We spent hours at the new Pixar Shorts Court, and we cannot wait to go back. Keep reading for five reasons why we adored this one-of-a-kind play deck at Pixar Place Hotel. At the end of this post, we also have a few tips for making the most out of your Pixar Shorts Court time.
We swept stars with “La Luna” Shuffle Board.
Every game on the Pixar Shorts Court is themed to a particular Pixar short film. On the “La Luna” Shuffle Board Court, we played classic shuffle board with a sparkling twist: the discs were topped with stars! This was the first game that enticed our kids, and they had a blast “sweeping stars” like Bambino.
We loved “Bao” Toss for the design and the fun.
Did our family love “La Luna” Shuffle Board or “Bao” Toss more? Well, it was a toss-up. The theming on the “Bao” Toss game was superb. We liked that this game and all of the others on the Pixar Shorts Court were easily adjusted for various skill levels. Our littlest athlete could join in the fun by just standing closer to the steamer baskets. We loved tossing the sweet-faced dumplings into appreciated the charmingly steamer baskets. Luckily, our kids did not try to recreate the game at our Din Tai Fung dinner that night!
We borrowed chess boards AND blocks.
At the Pixar Shorts Court, you borrow the play equipment from a Pixar Place Hotel cast member stationed nearby. When we went to borrow chess pieces for “Gerri’s Game,” we discovered that we could also borrow a bin of Duplo blocks! The Duplo blocks were a nice surprise, and a good alternative to chess for our younger players. Some “fallen” chess pieces even ended-up taking a ride on the Duplo train. Together, we blissfully played chess and blocks in the shade of a tree. It was a nice way to play together but with activities tailored to our various ages.
Colorful mazes and a patch of turf made space for free play.
We are convinced that making time for imaginative free-play is key to a great Disneyland visit with kids. Staying at Pixar Place Hotel meant we had both time AND space for creative play. There is a patch of turf in the Pixar Shorts Court. Our kids were all giggles as they skipped, flipped and ran over the iconic Pixar ball painted on the turf. We also liked the painted mazes themed to “Burrow” and “For the Birds.” All of these bright and playful spaces gave our kids room to stretch their legs and get silly.
The Blue Umbrella, strings of star lights, and all of the Pixar Shorts Court theming.
The Pixar Shorts Court is a dream come true for anyone who loved Pixar films. From the strings of star lights, to the shady “Blue Umbrella” and bright color scheme, everything here is meticulously themed. Fans of the Pixar Shorts will find delightful surprises here.
We cannot wait to return to the Pixar Shorts Court at Pixar Place Hotel. Hopefully this list gives you a peek into what makes it so fun!
The Pixar Place Hotel is a dynamic reinvention of the former Paradise Pier Hotel. We loved our stay here. For advice on choosing a Disneyland Resort Hotel, we recommend this post. For general planning advice, check-out our Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep guide.
Finally…
We do have a few tips for getting the best out of your time at the Pixar Shorts Court:
- Be sure to check the hours: the cast member attendant is not always on duty, and you will need to borrow equipment to play most of the games.
- The rooftop location means that this area can feel extra cold and windy in the winter and extra hot in the summer. For hot days, the morning is a good time to visit the Pixar Shorts Court, because the taller portion of the hotel shades most of the deck. If you get too hot, the Finding Nemo pool is right on the same pool deck! If you get too cold, you can always check-out the nearby fire-pits modeled after famous Pixar “hot heads” like Uku from “Lava” and Anger from Inside Out.
- Be prepared for slow elevators. Unfortunately, the elevators at Pixar Place Hotel can get very busy, and they are the only way to reach the lobby or higher floors from the third-floor roof deck. If you are trying to exit around check-in time, you may be in for a long wait.
- Restrooms are in the same building as the Small Bytes restaurant directly beside the Pixar Shorts Court. You can also find a drinking fountain and water bottle filler on the pool deck. So fortunately, you might not need to go back to your room after all!
Thanks for reading!