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In early 2022, Disney fans were treated with exciting news that Disney would be giving the Paradise Pier Hotel a Pixar-themed makeover.

Despite details not being released at the time, it was great to hear that this was happening. This was something Disney fans hoped for back in 2018 when Paradise Pier was changed to Pixar Pier.

Fast forward a few months to D23 Expo and we now have more details regarding this transformation (though we still don’t have a completion date).

In this post, we’ll cover topics such as; changes/additions coming to the hotel, how this effects you if you’ve made a reservation for Paradise Pier Hotel and more.

Let’s get into it!

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Pixar Place Hotel

At the 2022 D23 Expo, chairman Josh D’Amaro announced the hotel’s new name; Pixar Place Hotel and described it as a place where guests could immerse themselves into the world of Pixar.

New interpretations of fan-favorite Pixar characters in art form will appear throughout the property, including those from Cars, Monsters Inc, Soul, The Incredibles, Inside Out and more!

Of course, Luxo the lamp will also be featured prominently as shown in the concept art below.

So far, there hasn’t been any details or concept art related to the look of the hotel rooms, but we’re willing to bet there will be subtle touches of the Pixar Pals throughout the room.

New Additions

With the announcement of the new name, we were also given details on a couple new additions coming to the property.

For starters, the hotel’s pool will be reimagined into Finding Nemo’s Splash Pad. It’ll heavily feature characters from both Finding Nemo and its sequel, Finding Dory.

Also announced would be the addition of Southern California favorite, Great Maple, and their new, flagship restaurant coming to the hotel.

Great Maple tailors its menu to elevated comfort foods, all made from scratch, using high quality seasonal ingredients in a stylish and comfortable setting.

This is a fantastic addition to the property as the prior food offerings at Paradise Pier Hotel were always, shall we say, abysmal. As foodies, we’re incredibly exited about this.

Expected Completion Date

In short, we don’t have one just yet. Not even an estimate. One thing we can say for sure is that work has commenced on the property.

References and signage of the property’s former name have been removed from the side of the building itself, though the entrance sign remains (for now).

We were able to confirm with Disney that the hotel WILL NOT close for the transformation. The hotel will remain operational.

So if you’ve already booked here prior to the announcement, don’t fret, your reservation is still good. Do note, though, that construction will likely affect your stay in some capacity.

Our Thoughts On Pixar Place Hotel

We see this as a great addition to the resort. The Paradise Pier Hotel was always seen as subpar by most, despite the hefty nightly rate to stay there.

It stood out (not in a good way) even more so when the reimagining of Paradise Pier into Pixar was completed in 2018.

*Tip: If you haven’t booked a room yet, we would advise you to consider another hotel as the ongoing changes will likely mean reduced amenities. While Disney has lowered the nightly rate to counteract this, their asking price is still high considering all the hotels surrounding the property that offer far more.

That said, if you have your heart set on this property, wait until they’ve finished the transformation.

Pixar is known for their quality and standards. They’ve made several thought-provoking, tear-inducing, high quality movies enjoyed by the young and mature alike.

By all accounts, Disney seems to be striving to keep those theatrical standards cohesive with the overall look and vibe of this new(ish) hotel.

The skepticism is there, though. As we’ve recently seen with other projects that practically scream, “we did this as cheaply as possible”, one can’t help but be fearful of a similar outcome here.

We’re holding out hope that Disney will do right by this once in a lifetime company, though. Pixar deserves it, the characters deserve it and us fans deserve it.

Your Thoughts…

What’re your thoughts about the Pixar Place Hotel? Do you think it’ll be done right or do you think Disney will take the road with the least amount of resistant possible? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!

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