If you have a September stay booked at Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort, there's an important update to factor into your vacation plans. Disney has scheduled a staggered refurbishment of the hotel's pool amenities that will affect guests throughout much of the month — and for families who were counting on a splash-filled resort afternoon, it's worth knowing the details before you arrive.
What's Closed and When
According to Disney's official Pixar Place Hotel recreation page, two separate refurbishment windows are currently listed:
- The pool and spa are closed for refurbishment from September 8 through September 19, 2026.
- Crush's Surfin' Slide and the splash pad remain unavailable through September 25, 2026.
That staggered schedule means some September guests will spend their entire stay without access to the hotel's waterslide or children's splash area. The Finding Nemo-inspired rooftop space is a signature part of the Pixar Place Hotel experience, so this is a meaningful disruption for families who build hotel downtime into their Disneyland vacation.
A Quick Note on Naming
There's one small wrinkle worth flagging. Disney's closure notice still uses the legacy names — "Paradise Pool," "Paradise Spa," and "Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel" — even though it appears on the current Pixar Place Hotel page. Elsewhere on that same page, Disney identifies the rooftop pool as Pixel Pool. If you need to confirm exact amenity access, it's best to check directly with Disneyland Resort before your arrival.
Families with Young Kids Feel the Longest Impact
For parents traveling with little ones, September 19 isn't the finish line. Crush's Surfin' Slide and the splash pad stay under refurbishment for six additional days, through September 25. When Disney unveiled the Pixar Place transformation, it specifically highlighted the Finding Nemo water-play area — including Nemo's Cove and Crush's Surfin' Slide, which stretches 186 feet — as central to the hotel's identity. Those are exactly the features that will be unavailable for much of the month.
To be clear, Disney has not indicated this is anything other than a temporary refurbishment with published end dates. But the practical result is the same: the hotel's most kid-focused water recreation is off the table for a significant stretch of September.
The Timing: Right in the Middle of Halloween Time
What makes this more than a routine maintenance note is the calendar. Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort runs from August 21 through October 31, 2026, bringing seasonal attractions, entertainment, food, and decorations across the resort. Disney is even advertising Monsters, Inc.-themed Halloween décor at Pixar Place Hotel this year.
Seasonal demand has been high. Standard 2026 Oogie Boogie Bash tickets have already sold out, according to a recent report, leaving the D23-exclusive September 27 event as the remaining advertised option at that time. For guests already committed to September trips, adjusting dates isn't simple — party tickets, park reservations, and airfare all factor in. That's exactly why checking the pool schedule before arrival matters more than discovering the closure after check-in.
Guests should keep an eye on Disneyland's official Pixar Place Hotel pool page, as Disney notes that pool hours, slide operating times, and lifeguard availability can vary and are subject to change.
Context: A Hotel Built Around Its Pixar Amenities
Pixar Place Hotel officially opened under its current identity on January 30, 2024, following the transformation of Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. Disney called it the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States and positioned its rooftop Finding Nemo recreation as a centerpiece of the property. That's part of why temporary amenity losses carry extra weight here — the hotel is marketed around its Pixar design and themed rooftop experience.
This refurbishment also comes alongside other recent changes at the property. Earlier this year, Pixar Place Hotel guests lost the property's dedicated Disney California Adventure entrance when Disneyland adjusted hotel-guest benefits. Disneyland hotel refurbishments aren't unusual — other resort properties have seen scheduled work as Disney updates its hotel portfolio — but the combination of changes is worth noting for guests planning their stay.
The hotel does still list other recreation options, including Pixar Shorts Court activities and hotel guest activities. Those can help fill downtime, but they aren't a direct substitute for swimming, a waterslide, or a splash pad on a warm Southern California afternoon.
What to Do If You're Arriving in September
The key dates to keep in mind are September 19 (when the pool and spa refurbishment is listed to end) and September 25 (when Crush's Surfin' Slide and the splash pad are expected to reopen). Disney has not announced a permanent closure of any of these amenities.
If you're arriving before those dates, it's worth planning resort afternoons around park time, dining, or other hotel activities rather than counting on the rooftop water features. And even if you're arriving after those dates, it's a good idea to verify operating status shortly before check-in, since refurbishment schedules can shift.
The most important thing to remember: Pixar Place Hotel itself remains open. This is a temporary, limited disruption to specific recreation amenities — but for families who chose the hotel in part because of its Finding Nemo pool deck, it's a meaningful change to September vacation plans.