You’ve seen me post about it for the last few months and now it is completed, the refurbishment from California Adventure’s Pacific Wharf, a cannery/Fisherman’s wharf themed food court area, to now San Fransokyo Square. The refurbishment is based on the Disney Marvel 3D animated movie and TV series, Big Hero 6.
The Pacific Wharf has not been touched theming wise since opening day of California Adventure in 2001 as a food court. This refurbishment breathes new life to a tired area.
This video was shot on a GoPro Hero 9 attached to my backpack strap for hand free filming. Filming of my lunch was shot on my iPhone.
The movie is set in an alternate universe where Japanese immigrants had much more influence on the architecture redesign of San Francisco after the great 1906 earthquake that destroyed most of the city from the quakes and fires. In the present day, Hiro, a robotics genius, teams up with his brother’s friends & health care robot, Baymax to save the city from evil doers as the Big Hero 6.
The most notable change is the repaint of the simple blue box bridge to the recreation of the San Fransokyo Golden Gate Bridge, which is designed after a Torii gate. All the buildings have been repainted with new designs & murals, taking notes from the movies such as the characters, areas of the city, sports teams, and even the DJ who programmed the area background music. The background music is now modern Japanese pop music, vs. easy listening music from around the world when the area was the Pacific Wharf.
Restaurants stayed the same for the most part as Lucky Fortune Cookery & Cocina Cucamonga, but with new Japanese inspired dishes. Pacific Wharf Cafe was renamed to Aunt Cass Cafe, named after Hiro aunt who runs a cafe in the Big Hero 6 series. Sourdough bread production still remains by Boudins and the bread factory tour. Rita Blenders, which served margaritas, was rebranded to be Rita Turbine Blenders as there is a koi fish turbine on top.
The Karl Strauss beer cart was relocated into a portion of Cocina Cucamonga as a permanent stand, known as Port of San Fransokyo Square Cervicia (Spanish for brewery.) Past the Cocina is the San Fransokyo Makers Market, the Big Hero 6 merchandise store with phone cases, plushies, tshirts, mugs, and more.
In the former beer cart spot is the meet & greet area with Hiro & Baymax, however, they do occasionally switch out, so you could get one or both at any time.
Overall, it was great that Disney decided to refurbish the Pacific Wharf as it breathes new life to an area that barely has been touched theming wise since opening day with refreshed menus, stores, and meet & greet.
AntSol Travel 