The transformation of Pacific Wharf into San Fransokyo Square is continuing to make progress in Disney California Adventure. With only a little over a month to go until completion in mid-August, new details can be spotted with each visit to this area. Our Daps Magic team was there to document the changes on July 2, 2023, and noticed some elements newly added by the hardworking San Fransokyo Public Works Department. Come follow along with us!
Golden Gate Growth
Perhaps the most obvious change is that the San Fransokyo Square bridge is now going vertical! The support frames are in place at their full height but are still covered in white primer. Careful viewers will notice shadowy writing peeking through the tarps on the middle crossbeams. These are signatures and notes from Disney Cast Members! We can only imagine that an iconic reddish orange paint job is coming soon as a final touch, making the structure reminiscent of the real-life Golden Gate Bridge.
Dockside Developments
With the scaffolding gone from the outside of the main building, it is now possible to see the new signage in all its glory. We can make out that San Fransokyo is the proud home of the Golden State Samurai basketball team, the Nurasaki Emperors for football, and the “SFN” or San Fransokyo Ninjas baseball team, as featured on Tadashi Hamada’s hat in Big Hero 6.
Note that some of these photos were taken in mid-June, before the scaffolding came down.
Other organizations represented on the façade are the Wharfside Travel Agency, complete with a swooping Baymax silhouette, Charlie’s Sardines, Bait & Tackle, Pacific Seafoods, the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology (proclaiming that “the future of education is here”), the Lucky Fortune Cookery, Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, the new Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería, Kruger’s Net Repair, and the San Fransokyo Square Canning Company. Many of these advertisements have corresponding text in Japanese, which adds to the merged American-Japanese cultural flair of the area.
Alleyway Advances
The nods to Big Hero 6 continue around the corner on the pathway next to the Boudin Bakery and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain. Here we can find the Wharfside Travel Agency again with another Baymax silhouette. Placed vertically next to Baymax is text that may translate to “Travel is OK” (or something similar—please help us out if Google Translate led us astray!). Directly below is a sliding door for overnight deliveries with a note that services are “by appointment only” and to “contact Don & Roy.” More Japanese text declares that an “appointment [is] required outside business hours.”
Heading further into the area, above the Boudin Bakery Tour front entrance, Japanese text can be found that says, “Boudin Bakery” in blue with “since 1849” in English underneath. Rounding the corner to the right, guests can see the offices of the San Fransokyo Tribune, a newspaper that covers world, local, news, sports, and money. Further in, another sliding door warns guests “Do Not Enter” in English, accompanied by “No Trespassing” in Japanese. Rita’s Baja Blenders, the resident DCA 1.0 margarita stand, will soon become Rita’s Turbine Blenders. The sign advertising it also features a cute koi-themed floating wind turbine blowing a heart. Concept art shows that a real-life floating fish wind turbine will adorn the stand soon. No changes are visible at Rita’s yet.
Sticking to the wind turbine theme, an advertisement for WyndSynch Clean Technology adorns the upper part of the building. Pictures of more koi-shaped floating turbines illustrate the company’s creations. Directly beneath, an advertisement in Japanese for “San Fransokyo Sourdough Bread” decorates the exit area for the Boudin Bakery Tour. Further to the left, the Salt ‘n’ Sea Packing Co. has set up shop. Japanese text around this sign states “Professional Seafood Packaging.”
Café Conversion
The Pacific Wharf Café is the most obvious place where a transformation is ongoing, as it is still under scrims. Presumably the façade is being painted gray instead of light blue, to prepare the space for its new owner, Aunt Cass from Big Hero 6. A vinyl sign for Pacific Wharf Café, stating “Café – Bakery” is covering up another sign, likely that of the Aunt Cass Café.
Seating Area Shift
Touring around the seating area, the next location with notable changes is the restroom façade. Up top, a beautiful mural features a stylized San Fransokyo Golden Gate Bridge complete with a glowing sunset and crashing waves. Floating wind turbines and sea birds soar around the image. Underneath, the doors to the men’s and women’s restrooms feature corresponding male and female Baymax characters, modeled after traditional restroom signage.
Walls are still up around what will become a meet and greet area with Baymax and the San Fransokyo Maker’s Market. The beloved Pacific Wharf Distribution Co. beer cart has been moved to accommodate these new offerings, but not much else can be seen poking out from behind the walls. A small alleyway has been carved out to allow for backstage access by Cast Members.
Construction Continuation
On the construction walls themselves, themed signs promote the good job being done by the San Fransokyo Square Public Works Department. The Japanese text on the yellow sign says, “Under Construction.” Certain panels of the wall also feature concept art drawings, which give a great idea of what’s to come. One such change that is still behind walls is the Port of San Fransokyo Cervecería. No signage is visible yet, but it is clear that good things are underway.
Our Daps Magic team is loving the changes to Pacific Wharf as it is being converted to San Fransokyo Square! We will continue to cover the new details as they are unveiled, including the grand opening set for mid-August. Stick with Daps Magic to learn all the latest updates.
What is your favorite new sign or detail in San Fransokyo? Which update are you most looking forward to? What do you think about the progress so far? Let us know in the comments!
