TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Something we often take for granted in high-rise hotels is the elevators. 2-10 times a day you will need to ascend and descend to do everything from get your morning coffee, to get out and enjoy your day. That's why this hotel stay was unfortunately plagued by an "innovative" elevator system that never once considered human behaviour. Each time we left and came back to our room, we had 5-20+(!!) minute waits for the elevator. By pressing a touchpad (which often mistakes which number you press), you're directed to a lettered elevator. The idea is that the elevator system will programme the most "efficient" path and number of floors to visit. However, this does not work. Whenever a guest upstairs gets frustrated with their wait, they push the button again. Causing another elevator to be assigned to that floor. Whenever a new guest arrives in the lobby to join the crowd of guests waiting to ascend, they press their button and add to the queue. Not to mention that the system is also assigning 9+ floors to an elevator that can only hold 8 guests at most. Throw in wheelchairs, strollers, and children, there is no reasonable way for these elevators to accommodate the needed capacity. Elevators don't have buttons in them, so often call at floors where either no one is waiting, or no one is getting off, further adding to the chaos. The issue is widely known by the cast members, which only begs the question; why oh why has this system not been replaced by a traditional 'push button for floor in elevator' system by now? With all the money that Disney has, this is just a blatant disregard for the guest experience in order to save on budgets. Frankly, an appalling choice by management. Even the fact that there are no stairs available to those able guests who may be happy to walk downstairs or a few flights upstairs, means there's added pressure when everyone simply has to use the elevators. The hotel rooms are comfortable, our premium view was very enjoyable, and the hotel offers some great on-site amenities, with the benefit of close proximity to Downtown Disney and the theme parks. However, none of that matters when you're paying $600+ per night to spend 20+ minutes of each day waiting for elevators that are already full with frustrated guests. This system simply needs to be fixed as a matter of urgency, even by opening a staircase to ease some of that frustration and pressure on the elevators. The fact it hasn't been resolved after being a known issue, means I just can't recommend staying here.

This week we had a family vacation at Disney for a triple birthday celebration. While the kids loved the parks, our trip was completely derailed by a lice infestation at The Pixar Place Hotel. We arrived on 4/19. Everything seemed fine until 4/20, when the hotel serviced our room with "clean" sheets while we were at the park. On the morning of 4/21, I went to style my 2.5 year olds hair and found her head crawling with lice. We were in total disbelief. We spent our morning treating everyone with medicated shampoo instead of being at the parks. When I informed the front desk, the receptionist’s response was incredibly dismissive: “I suggest you check out now and take care of your daughter’s issue.” There was no apology or offer to help—just a suggestion that we leave. After calling Disney Resorts to complain, the hotel finally agreed to deep-clean the room and provide fresh bedding. However, when we returned that evening, we found another live louse right on top of the "clean" sheets. Simultaneously, my in-laws (staying in a separate room) found multiple lice crawling on their new bedding as well. At that point, we were done. We packed up and checked out at 9:30 PM that night. The front desk gave us an email for "Guest Claims," but despite reaching out, we have yet to hear back regarding a refund or remedy for this health hazard. If anyone has plans to stay at that hotel, I suggest otherwise!

We really enjoyed our time at the Pixar! The atmosphere was so fun (images of characters everywhere, down to the pillows in the beds) and my daughter absolutely loved it. The other reviews are true too. The pool can get a little crowded and there can be a wait for an elevator but there were ways around them (we rode the water slide or just jumped in the pool and didn’t care - the elevators we took the stairs instead). Was happy to trade these little inconveniences for a comfortable bed, seeing the characters in the lobby and the joy my kiddo got from the whole experience.

By far the worst hotel to stay at for such a great experience as visiting Disneyland. We have been going the past 3 years as an annual family trip. We wanted to try Pixar Place as it looked cool for the kids to experience the Pixar themed rooms. First of all, the elevator system is terrible! There is really no system at all and you wait forever no matter what time of day or night it is. Secondly the housekeeping was worse. Anyone that has kids and you are out all day is exhausting and to come back after a full day to a clean room is the best feeling. We paid highly for these rooms and came back everyday to dirty rooms. All that was done were the beds were made and the trash was taken out. We came back to dirty floors, dirty coffee cups in the room, no clean towels, and the shower was backing up. We called to let someone know everysingle day, nothing was done about it. I finally called and asked if I could borrow the vacuum cleaner and do it myself. They brought one up and I vacuumed my room myself, then asked for a trash bag and took it out myself, gathered up the dirty coffee cups and dirty towels and took them out. For the price these rooms are I really expected more. Such a huge disappointment. We will be booking at the Disney Hotel next year and every year after.

We recently stayed at the Pixar Place Hotel to celebrate my parents' birthdays, and it served as an excellent base for our children’s first Disney experience. For families with children under 10, the themed environment and logistical perks make it a standout choice, though there are some functional bottlenecks to keep in mind. Highlights & Successes • Exceptional Convenience: The ability to walk directly into the parks and return to the room for midday naps was invaluable. We also took full advantage of the Early Entry benefit, which allowed us to experience popular attractions before the general public. • The Creators Club: This was a significant highlight of our stay. The kids enjoyed eating several meals here each day, which offered substantial savings compared to dining inside the park. • Family-Focused Atmosphere: The rooms were both spacious and clean, comfortably accommodating our group. The kids spent a great deal of time hunting for their favorite Pixar characters hidden throughout the hotel's decor. • Seamless Logistics: We opted to shuttle from Long Beach and did not require a car for the duration of the trip, which made the experience much more relaxing. Considerations for Your Stay • Elevator & Lobby Congestion: Consistent with many other reviews, the elevators can be a struggle. During peak hours, the lobby becomes a "hot mess" with long wait times. When we weren't with my parents or managing strollers, we frequently opted to walk the stairs to avoid the crowds. • Pool & Amenities: While the pool area is charming for younger children, those seeking more expansive water features might find the pools at the Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian more robust. Note that if the Pixar slides are down for maintenance, the resort typically provides a shuttle to a sister property to use their facilities. • Age Demographics: The hotel is perfectly tailored for the under-10 demographic. Older children or teens might find the amenities a bit limited compared to the larger neighboring resorts. Final Verdict The Pixar Place Hotel delivers a high-quality, stress-free experience for families with young children. Despite the elevator logistics, the combination of the Creators Club value, the proximity to the gates, and the immersive Pixar theme makes it a fantastic option for a first-time Disney visit. We would certainly recommend it for the convenience and the joy it brought our kids.