Come Along to Visit Pixar in San Francisco, California

I’ve always wanted visit to San Francisco, CA.  Oh, I’ve passed through the airport en route to other destinations, but I’ve never really explored the city.  So imagine my excitement when I receive the invitation to visit Pixar in San Francisco!  Couple that with roasting marshmallows with Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR filmmakers… meeting legendary actor Kyle MacLachlan (voice of “Riley’s Dad”) from Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT… visiting Google HQ… touring the Walt Disney Family Museum, and I don’t know where to start to get ready.  Here’s where I need your help.  Take a look at the itinerary below, and let me know in the comments what you would like to hear about most during my visit to Pixar in San Francisco.

Edited to add links to posts from this trip:

December 3 MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND – Breaks Science Stereotypes

November 23 Pitching Stories with Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR Writers

November 19 Pixar’s SANJAY’S SUPER TEAM a Trippy Journey into Hindu Culture

November 10 THE GOOD DINOSAUR Evokes Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park

November 5 Back in Headquarters for RILEY’S FIRST DATE on INSIDE OUT Blu-ray

November 4 Walking with Dinos for Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR

November 3 Kyle MacLachlan Shows Paternal Side for Pixar’s INSIDE OUT

October 29 Catching up with Sadness and Bing Bong from INSIDE OUT

October 27 Pixar’s Filmmakers Surprised INSIDE OUT Helps Kids Express Emotions

October 21 Campfire Stories w/ Director Peter Sohn & Creative Team of THE GOOD DINOSAUR

October 19 Walt Disney’s Dream Lives at San Francisco’s Walt Disney Family Museum

October 14 Inside Pixar Studios and Archives for THE GOOD DINOSAUR

October 12 Watch an Exclusive Deleted Scene from Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT

October 8 Discover MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND During World Space Week

Original post from September 23 follows below…

Disney•Pixar San Francisco Event
DISCLOSURE:  I am hosted by Walt Disney Studios on this all expense paid trip to Pixar in San Francisco including airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals to attend this press event and learn more about their films.  All opinions expressed are those of the author.

#GoodDinoEvent

During the trip our group will screen footage of Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR as well as its accompanying short “Sanjay’s Super Team,” and meet with the creators of the films.  Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR opens November 25, and imagines a world where humans and dinosaurs live together and explores the special relationship between a boy (Spot) and his dinosaur (Arlo).  While at Pixar Studios, we’ll join Director Peter Sohn and Producer Denise Ream around a campfire to hear stories from their research trips and roast marshmallows.

the good dinosaur

Director Peter Sohn (L) and producer Denise Ream (R) of THE GOOD DINOSAUR with Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios John Lasseter at the 2015 D23 Expo. Photo by Jesse Grant, courtesy Disney.

“Sanjay’s Super Team” is the featured short in front of Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR, directed by Sanjay Patel.  We’ll also have the chance to meet Sanjay Patel and hear how “Sanjay’s Super Team” is his “mostly true” personal story to understand the Hindu world so important to his parents.

SANJAY'S SUPER TEAM (Concept Art)

Concept art for SANJAY’S SUPER TEAM ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

 

While we have the filmmakers’ attention, what would you most like to know about Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR and/or “Sanjay’s Super Team”?  Share your questions in the comments below.

As curious as I am to learn more about Disney•Pixar’s THE GOOD DINOSAUR and talk with the creators of the film, I’m even more excited to tour Pixar Animation Studios itself, peek inside their archives, and get a glimpse of the exhibit celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal film, TOY STORY.

D23 EXPO 2015

20th Anniversary of Toy Story celebrated at the 2015 D23 Expo, image courtesy Disney.

#InsideOutBloggers

I have a background in neuroscience, and was very excited when I first learned Pixar was developing a film taking us inside the brain.  Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT did not disappoint, and I was so impressed with how the creators depicted the complex inner-workings of the brain and our emotions.

During this trip, we will attend a special press day for the in-home release of Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT (available on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on 10/13, Blu-ray 3D and Combo Pack on 11/3) to interview the filmmakers and voice actors from INSIDE OUT as well as the all-new short film entitled “Riley’s First Date?”

Inside Out Blu-ray

In “Riley’s First Date?” (In-Home Exclusive Animated Short Film), Riley, now 12, is hanging out at home with her parents in San Francisco when potential trouble comes knocking: a boy shows up at the door.  Can Mom and Dad’s emotions handle “Riley’s First Date?”

At Pixar, we will get the chance to talk with “Riley’s First Date?” Director Josh Cooley & Producer Mark Nielsen along with Kyle MacLachlan (voice of “Riley’s Dad”) & Kaitlyn Dias (voice of “Riley”).  WOW! I’ve been a fan of Kyle MacLachlan going back to his role in Blue Velvet (definitely not Disney fare), and love his over-the-top portrayal of Calvin Zabo in ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

RILEY'S FIRST DATE?

RILEY’S FIRST DATE ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved

 

We are also getting the chance to meet and interview Phyllis Smith (voice of “Sadness”), Richard Kind (voice of “Bing Bong”), Director Pete Docter, and Jonas Rivera, Producer of INSIDE OUT.

INSIDE OUT

(L-R): Bing Bong, Sadness, Joy. ©2015 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

INSIDE OUT

(L-R) Producer Jonas Rivera and director Pete Docter of INSIDE OUT, photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez © 2013 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Are there any questions, you, our readers have for any of the filmmakers or voice cast for Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT?  Please share your ideas and questions in the comments below.

#MilesEvent at Google HQ

After meeting with the cast and crew of Disney•Pixar’s INSIDE OUT, we are heading to Google Headquarters for a screening of Disney Junior’s MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND.  Why Google HQ you ask?  Well, they’ve partnered with Disney Junior to emphasize the importance of encouraging kids, especially girls, to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and how entertainment can play an important role.  We previously interviewed Sascha Paladino, creator and executive producer of MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND, and were impressed with his commitment to promoting science to kids through the show.  In addition to Sascha Paladino, while at Google HQ we’ll meet with:

  • Julie Ann Crommett, Panel Moderator from Google
  • Angela Navarro, Google Engineer
  • Diane Ikemiyashiro, Director of Original Programming, Disney Junior
  • Yvonne Cagle, NASA Astronaut & Consultant on Miles from Tomorrowland
  • Isis Anchalee, Software Engineer behind the #Ilooklikeanengineer social media movement
SASCHA PALADINO

Sascha Paladino, series creator and executive producer for MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND, photo by Ty Popko, Disney Junior

#Waltagram Walt Disney Family Museum

Finally, our trip concludes with a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum located in The Presidio of San Francisco, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  I’ve wanted to visit this museum since it opened in 2009, and cannot wait to see all the historic materials and artifacts that bring Walt Disney’s achievements to life including some of the early drawings and animation, movies, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland and much more.

Walt Disney Family Museum

The museum is located in a former army barrack on the Main Post in The Presidio with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, photo by Ric Miller, courtesy Walt Disney Family Museum

 

So can you see why I’m having trouble getting ready for this trip to Pixar in San Francisco?  Can you help me prepare by sharing some of your burning questions in the comments below? For more family movie news, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.

About Dave Parfitt

Married, father of two girls, and living in the heart of the Finger Lakes. I'm a runner with a PhD in neuroscience and a passion for travel.