Mickey’s Fun Wheel, from left, The Cove and Ariel’s Grotto closes as part of a re-theme to Pixar Pier, according to Disneyland officials. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Most of Paradise Pier will close effective Jan. 8 and will later be re-themed as Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Most of Paradise Pier will close effective Jan. 8 and will later be re-themed as Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mickey’s Fun Wheel, from left, The Cove and Ariel’s Grotto closes as part of a re-theme to Pixar Pier, according to Disneyland officials. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Cove Bar, located above Ariel’s Grotto, overlooks Paradise Bay. The lounge bar will close and the area will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“Thanks for visiting Paradise Pier we miss you already.” the sign reads. It’s framed by Chip and Dale socks. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests prepare to launch on California Screamin’ which closes Jan. 8 at Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier. They have an audience on right cheering them on. The attraction will be re-themed and a good section of Paradise Pier will transform into Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests scream one of the last times on California Screamin’ at Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier. The attraction will be re-themed and closes Jan. 8. Paradise Pier will transform into Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The circus master hovers over guests at Sideshow Shirts in Paradise Pier. The shop will be closing and this particular area will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests circle scream California Screamin’ for one of the final times. However Toy Story Midway Mania! will remain at Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier. California Screamin’ will be re-themed and closes beginning Jan. 8. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Paradise Pier’s landscape, bottom half, will be re-themed to Pixar Pier. Cars Land, the top half, will remain at Disney California Adventure. It is viewed from Mickey’s Fun Wheel which will close beginning Jan. 8. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mickey’s Fun Wheel compartments will be changed to Pixar charactesr. This Paradise Pier attraction will close as part of a re-theme to Pixar Pier, according to Disneyland officials. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The compartment in Mickey’s Fun Wheel will be changed to Pixar characters. This Paradise Pier attraction will close as part of a re-theme to Pixar Pier, according to Disneyland officials. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests occupy their time with selfies, cellphones and romance as they wait in line at Paradise Pier Ice Cream, Company. The snack shop closes beginning Jan. 8. This area will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A vanilla and chocolate soft swirl from Paradise Pier Ice Cream, Company is set against a nostalgic billboard and children waiting in line. The Disney California Adventure snack shop closes beginning Jan. 8. This area will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A two-fisted ice cream eater alternates between cones at Paradise Pier Ice Cream, Company. The Disney California Adventure Paradise Pier snack shop closes beginning Jan. 8 and will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Paradise Pier Ice Cream, Company in Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier closes beginning Jan. 8. This area will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
From Paradise to Pixar. Sun sets on Ariel’s Grotto and Cove Bar which are some of the many places to close beginning Jan. 8. A Pixar Pier-themed land will open at Disney California Adventure next summer, according to Disneyland officials. Paradise Gardens, Silly Symphony Swings, Jumping Jellyfish, GoofyÕs Sky School, Golden Zephyr and The Little Mermaid ~ ArielÕs Undersea Adventure Ð will become a new land called Paradise Park. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Belle “(Beauty and the Beast”) twirls with little princesses at Disney California Adventure’s Ariel’s Grotto. The princess-themed restaurant will close. It reopens this summer as part of Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“Beauty and the Beast”‘s Belle shows a princess-in-training a royal move at ArielÕs Grotto. Belle also demonstrates how to twirl properly at the Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure, restaurant. Standing dolphins hold the entrance of Ariel’s Grotto, which will close. This area will be re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ariel’s Grotto offered a three-course meal including this spinach salad with pecans. The Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure, restaurant closes at the end of Sunday, Jan. 7. The new area being re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ariel’s Grotto offered a three-course meal finishing with a trio of desserts including Chocolate Mousse. The Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure, restaurant will be closing with the new area being re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ariel’s Grotto offered a a sweeting ending of white chocolate dipped Madeleines, Chocolate Mousse Cake and Creme Brulee for its three-course meal. The Paradise Pier, Disney California Adventure, restaurant will close with the new area being re-themed as Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A good section of Paradise Pier will re-theme into Pixar Pier by summer 2018, according to Disneyland officials. Ariel’s Grotto, where guests rub elbows with Disney princesses, and the Cove Bar will both close. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests wait for doors to open at Ariel’s Grotto in Paradise Pier, California Adventure. The restaurant closes and will transform into a Pixar Pier themed land in the summer of 2018, according to Disneyland officials. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Snow White signs autographs and poses from pictures at Ariel’s Grotto which will no longer be “Part of Your World.” It will close with much of Paradise Pier will be re-themed to Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Register columnist Marla Jo Fisher, right, Ariel and Fisher’s daughter Curly Girl,18, left, with the teen’s favorite Disney character Ariel The Fisher’s revisit the princess-driven dining restaurant after several years to reminiscent and say goodbye to Ariel’s Grotto which will close to make way for a re-themed as the new Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The walk-in Cove Bar, above top right, and Ariel’s Grotto overlook Paradise Bay at Disney California Adventure. Cove Bar last day of operation is Jan. 7. Much of Paradise will be re-themed to Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
