Evaluate of the Pixar Place Lodge at Disneyland

Through the opening-day dedication, Pixar Animation Studios Chief Artistic Officer Pete Docter described Pixar Place Lodge as an area the place Pixar storytelling is delivered to life. “It is like strolling right into a world of Pixar,” Docter mentioned. “It is really immersive, and we’re thrilled to have collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to make such an expertise attainable for company.”

Pixar Place Lodge location

Each day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication

Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

The gates of Disneyland Park are a strong 10-minute stroll from the lodge, however company get a serious park-access perk — Pixar Place Lodge company get their very own devoted path and entrance into Disney California Journey Park. Most instances of the day, it takes lower than 5 minutes to get from contained in the lodge to contained in the park — together with the time it takes to maneuver via the devoted safety checkpoint.

Associated: One of the best eating places at Disneyland in 2024

This non-public entrance, virtually immediately throughout the road from the lodge and accessed with a room key, allows Pixar Place Lodge company to bypass the principle safety strains and park turnstiles, considerably lowering the time it takes to begin the day at Disney California Journey Park. The doorway leads immediately into the park, between Corn Canine Citadel and Seaside Souvenirs.

To go to Disneyland Park, company could make the roughly 10-minute stroll or take the monorail from Downtown Disney into Tomorrowland contained in the park.

Along with the on-site eating choices we’ll cowl later on this article, Pixar Place Lodge is a simple stroll to Disneyland Resort’s different on-site resorts, many eating places and the Downton Disney District’s wealth of purchasing, eating and leisure.

Setting the stage: The entrance entrance and foyer

Pixar Place Lodge has each a grand entrance entrance and a busy rear entrance usually utilized by company parking within the lodge’s storage. Each showcase the early phases of the Pixar inventive course of, however the principle entrance delivers the wow issue.

Company getting into the foyer from the principle entrance are greeted by a large Pixar Lamp balanced atop the Pixar Ball. Whereas the duo, first launched within the 1986 Pixar brief “Luxo Jr.,” are “iconic to Pixar Animation Studios,” their pose is “brand-new to our lodge,” mentioned Walt Disney Imagineering Artwork Director Kirsten Makela. The pose is used within the lodge emblem and all through all branding and collateral “as a result of it truly is a signature to our house,” Makela mentioned.

Makela described the house as “a celebration of the beginning of the inventive course of.” Overhead, a whimsical cellular that includes Pixar characters of their earliest phases of animation as tough, interlocking shapes of their main colours dangle beneath an enormous skylight. The cellular represents early inventive concepts “swirling and coming collectively,” Makela mentioned.

A dynamic, multicolored lighting package deal is synced to new music created solely for the lodge. The ten-song soundtrack, obtainable on main streaming platforms, options up to date instrumental interpretations of iconic Pixar songs. By day, pure gentle streams via the hanging characters, making them extra outstanding. By night time, the shifting colours of the lighting program are the celebs of the present.

The constructing’s exterior additionally will get a powerful nighttime lighting therapy — after darkish, the lodge is bathed in daring shades of purple, yellow and blue.

Shifting farther into the foyer, art work that includes central characters from a few of Pixar’s most well-known movies is encased in illuminated frames that twinkle subtly when the background music from the featured movie performs.

Extra artwork can be found all through the foyer, from murals and indicators to character maquettes and even surprising objects like a settee “bounding” as Heimlich, the caterpillar from “A Bug’s Life.”

With so many particulars at eye stage, you would be forgiven for forgetting to look down — however belief us, do not! Hidden throughout the flooring are 16 small character silhouettes. We propose difficult your self to an off-the-cuff scavenger hunt to search out all of them.

Suites

For bigger households and events, there may be additionally a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.

Pixel Suites are poolside and embrace a patio with entry to the third-floor pool deck. One-bedroom Pixel Suites sleep as much as 4 adults. Two-bedroom connecting Pixel Suites sleep as much as 9 adults, and three-bedroom connecting Pixel Suites sleep as much as 14 adults. Connecting suites additionally embrace a kitchen and front room space.

Sketch Suites have a view of the parking space and sleep as much as 4 adults in a one-bedroom suite or 9 adults in a two-bedroom suite.

Extra unnamed one- and two-bedroom suites are additionally obtainable with a variety of views and with capacities various from six to 10 folks. Company are suggested that the scale of their booked celebration will decide their suite dimension.

