lamp, hanging from the overhead skylight like a mobile are Pixar characters, modeled after their early forms of animation when they begin as “interlocking shapes” before fully coming together.

A vibrant lighting sequence synchronized to a brand-new soundtrack further brings the space to life. The 10-song soundtrack features chilled-out instrumental versions of Pixar songs and if you love them as much as I do, the full soundtrack is now available on major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. Here’s the full list of songs.

• The Incredits (The Incredibles) – Cartographerr
• Remember Me (Coco) – Chantry Johnson
• Define Dancing (WALL-E) – Brain Tan
• Nobody Like U (Turning Red) – Last Trip to the Moon
• Married Life (Up) – P.K., The Heavyweights
• Bundle of Joy (Inside Out) – Tomas Kovacs, Terry Joiner
• Le Festin (Ratatouille) – ASHER YELO
• You’ve Got a Friend In Me (Toy Story) – John Wilhelm, Keigan Jones
• Touch the Sky (Brave) – Simon Oscroft
• Born to Play (Soul) – Jintae Ko

 

Beyond the entrance, there are seemingly endless pieces of artwork, references, and hidden-in-plain-sight details to discover. Behind the front desks, large pieces in glowing, illuminated frames showcase some of Pixar’s most iconic characters. For those whose films are represented on the soundtrack, watch closely when their song comes on — their frame will subtly twinkle.

Bright, bold walls lining the lobby from the rear entrance are decorated with art created by actual Pixar artists during the development of popular characters like Buzz Lightyear and Edna Mode. See the progression from pencil sketches to wireframe computer models as the characters take shape before receiving final colors and textures. 

 

Elsewhere around the lobby, maquettes of characters from films like “Monsters, Inc.” and “The Incredibles” are on display and large murals celebrate “Luca,” “Finding Nemo,” and more. 

 

Be sure to watch where you’re walking — 16 character silhouettes are embedded around the lobby and elevator floors, an homage to a similar approach at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California.

Theming is consistent throughout guest rooms, but the public spaces on each guest room floor are unique. A different mural greets guests coming out of the elevator on each floor, and all hallways are accented with a complementary color.

The third-floor pool deck has gotten a full Pixar overhaul, introducing two main areas for aquatic play, plus lots of opportunities for drier outdoor recreation. The Pixel Pool is surrounded by plenty of loungers, umbrellas, and shaded areas. Posters inspired by “Luca” provide the main Pixar theming in this area, which feels swanky and upscale — adults without kids definitely wouldn’t feel out of place lounging a day away here. 

Daybeds, pods, and cabanas are all available for rental.

 

Just on the other side of the Pixel Pool area, things get a lot more colorful. Nemo’s Cove is a “Finding Nemo”-themed splash pad and Crush’s Surfin’ Slide is a 186-foot water slide inspired by the EAC (East Australian Current). Don’t miss the creative details that extend even to the landscaping. The horticulture team lined Nemo’s Cove with succulent plants resembling coral reef and light fixtures were designed to look like bubbles rising from seaweed.

Opening in early March 2024, Small Bytes is a new pool bar that will serve shareable snacks like a soft pretzel and dip; chips and dip, and hummus and veggies; “Lyte Bytes” including salads and fruit; “Mega Bytes” including a burger, nachos, and chicken sandwich; and “Little Nibblers” kid-friendly classics like grilled cheese and pizza bagels. On display on the wall of the walk-up bar are 22 pixel-art style portraits of Pixar characters that were designed specifically for the hotel. 

Numerous seating areas are available throughout the third-floor pool deck, from traditional tables to cozy lounge areas. Just next to Small Bytes, cushioned sofas and chairs surround four Pixar character-themed fire pits. 

 

Also on the third-floor deck, the Pixar Shorts Court is a family play area themed to Pixar shorts. There’s a “La Luna”-inspired take on shuffleboard, chess tables inspired by “Geri’s Game,” and two games encouraging imaginative play, inspired by “For the Birds” and “Burrow.” Our favorite is “Bao Toss,” inspired by “Bao.” A themed take on bags or cornhole, players toss smiling dumplings into steamer baskets.

Enhancing what has always been a popular but lesser-known viewing location for Disneyland fireworks, the hotel has unveiled a new fireworks viewing area with lots of tables and seating around a fireplace. When Small Bytes pool bar opens in early March, guests will be able to order food and drinks to enjoy while watching the fireworks, which are synchronized to the show soundtrack.

