Hi Krystina!
Welcome to planDisney! Your visit to the Happiest Place on Earth is just a few weeks away, and as a fellow East Coaster, I know I would be excited to trade in the chilly weather for some magic.
You're going to love staying at the
Pixar Place Hotel. Not only are you surrounded by the characters and stories you love, you'll also get the added benefit of staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, which includes pixie-dusted extras. First things first though, let's find you a toaster! I confirmed with a Cast Member in Guest Services, that Guests have access to toasters at
The Sketch Pad Café. This is a quick service restaurant located in the lobby of the hotel with a seating area as well as grab-and-go style offerings. Their Balance Boxes are a great way to quickly grab a healthy snack to take with you when you're on your way into the parks.
As you are planning, let's take a look at some of those extras I mentioned. As a Guest of a Disneyland Resort Hotel, you'll have access to
Early Entry that allows you 30 magical minutes inside the park ahead of opening. Only one park per day hosts Early Entry, so you'll want to check the
Hours and Events Calendar which will specify which park has this option for the day.
Perhaps the best perk of all is your very own special entrance to
California Adventure Park located just across the street from the hotel. While there is signage to point you in the right direction, during my last stay, I found it helpful to ask a Cast Member as well.
I personally love to not schedule too much on our arrival day. It's in the slower moments where we tend to find the most magic. I use this day to explore the hotel, sit by the pool, and take a moment to earmark any
activities that sound fun in and around the resort. You will be arriving right in time for the
Lunar New Year festivities. While I was exploring the website just now, I noticed that The Sketch Pad Café hosts it's very own Lunar New Year crafting activity on Fridays during the season while the
Grand Californian has special performances and appearances by Mulan on certain days! The Grand Californian is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Pixar Place and is a beautiful resort to explore as well. When you check in, be sure to ask the Cast Member for a list of resort activities. Sometimes these are also posted in the lobby and I usually snap a quick photo for quick reference.
Krystina, there is so much magic ahead of you. If you have any more questions in your planning, please feel free to come back to see us here at
planDisney.
In faith, trust, and pixie dust,
Tara