2-bedroom signature suites: Coco Suite and Incredibles Suite

Later in 2024, the lodge will debut two new two-bedroom signature suites. The Coco Suite can be themed to Pixar’s “Coco,” adorned with Oaxacan artwork and celebrating Miguel’s household legacy. The Incredibles Suite will function midcentury design and decor with loads of Parr household particulars and what Disney is asking a “spy-fy” twist.

Leisure abounds at Pixar Place Lodge

New characters

Pixar Place Lodge has debuted two new characters — Bing Bong, Riley’s lovable imaginary buddy from “Inside Out,” and Joe Gardner, the jazz musician protagonist from “Soul.”

Debuting for the primary time worldwide, Bing Bong will meet lodge company every day on the third-floor rooftop close to the pool, climate allowing. Hours will not be revealed on-line, however company hoping to fulfill him ought to look forward to finding him throughout the daytime hours and might get extra data from lodge forged members.

In a devoted house within the lodge foyer, Joe Gardner will chat with company as he tickles the ivories 5 days per week on choose days and instances. He performs in a purple-hued alcove adorned with drawings of jazz musicians and counselors from “The Nice Earlier than.” On the times he is performing, look forward to finding Joe throughout the afternoon and night hours.

Swimming pools and recreation

A sprawling third-floor deck is the lodge’s outside recreation hub. The Pixel Pool is a straightforward rectangular pool surrounded by comfortable chairs, brilliant umbrellas, shaded lounge areas and colourful posters from the Pixar movie “Luca.” Personal daybeds, cabanas and pods can be found to hire for the day. There’s additionally a scorching tub subsequent to the pool.

The Pixel Pool itself is fairly primary, however there are nonetheless loads of thrills available courtesy of Crush’s Surfin’ Slide, a 186-foot waterslide impressed by the EAC, aka the East Australian Present that Crush likes to surf. Like a waterslide on many cruise ships, the slide would not drop right into a pool, making it simpler for folks to observe and assist kiddos with out getting moist.

Nemo’s Cove, a “Discovering Nemo”-themed splash pad starring Hank the septopus, offers littles an enormous house to splash and play.

When Anaheim evenings are too chilly for pool time after sundown, 4 totally different lounge areas encompass fireplace pits themed to Pixar’s most “inflammatory” characters, like Anger and Ember.

The Pixar Shorts Courtroom offers loads of different dry actions on the third-floor pool deck, themed to PIxar shorts. Play “Bao” Toss into the steamer basket or a stellar recreation of “La Luna”-inspired shuffleboard.

Gamers are inspired to make use of their creativeness in areas impressed by “For the Birds” and “Burrow.” You too can dine below the lovestruck umbrellas from “The Blue Umbrella” and play a recreation of chess at one among a number of tables impressed by “Geri’s Recreation.”

The lodge’s rooftop has lengthy been a hidden gem for viewing Disneyland’s fireworks, however an elevated house has now debuted with a fire and loads of devoted seating to observe the present. The soundtrack accompanying the fireworks can also be performed in sync with the present.

Health heart and spa

A second-floor health club contains all of the fundamentals to squeeze in a exercise, together with treadmills, ellipticals, a rowing machine, a handful of weight machines and free weights. A wall mural impressed by “Monsters College” options Mike and Sulley on treadmills. Towels and water are additionally supplied.

For spa companies, company can go to the Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa, positioned simply throughout the road.

Pixar Place Lodge eating

1 of 1

Nice Maple at Pixar Place Lodge. DISNEY

The lodge introduces three new spots for meals and drinks, all operated by Southern California Nice Maple restaurant group. The flagship table-service restaurant, Nice Maple, A Trendy American Eatery, is positioned simply off the lodge foyer. The brilliant open-air house affords a wide range of indoor and outside seating choices and serves elevated consolation meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My favourite dish I attempted from the all-day menu was the Portobello Mushroom Fries ($21). Battered and seasoned with Parmesan and purple pepper flakes and served with a basil pesto aioli, these “fries” have a satisfying, meaty texture, with not one of the extra liquid you generally get with portobello mushrooms. I might return only for these!

One other favourite was the Well-known Maple Bacon Doughnuts ($18 for 3). These big, pillowy donuts have a cult following. I am a vegetarian and did not attempt the bacon doughnut, however one chew right into a vegetarian cinnamon-dusted model recent from the kitchen, and I understood the hype. These are big and filling, so undoubtedly plan to share.

One other favourite amongst Nice Maple regulars is the Scorching Honey Fried Rooster Sandwich ($26), served with cabbage slaw and melted white American cheese and slathered in scorching honey aioli. This acquired rave opinions from meat-eating colleagues.

