Aaahhhhhhhhh!  Where to even begin?!  For many Disney fans, Pixar Studios is a supplemental, but oh so necessary part of the Disney company and experience.  It’s like adding avocado to your BLT.  Pixar just makes Disney THAT. MUCH. BETTER.  Omg, Pixar is an avocado. No wonder everyone loves it!😆  So when I got the chance to visit the Pixar campus with some friends, I was ecstatic.

We visited on a Sunday, which was actually really nice because it was completely empty and quiet.  We could take a million photos with no one in the background! 🤗  An added bonus was the warm weather!  If you ever visited or lived in the Bay Area during the summer, then you know that warm days during the “summer” months are like Pixar easter eggs — you only get them once in a while.😉  Cloudless skies meant I could wear a blue dress for my Guido disneybound without hesitation.  I would’ve worn the dress anyways since Chelsea and I planned on being twinsies together, but great weather just made it that much better.  P.S. Loved Cars 3!  See it if you can!

Aside from the multiple Pixar statues that greet you at the entrance, there’s also a trophy case filled with all the awards Pixar has won.  Oscar…oscar…beaten up Woody?  In the far corner, a well-loved Woody, all dirty and missing his boot, was set next to a letter from Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  The cast member explained how a 6 year old boy was given a new Woody doll and rather than throw the old one away, the boy left it at the park’s City Hall so his old Woody could have a great new home and “spend infinity and beyond with Buzz Lightyear.”  I’m sorry, I would go on but it seems I’m on the verge of crying.😩

Of course, there was tons of concept art throughout the building. When we visited, most of the art was for Finding Dory and Cars 3.  We saw everything from pencil sketches to clay models.  Unfortunately, all of this amazing concept art was in a “no photo” zone, so I don’t have any pictures. Sorry!😭 But trust me when I say, it was so cool to see all the different stages of the animation process.  And I guess Pixar made up for it with huge posters and statues that scream “instagram photo op.”😏

And Pixar being Pixar, they also scattered lots of magic throughout the rest of the property.  Halfway through our visit, I headed for the bathroom.  And when I reached the door, instead of the usual female silhouette logo, I spotted a familiar curvy, mom-bob, above-the-knee boot wearing superhero!  She was incredible.😉  But my favorite surprises were the characters that were embedded into the floors!  So while walking around, you could randomly run into some of your favorite characters!

And of course, the pièce de résistance…Luxo Jr. and the Luxo ball!  Erika slayed it and actually disneybounded as the Luxo ball, but by complete accident, we all ended up wearing similar style dresses all in yellow and blue.😳  And guess what, our separate disneybounds then became a singular one.  We. Were. The Luxo ball.  If that isn’t the definition of serendipty, then I don’t know what else is!

I still can’t believe such an amazing company is just across the bridge from me.  A company that not only seeks out talent and creativity, but also encourages personal storytelling, is just so endearing and heartwarming.  And call me a snooty San Francisco native, but I like to think that Pixar employees are often inspired by the Bay Area and somehow weave that into their stories.  Case in point, Inside Out.  Ultimately, I just love the idea that employees of a huge storytelling company that millions of people know, are creating these stories in an area that is tremendously liberal and diverse.  And I like to think that San Francisco’s liberal values make their way into Pixar’s stories; ultimately passing those values along to millions of people.  But that just might be a snooty San Franciscan’s wishful thinking.  But hey, one can dream!😊

ABW