On Jan. 8, a majority of Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier will shut down, to be re-themed as Pixar Pier, celebrating Disney’s Pixar movies. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The table on right is the best seat in the house for the Cove Bar. Cove Bar’s last day of operation is Jan. 7. Much of Paradise will be re-themed to Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A spiral staircase connects the walk-in Cove Bar (top floor) and Ariel’s Grotto. The Paradise Pier restaurants, overlooking Paradise Bay at Disney California Adventure, will close on Jan. 8 for a re-theme of Paradise Pier to a Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The walk-in Cove Bar, pictured, and Ariel’s Grotto, last operating day is Sunday., Jan 7. Much of Paradise will be re-themed to Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Cove Bar is open, airy and often with a long line to get into the lounge overlooking Paradise Bay at Disney California Adventure. The Cove Bar and Ariel’s Grotto’s, locate on the bottom floor, last day of operation is Jan. 7. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Paradise Pier’s Mickey’s Fun Wheel, left, and California Screamin’ will close on Jan. 8 and be re-themed as Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Blue13 Dance Company celebrates Diwali with traditional folk dance. A couple young girls ran up to the woman dancers to pose with pictures and give them a hug. The Bollywood party is a colorful contrast to Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An Indian dancer’s expressive hands mimic sun’s rays at California Screamin.’ Blue13 Dance Company was part of the cultural celebration kicking off Disneyland Resort’s holiday festivities on Fri., Nov. 10. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Games of the Boardwalk, California Screamin’, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, and Sideshow Shirts, right, will close for a re-themed Pixar Pier. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People flooded into Disney California Adventure today to bid goodbye to some of the park’s most iconic rides and places, which will be disappearing as Disney eliminates its Paradise Pier district.
The Paradise Pier section of the park was one of the main attractions when the park opened to the public on Feb. 8, 2001. Designed to look like a classic California amusement pier from the golden age of the 1920s, it includes some of California Adventure’s most popular rides such as the California Screamin’ roller coaster and Mickey’s Fun Wheel Ferris wheel. Along with the Ariel’s Grotto restaurant and the Cove Bar, the area will be shut down for around six months while it’s remodeled into distinct new neighborhoods celebrating Pixar movies.
By 8:30 a.m. hundreds of people were already in line to have a last cocktail at the Cove Bar overlooking the pier, including Darlene Kenworthy and Martinique Folkeringa of Anaheim and their friend Aprille Curtis of Burbank.
“We already went on Screamin’ and got our Fastpasses for souvenirs,” Kenworthy said, referring to the paper slips that visitors can get to return for a later ride. She didn’t plan to use it, but to keep it for her memory book. “This is the last time to experience it.”
Closing down starting Jan. 8, most will reopen with new Pixar themes
California Screamin’
Mickey’s Fun Wheel
Games of the Boardwalk
Sideshow Shirts
Ariel’s Grotto
Cove Bar
Treasures in Paradise (merchandise shop)
Paradise Pier Ice Cream Co.
Still open for business
Silly Symphony Swings
Jumping Jellyfish
Goofy’s Sky Schoool
Golden Zephyr
Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
King Triton Carousel
Toy Story Midway Mania!
This latest major renovation continues the trend of deemphasizing the theme of California in the park, where officials have struggled to reinvent it after a rocky start. When the area reopens to the public in the summer, possibly by June, it will be divided into three distinct neighborhoods based on Pixar movies. A preview of the new area will be available starting April 13 for a first-ever Pixar Fest celebration.
The Incredibles neighborhood will include the former California Screamin’ but redecorated with a new theme from the comic superhero Incredibles movie.
The area around Mickey’s Fun Wheel will be a mashup celebrating various Pixar characters and movies, as yet to be announced. The Toy Story ride will remain here, as it was a Pixar production and remains popular. The Ferris wheel will be freshened up with new characters on the gondolas.
Another neighborhood at the existing arcade area will feature characters from the movie “Inside Out.” Details have not yet been announced. Plans for remodeling Ariel’s Grotto and the Cove Bar have also been kept under wraps.
“The food needs to change, because the menu was tired,” Folkeringa said. “I used to love the lobster nachos but I can’t stand them anymore.”
Artist Concept of the entrance to the new Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure. Courtesy of the Walt Disney Co. 2017. Artist concept of the new Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. Courtesy of Walt Disney Co.