I additionally sampled a wonderful vegetarian choice, the VBLAT ($26). This plant-based tackle the favored Nice Maple BLT is made with maple chili portobello “bake-on” (they significantly know what they’re doing relating to portobellos right here), arugula, tomato, vegan cheddar and smashed avocado on toasted Levain bread. This sammie is satisfying but in addition felt very veggie-forward, gentle and wholesome — the sort of dish you would possibly crave after too many theme park treats.

Additionally within the foyer, The Sketch Pad Cafe serves grab-and-go pastries, espresso and tea and a number of packaged sandwiches and snacks. The spacious seating space is adorned with a timeline of Pixar movies showcased via evolving character designs.

Opening in early March, the Small Bytes pool bar will serve snacks (“Lyte Bytes”) and extra substantial dishes (“Mega Bytes”), taking inspiration from Nineties-era Southern Californian childhood favorites with dishes like pizza bagels and a SoCal Fruit Cart seasonal fruit choice. On the wall, try the 22 pixel-style portraits of Pixar characters.

Retail

The lodge contains one present store referred to as Stor-E, a nod to the Pixar movie “Wall-E.” Right here, you will discover Disneyland Resort- and Pixar-themed souvenirs, together with Pixar Place Lodge merchandise. The store additionally sells a restricted number of snacks, drinks, primary well being and private care objects and over-the-counter drugs.

Tips on how to ebook Pixar Place Lodge

You too can use fixed-value bank card factors and miles from applications like Capital One and Bilt Rewards to pay for a room right here. You too can probably lower your expenses by reserving a keep utilizing discounted Disney present playing cards.

As a result of Disney room charges are at all times fluctuating in keeping with demand, it is tough to ascertain a constant common value. Nonetheless, spot checks on varied dates confirmed the next value ranges:

• Normal View Room: $405-$594 per night time
• Normal View Membership-Degree Room: $583-$846 per night time
• Premium View Room: $492-$729 per night time
• Premium View Membership Degree: $684-$997 per night time
• Pool Terrace Membership Degree: $666-$922 per night time

Some suites haven’t got availability and costs viewable on-line and direct company to name, however spot checks recognized the next ranges for these revealed charges:

• 1-Bed room Suite: $1,028-$1,310 per night time
• 2-Bed room Suite: $1,290-$1,660 per night time

Along with the unique entry for Pixar Place Lodge company to Disney California Journey and hotel-exclusive characters, Pixar Place Lodge company, together with Disneyland Lodge and Grand Californian company, additionally get early entry into a delegated theme park every day of their keep half-hour previous to common park opening and most well-liked entry to a restricted variety of advance eating reservations at choose table-service eating places.

Associated: Tips on how to use factors at Disney

The underside line

Walt Disney World regulars usually attempt to assign the identical pricing tiers used on property in Orlando — worth, reasonable and deluxe — to Disneyland Resort resorts. Whereas it is true that traditionally, the three resorts (Pixar Place Lodge, previously Disney’s Paradise Pier Lodge; Disneyland Lodge; and Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa) are all persistently priced in ascending order from least to costliest, Disneyland Resort would not use these classes.

Though Disney’s Paradise Pier Lodge costs had persistently began at round $400 per night time of late — definitely not “worth” pricing — the lodging left a lot to be desired and felt “worth” tier. That is now not true. My room at Pixar Place Lodge was on par with or exceeded the caliber of many Deluxe resort rooms at Walt Disney World.

I used to be wowed by the brand new theming and a focus to element all through the lodge, and impressed with the added hotel-branded facilities and particular touches like hotel-branded goodies on the pillows, lavatory merchandise, espresso condiments, room keys, pens and stationery. I used to be additionally thrilled by the addition of two new, distinctive character experiences added solely to this lodge. These particulars coalesce to set a lodge aside in memorable methods — and Pixar Place Lodge caught the touchdown.

Every of Disneyland Resort’s resorts has its strengths — I really like the Grand Californian for its location, breathtaking foyer and wonderful table- and quick-service eating.

I really like the Disneyland Lodge for top-notch lounges and bars, and my favourite Disney Trip Membership rooms up to now (which you can ebook with owned or rented DVC factors) are on the Villas at Disneyland Lodge. Pixar Place Lodge has the fewest restaurant and lounge choices of the three, however there are such a lot of others inside putting distance that that does not hassle me.

So with the bottom costs of the Disneyland resorts whereas nonetheless providing an outstanding location, on-property perks and “deluxe”-feeling rooms, Pixar Place Lodge would possibly simply be the Disneyland “worth” we had been in search of.

Associated studying: