Pixar Place Hotel vs Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian

How does Pixar Place Hotel stack up against Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa?

Disneyland Resort’s Pixar Place Hotel took the internet by storm with a total reimagining of the previous Paradise Pier Hotel. With this major change, many guests were excited to see a positive update to what was previously seen as a lackluster hotel. And how could they not, with theming that’s based off of an extremely popular company like Pixar?

But with the update, exactly what has changed, and how does the new hotel compared to Disneyland Resort’s 2 other on-site hotels? We at MickeyVisit go to the Disney resorts and hotels regularly, and learned everything there is to know to compare Pixar Pier Hotel to Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa.

Read on for the ultimate comparison between Pixar Pier Hotel and Disneyland Resort’s 2 other on-site hotels.

Overview of Pixar Place Hotel

Themed after the ever-popular Pixar movies, Pixar Place Hotel brings to life the likes of Cars, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo.

In fact, Disney boasts this hotel as the first and only hotel in the world to  celebrate all of the films of Pixar Animation Studios. Overlooking Disney California Adventure Park, Pixar Pier Hotel allows you to stay across the street from the 2 Disney theme parks. Its contemporary design weaves together with whimsical Pixar artistry everywhere you look.

And of course, with a Disney hotel comes Disney-level accommodations.

Each room, fully decorated with Pixar-themed furnishings and artwork created by Pixar Animation Studios, also has many of the same modern amenities you would expect from Disney. Featuring rooms for families of different sizes, some of the best rooms overlook Disney California Adventure Park, where you can watch the night time spectacular – World of Color One – from the comfort of your own room.

Let’s dive deep into comparing Pixar Pier Hotel with Disneyland Resort’s 2 other on-site hotels.

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Pixar Hotel vs Disneyland Hotel & Grand Californian: How to Compare Each Hotel

When it comes to comparing Disney hotels, there are plenty of categories to dive into.

The most obvious categories include hotel perks, theming, and dining. However, we also want to compare location, room-types that are offered, the pool and recreation area, and dining options. And of course, we want to compare prices between the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels. However, we’ll leave that last in order to give you a more unbiased review.

Let’s dive into comparing each hotel at Disneyland Resort.

Perks of Each Hotel

Staying at a Disney Resort hotel certainly has its perks and amenities.

Between all 3 on-site hotels at Disneyland Resort, the perks are the same. Each hotel has Early Entry, allowing you to enter the theme parks 30 minutes before non-hotel guests. Each hotel has walking access to each of the Disney theme parks (more on that later). Each hotel has a fitness center (more on that later too). Each hotel has their own activities guide, including movie nights and fun classes. Each hotel even has their own 24hr ATM, access to laundry facilities, and housekeeping.

All 3 hotels have their own version of Club Level rooms. At Disneyland Hotel, you have access to the E-Ticket Club. At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, you have access to the Craftsman Club. And at Pixar Pier Hotel, you have access to the Creator’s Club. Each Club Level room gives you access to complimentary Continental Breakfast in the morning, daily snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the afternoon, and desserts, wine, beer, and appetizers in the evening.

And finally, each hotel has their own merchandise shop. At Disneyland Resort, Disney’s Fantasia Shop has all your merchandise needs. At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Acorns Gifts & Goods has you covered. And at Pixar Pier Hotel, STOR-E makes sure you don’t have to leave Disneyland Resort empty handed.

In short, all 3 Disneyland Resort hotels have similar perks.

Location of Each Hotel

Location is an extremely important factor for us when considering your our Disney vacation stay.

What’s Similar

Both Pixar Place Hotel and Disneyland Hotel are a 12-minute walk from the Disneyland Esplanade.

Additionally, both Pixar Place Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa have private, exclusive entrances into Disney California Adventure Park.

It’s important to note that there are only a small handful of hotels that are closer to the 2 Disney theme parks. However, every one of these hotels pales in comparison to the Disneyland Resort hotels when it comes to perks and accommodations.

Despite their close walking distances, there are a few slight differences between Pixar Place Hotel and the 2 other on-site Disney hotels.

What’s Different

While Pixar Place Hotel and Disneyland Hotel are about the same distance from the Disneyland Esplanade, Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa is situated much closer to both theme parks, with a direct entrance into Disney California Adventure Park.

Disneyland Hotel, on the other hand, is separated from both theme parks by the entirety of Downtown Disney District. From the hotel, you'd have to walk through all of Downtown Disney District to get to the Disneyland Resort Esplanade and into either theme park or enter Disney California Adventure Park through the Grand Californian entrance.

Similarly, Pixar Place Hotel is located across the street from Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa. To get to the entrance into Disney California Adventure Park that is exclusive to Pixar Place Hotel guests only, you'd have to cross Disneyland Drive, enter the exclusive entrance, then walk a short pathway to get to the theme park entrance.

Theming of Each Hotel

Each hotel's name offers a big hint into their different theming, but there is a key similarity between all of them. Let's cover what to expect when walking into each hotel.

What's Similar

Between all 3 Disneyland Resort hotels, you can expect the unique and awe-inspiring design that Disney Imagineers put into all their work. Their attention to detail is what makes them so popular, with none of the smallest designs left to chance. From the moment you set foot inside each of the hotel's lobbies, you'll immerse yourself into everything that represents that hotel – and more.

What's Different

At Pixar Place Hotel, expect every detail to embrace the “artistry of Pixar,” with artwork and decorations that highlight the creative processes of artists who brought our favorite Pixar stories to life. If you've ever visited Lamplight Lounge in Disney California Adventure Park, the theming and design is very similar. Once you step into the lobby, you're greeted by the iconic Pixar Ball and Lamp with a Pixar character-inspired mobile hanging above. You'll even have opportunities to meet Pixar favorites like Joe Gardner from “Soul” and Bing Bong from “Inside Out.”

Disneyland Hotel, on the other hand, gives you a classic Disneyland vibe. With 3 of its hotel towers representing Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Frontierland and its 4th tower (The Disney Vacation Club Villas) representing Discovery, celebrating Disney history. With its mix of modern design and retro details, Disneyland Hotel certainly feels like a love letter to Disneyland Park.

Finally, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is very much a love letter to California. Featuring grandeur at every turn, renowned attention to detail, and Craftsman-style elegance, you'll notice handcrafted wood pieces, a giant fireplace with wooden rocking chairs, and even a grand piano in the lobby with a Cast Member playing Disney tunes and well-known classics every now and then.

Types of Rooms at Each Hotel

Room accommodates are an important factor when it comes to choosing a hotel for your Disney vacation. Let's go over the similarities and differences between the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels.

What’s Similar

At each of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels, you can expect 3 general categories of rooms: a regular room, a regular room with Club Level accommodations, and a suite. Each general category can further be broken down into room types depending on your view and the size of beds you have. For example, all 3 hotels offer several types of suites with different numbered bedrooms and slightly different themes.

What’s Different

Theming between the 3 hotels is the first major difference when it comes to rooms (refer to the previous section in this article). However, one major difference between Pixar Place Hotel and the other 2 Disneyland Resort Hotels is that Pixar Place Hotel is not a Disney Vacation Club resort. This means does not contain any Disney Vacation Club (DVC) rooms or suites. On the other hand, both Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa are both DVC resorts with several DVC room and suite options.

Dining Options at Each Hotel

When coming back from a long theme park day, having a mid-day break, or even an entire rest day, understanding your hotel's dining options is key. Let's go over what each hotel has to offer.

What’s Similar

Each Disneyland Resort hotel has at least 1 table-service restaurant, 1 quick-service restaurant, and 1 bar/lounge. Having these restaurant-options allows you the luxury of choice when it comes to dining at your hotel. If you want something more casual, you can choose to dine at a quick-service restaurant. If you want something more elegant, you can choose to dine at a table-service restaurant. And if you want an adult-beverage to unwind, you can choose to go to the hotel's lounge.

What’s Different

The major difference between the 3 hotels is the number of each dining options they have. At Pixar Place Hotel, you have access to 1 table-service restaurant, 1 grab-and-go coffee shop, and 1 rooftop pool bar. The Great Maple is a contemporary restaurant known for its comfort food with a twist. The Sketch Pad Cafe offers assorted pastries, coffee, and tea. And Small Bytes serves salads, wraps, cheese plates, and other menu items for guests enjoying the pool area.

Disneyland Hotel has slightly more dining options, with 1 table-service restaurant, 1 grab-and-go coffee shop, 1 quick-service restaurant, and 1 bar/lounge. This includes Goofy's Kitchen: a fun character dining option, Tangaroa Terrace: a Polynesian-style quick-service restaurant, and the famous Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar: my personal favorite lounge at Disneyland Resort. When staying at Disneyland Hotel, Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar also offers beverage service to the pool.

Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa offers even more dining options, with 3 table-service restaurants, 1 quick-service restaurant, and 1 bar/lounge. This includes Storyteller's Cafe: another fun character dining option, Craftsman Bar: a great restaurant to enjoy a relaxed meal, Napa Rose: the highest end restaurant at Disneyland Resort, Craftsman Grill: a great spot for grab-and-go meals, and Hearthstone Lounge: a relaxing bar/lounge with limited foot items.

Pool Areas at Each Hotel

One of the next amenities to consider when choosing a Disney hotel is their pool area. Let's dive into what each Disneyland Resort hotel offers.

What’s Similar

At each hotel, you can expect at least 1 large pool with a slide. This gives you an area for your entire family to enjoy. At each hotel, your kiddos can also enjoy a water area just for them.

However, there are some major differences in what's offered at each hotel.

What’s Different

Pixar Place Hotel has 1 large rooftop pool, the Pixel Pool, with a 186-foot long slide inspired by Nemo and his underwater friends. Additionally, the kiddos can get their feet wet at Nemo's Cove, a splash zone with fountains and whimsical images of Nemo and his friends.

Disneyland Hotel, on the other hand, has 3 pools. The E-Ticket Pool is a large pool area with decorative signs resembling theme park tickets. Along with it are 2 Monorail waterslides (180-foot, 80-foot) resembling the original Mark 1 Monorail Trains at Disneyland. There's also a 2-lane mini slide and small pool with pop jets, fountains, and a surging waterfall. for the smaller kiddos. The 2nd pool is the D-Ticket Pool, a lap pool for guests wanting more of a structured workout. Here, you can also rent poolside cabanas for your party.

Finally, Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa has a total of 4 pools. Both the Fountain Pool and Mariposa Pool are where guests can relax right next to Storyteller's Cafe. The Redwood Pool is a the main pool area with a 90-foot waterslide curving around a giant redwood tree stump. There's also a mickey Mouse-shaped children's pool for the kiddos to enjoy and several spa whirlpools to relax in. And here, you can also rent poolside cabanas for your party.

From the pool areas, Pixar Place Hotel has significantly less to offer for guests.

Recreation at Each Hotel

If you're looking for even more activities to do while staying at your Disneyland Resort hotel, there are plenty of recreation options to choose from. Let's go over what you can expect at each hotel.

What’s Similar

Each hotel gives you access to the following offerings. At each hotel, you have access to a fitness center, which includes several treadmills, a rowing machine, stationary bicycles, and free weights. You also have access to the movie nights at several locations around the resort. Finally, you have access to a number of fitness classes put on through the Tenaya Stone Spa, which include:

• Power Walking through DCA
• DVC Adventure Walk in DCA
• Disney Ears Yoga at Disneyland
• Yoga in Redwood Creek at DCA
• Adventure Boot Camp

Make sure to review the Tenaya Stone Spa website for a comprehensive list of the fitness class offered and read our review on the fitness classes offered at Disneyland Resort.

What’s Different

There are several differences in what's offered at each hotel.

Pixar Place Hotel houses a special Inside out 2 Exhibit on the 2nd floor atrium. The exhibit is open 24 hours a day and no reservations are required. However, the exhibit is best seen during daylight hours.

Disneyland Hotel holds a special hotel tour showcasing its history, its founders, and the Disney artists who created the magic and turned Walt's dreams into reality. Reservations are required. Disneyland Hotel also houses several fitness classes put on through Tenaya Stone Spa, including:

• DVC Mindful Morning Magic Yoga
• Magical Ride – Group Cycling

Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is where all the recreation action happens. The hotel offers a guided tour on how the Arts and Crafts Movement influenced the hotel's architecture and design. Reservations are required and the tour is only open to Disneyland Resort hotel guests. Along with housing the Tenaya Stone Spa, where you can select from a number of different relaxing treatments to reinvigorate your body. There are also several fitness classes put on at this hotel, including:

• Paddleboard Yoga
• Paddleboard fitness
• Breathe – Sound Meditation
• Stretch Before the Magic!
• Grand Boot Camp
• Yoga Burn

It's important to note that guests staying at any of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels are able to take any of the fitness classes listed even though they are held at different hotels.

Price to Stay at Each Hotel

Ultimately, price is the major factor affecting the majority of Disney guests when it comes to staying at a Disney resort.

Make no mistake: a Disney vacation can be costly. And the larger your party is, the more costly it can get. When you add up the cost of theme park tickets, food, beverages, the optional add-ons (Lightning Lane, PhotoPass), and merchandise, you're likely to come up with a hefty budget. On top of that, transportation and lodging tends to be the most costly part of your trip.

