Pixar Pier is a themed land at Disney California Adventure, based on that of Victorian boardwalks that were once found along the coast of California. Despite its name and the presence of a nearby human-made lake, Pixar Pier is not actually a pier, but a waterside area of the park. Incredicoaster sprawls across much of the area, with various other attractions and forms of entertainment scattered around it.
The area opened as Paradise Pier in 2001 along with the rest of the theme park. A new attraction, Toy Story Midway Mania!, opened on June 17, 2008. The attraction was the first in a series of theming upgrades to the land and park as a whole. This was followed by changes to the Sun Wheel to become Mickey's Fun Wheel, removing the ears of the Mickey head behind California Screamin’s vertical loop, and new Games of the Boardwalk in 2009.
Part of Paradise Pier was reimagined as Pixar Pier, which opened on June 23, 2018.
History
When the park first opened in 2001, Paradise Pier originally resembled a modern seaside amusement park, similar to that of the Santa Monica Pier, or Santa Cruz Boardwalk. As part of the Disney California Adventure $1.1 billion expansion project, Paradise Pier was re-themed to evoke the charm of Victorian era seaside amusement parks of the 1920s.
The first change was the addition of Toy Story Midway Mania!, which opened on June 17, 2008. The boardwalk games were then re-themed to incorporate more familiar Disney characters (completed on April 7, 2009), and the Sun Wheel was transformed into Mickey's Fun Wheel with a new color scheme, new lighting effects, and a "pie-eyed" Mickey Mouse face replacing the original sun face (completed on May 4, 2009). Following these changes, the "Route 66" area was completely re-themed, with the "S.S. ", and "Dinosaur Jack's Sunglass Shack" being completely demolished. The Orange Stinger underwent extensive re-theming to become Silly Symphony Swings, based on Walt Disney's 1935 short film The Band Concert. Silly Symphony Swings opened on May 28, 2010. Cosmetic changes were also made to California Screamin': the Mickey Mouse silhouette was altered to represent a sunburst pattern, with a large Paradise Pier sign hanging above the loop, and the scream tubes were also repainted a darker shade of blue.
On June 23, 2018, part of Paradise Pier would reopen as Pixar Pier, inspired by films from Pixar Animation Studios. California Screamin' became the Incredicoaster, Mickey's Fun Wheel opened as the Pixar Pal-A-Round, with Pixar characters on its gondolas. The Luxo Jr. animatronic was installed on the top of Pixar Pier's marquee, four months later, in October. Jessie's Critter Carousel opened in 2019 taking the place of King Triton's carousel. The Maliboomer closed in 2010 and was unused garden space until it was replaced by the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind attraction in 2019.
Attractions
Games of Pixar Pier
Jessie's Critter Carousel
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
Incredicoaster
Pixar Pal-A-Round
Toy Story Midway Mania!
Restaurants
Lamplight Lounge
Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums
Poultry Palace
Angry Dogs
Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats
Señor Buzz Churros
Shops
Knick's Knacks
Midway Mercantile
Bing Bong's Sweet Stuff
Shows & Park Entertainment
Operation: Playtime! - featuring the Green Army Patrol
Characters
Mike Wazowski and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. Edna Mode, Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mrs. Incredible from The Incredibles Dug and Russell from Up Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, and Sid from Toy Story Flik and Atta from A Bug's Life Ian and Barley from Onward Joy and Sadness from Inside Out Mei Lee from Turning Red
PhotoPass Locations
Pixar Pier Archway/Bridge
Incredicoaster (on-ride photo)