A new lounge for guests staying in club (concierge-level) will open later in 2024. Creators Club celebrates the partnership between Pixar and Walt Disney Imagineering, showcasing concept art, posters, models and props from Pixar attractions at Disney Parks around the world. The second-floor lounge will serve snacks and drinks for club-level guests all day.

For the first time at any Disney property, and only at the Pixar Place Hotel, Bing Bong from “Inside Out” will be meeting hotel guests daily on the third-floor rooftop near the pool. His hours won’t be posted online but he’ll be out during the day, weather permitting.  

Joe Gardner from Pixar’s “Soul” will also be appearing five days a week on select dates and times, performing in an alcove in the Pixar Place Hotel lobby. He also won’t have published hours but his appearances should skew more towards the afternoon/evening hours. He plays music while chatting with guests and offering words of encouragement. “You just gotta find your spark,” he said during my visit.

The most striking component of the hotel’s transformation is the guest rooms, which were sorely in need of an update. These new rooms haven’t been given the standard “whites and neutrals” refurb though — they’re bright and colorful, and with pops of Pixar everywhere. 

 

Most of the hotel’s 489 guest rooms sleep up to five adults in a king room with queen-size sleeper sofa or two-queen room with a single day bed. Room categories are differentiated according to view — standard with view of Disneyland Drive, premium with theme park or resort view, or pool terrace, with a patio and access to the third-floor pool. These room types will also be offered as club-level rooms with Creators Club access when it opens. 

 

On the desk in every guest room sits a real-life “Luxo, Jr.” desk lamp — a charming detail that will make Pixar fans smile. I loved returning to my room in the evening after housekeeping had visited to find the room dark with only the Pixar Lamp turned on so it was the first thing I saw when I opened my door. A more abstract version of the lamp’s silhouette adorns the carpet.

 

The Pixar Ball is rarely out of sight in guest rooms, but its appearance never feels repetitive. It appears prominently on bolster pillows, bathroom artwork, coasters, and the many in-room amenities that feature the hotel logo. It also shows up more subtly in white on bed linens. Walls, carpet, curtains and sofa take on its colors of yellow, blue and red.

Artwork over the headboard in each guest room is displayed as a warm-to-cool transition of colorful scenes from Pixar films including “Ratatouille,” “Toy Story 3,” “Coco,” and “Inside Out.”

 

Bathrooms are sleek and bright white but get an injection of personality courtesy of PIxar Ball and Lamp artwork, Pixar Place Hotel-branded amenities and bathrobe, and red, yellow, and blue mounted shampoo, conditioner and body wash dispensers in the shower.

Pixar Place Hotel also offers various suites ranging from one to three bedrooms. Pixel Suites, located poolside, provide patio access to the pool area, with configurations sleeping up to 14 adults, depending on the suite size, with some featuring living areas and kitchens. Sketch Suites sleep up to four adults in a one-bedroom suite or up to nine adults in a two-bedroom suite and have a view of the parking area. Additional one- and two-bedroom suites offering a range of views and capacities that vary from six to 10 people are also available.

Later in 2024, two themed two-bedroom signature suites later will debut — a Coco Suite, inspired by the film and decorated with Oaxacan art, and the Incredibles Suite, designed with a midcentury aesthetic and "spy-fy" elements inspired by the superhero family.

 

The hotel has unveiled three new dining venues operated by the Southern California-based Great Maple restaurant group. In addition to the aforementioned Small Bytes pool bar, Great Maple – A Modern American Eatery, is an inviting table-service restaurant near the lobby, serving upscale comfort food all day. The menu includes standout dishes like Portobello Mushroom Fries, Maple Bacon Doughnuts and delicious sandwiches — including great options for vegans and vegetarians. Additionally, The Sketch Pad Cafe in the lobby provides a quick-service option for pastries, coffee, and light snacks, and has a spacious seating decorated with a timeline of Pixar film characters.

STOR-E is the hotel gift shop, paying homage to the Pixar movie “Wall-E.” It's stocked with Pixar and Disneyland Resort souvenirs and features exclusive items bearing the Pixar Place Hotel logo. Here, guests can also purchase a variety of snacks, drinks and some essential health and personal care products.