This is why we left price comparisons last in this review.

Having a good understanding of what's offered at each resort is crucial to help you understand the price to stay there. Otherwise, you might be steered away from reading about each hotel if you started by reading about their prices.

Now that we've covered the offerings at each hotel, let's go over price.

What’s Similar

When compared to the hotels at Walt Disney World, the prices for each Disneyland Resort hotel put them at a Moderate Level hotel or higher. When comparing the numbers, this means that you can expect to pay at least $350 or more to stay at an on-site Disneyland Resort hotel.

When it comes to price however, this is the only similarity between the 3 hotels.

What’s Different

Pixar Place Hotel is the cheapest hotel at Disneyland Resort, with prices at around $400 per night or higher depending on the room type and time of year you stay there. You may be able to find nightly prices slightly less than $400, but generally, this is where prices start.

Disneyland Hotel is in the middle of the 3 hotels, with prices starting at around $550 per night, again depending on the room type and time of year you stay there.

Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is the most expensive of the 3 hotels, with prices starting at around $600 per night, depending on the room type and time of year you stay there. However, average prices tend to be more: $700 per night or higher.

This places Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa consistently several hundred dollars higher than Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place Hotel.

Which Hotel is Best for You?

Each hotel at Disneyland Resort offers you a chance to experience a seamless Disney vacation.

Staying inside the “Disney bubble” not only puts you closer to the theme parks. It gives you 24hr access to Disney theming and attention-to-detail in its architecture, design, and amenities. It also gives you constant access to the unbeatable and coveted Disney service. It also gives you access to extra-magical offerings such as Early Entry, outdoor movie nights, and the Tenaya Stone Spa.

However, there are unique distinctions between each hotel that may better suit you depending on what your preferences are.

Choose Pixar Place Hotel If…

You want the amenities, service, and perks of staying in the “Disney bubble” but are on a budget.

Remember though, budget in this case is a relative term. Prices for Pixar Place Hotel start at around $400 per night, which is no small price. But if this is within your budget, this is the best place to go.

Additionally, you should stay at Pixar Place Hotel if you want the Pixar experience. With every detail embracing the “artistry of Pixar,” you'll find everything from artwork and decorations highlighting how artists brought Pixar movies to life. For reference, the hotel is similar in theming to Lamplight Lounge.

Finally, you should stay at Pixar Place Hotel if you want closer access to Disney California Adventure Park. With your own exclusive entrance into the theme park, Pixar Place Hotel puts you even closer than Disneyland Hotel.

Choose Disneyland Hotel If…

You're looking for the classic Disneyland experience and have a larger budget to play with.

Disneyland Hotel may not be the closest hotel to the theme parks, but with it being the original hotel at Disneyland Resort, pays homage to the Disneyland of yesteryear but with a modern touch. Its theming gives you the nostalgia and emotion of enjoying the magic of the theme park. In fact, one of the most popular decorative pieces at Disneyland Hotel is the bed's headboard – a beautiful carving of Sleeping Beauty Castle with fireworks in the background. And the best part? The fireworks light up and plays the classic “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

Many of its amenities might draw you in too, including the Monorail slides, complete with a classic “Disneyland” sign. Disneyland Hotel is also where Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is located, giving you convenient access to the popular tiki bar and lounge. You may even want to stay here if you're looking to stay at one of the newest DVC villas Disney has to offer.

Choose Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa If…

You're looking for an even more elevated Disney aesthetic and have a much larger budget to play with.

Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is unequivocally the closest hotel to either Disney theme park, literally situated along Downtown Disney District. It also has its own separate entrance into Disney California Adventure Park. Pair this with Early Entry, and you have the most convenience hotel on Disneyland Resort property.

Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa also boasts something that the other 2 hotels don't: subtle-but-elegant Disney theming. With a focus on Craftsman-style detail, this hotel gives you the feeling of staying in a luxurious lodge at a California national park. With tete-a-tete chairs, upholstered sofas, and coffee tables with beautiful woodwork, you initially wouldn't think this was a Disney hotel. But if you look closely, you'll find plenty of hidden Mickeys around the hotel.

Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is also where the best dining options reside. With the fanciest table-service restaurant on Disney property located here, you won't be disappointed by Napa Rose. And with 2 lounge/bars inside the hotel, you have even more choices to relax and sip on an adult beverage after your day at the theme parks.

So, where are you staying next?

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