Guests visiting the newly reimagined Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort may see the real-life Joe Gardner from Pixar’s “Soul” performing at the hotel.
Joe Gardner at Pixar Place Hotel
We reported last summer that Disneyland Resort had posted a casting call for Joe Gardner look-alikes, and we now know why.
Guests can find him playing the keys in the afternoons and evenings at Pixar Place Hotel.
On his piano are a few mementos fans of the film might recognize: a MetroCard, a lollipop, and a spool of thread. His briefcase rests on the ground next to the piano.
Joe appears at the piano below the staircase decorated with “Soul” murals, playing smooth jazz tunes. The live pianist wears a navy turtleneck and gray hat.
“Soul” was directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers, who co-wrote the film with Mike Jones. Dana Murray produced. It features Jamie Foxx voicing Joe, a part-time music teacher hoping to become a professional jazz musician, who falls into a coma and ends up where young souls prepare to arrive on Earth. He decides to help the soul known as 22, voiced by Tina Fey, find her “spark.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “Soul” was originally only released on Disney+, on December 25, 2020. It is currently in theaters for the first time.
Bing Bong from “Inside Out” will also exclusively appear at Pixar Place Hotel. Check out our tour of a standard room at the hotel.
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