AnimatedFamilyAdventureComedy

🎬 Where Was Toy Story 5 Filmed? Complete San Francisco Location Guide

2026

Andrew Stanton

Added January 15, 2024

5 Locations

Discover where Pixar's latest adventure unfolded! Toy Story 5 brought San Francisco to life in the most imaginative way.

About 🎬 Where Was Toy Story 5 Filmed? Complete San Francisco Location Guide

🎬 Where Was Toy Story 5 Filmed? Complete San Francisco Location Guide

Ready to dive into the vibrant world of "Toy Story 5"? 🚀 This latest installment transported Woody, Buzz, and their new friends to the bustling, iconic streets of San Francisco, proving that even a city of giants can be an epic playground for tiny heroes.

While animated films don't have traditional "filming locations," Pixar's dedication to realism means their digital backdrops are meticulously crafted from real-world inspirations. In "Toy Story 5," San Francisco isn't just a setting; it's a character, brought to life through intricate detail and imaginative storytelling.

You won't believe how many familiar landmarks the toys navigated! From winding streets to bustling piers, each scene pays homage to the unique charm of the Golden City. It makes for an incredible movie experience, and even better, a fantastic travel itinerary!

Join us as we explore the real-world places that sparked the magic of "Toy Story 5." Get ready to see San Francisco through the eyes of a toy, filled with wonder, adventure, and perhaps a little bit of peril! 🌉

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🗺️ Major Filming Locations

🎬 The Golden Gate Toy Bridge - A Heroic Horizon 🌉

🏛️ The Location

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, a symbol of San Francisco, connects the city to Marin County. Known for its distinct orange color and art deco design, it’s one of the most photographed bridges in the world. Its grand scale makes for a breathtaking view.

🎥 In the Film

In "Toy Story 5," the Golden Gate Toy Bridge serves as the setting for a thrilling high-altitude chase. Woody and Buzz brave the swirling winds and dense fog, using the bridge's suspension cables as a makeshift zipline during a perilous escape. It’s a truly iconic and heart-stopping sequence.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

🕒 Hours: Open 24/7 (Visitor Center 9 AM - 6 PM daily)

💰 Admission: Free for pedestrians/cyclists; tolls apply for vehicles

🌐 Website: https://www.goldengatebridge.org/

💡 Pro Tip: Walk or bike across the bridge for unparalleled views of the city and Alcatraz. Dress in layers, as it can get windy and foggy very quickly! 🎬 Fun Fact: The bridge's famous "International Orange" color was originally just a sealer, but the consulting architect liked it and recommended it for its visibility and ability to blend with the natural surroundings.

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🎬 Pier 39's Seal & Play Arcade - Where Fun Meets Fangs 🕹️

🏛️ The Location

Pier 39 is a bustling marketplace and popular tourist attraction located on the San Francisco waterfront. It's famous for its shops, restaurants, and most notably, the hundreds of California sea lions that have taken up residence on the K-Dock.

🎥 In the Film

The "Seal & Play Arcade" at Pier 39 becomes a vibrant and challenging setting for the toys. Buzz Lightyear faces a series of mini-games and puzzles within its brightly lit interior, while the territorial sea lions provide a comical, yet precarious, backdrop to his mission.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: Pier 39, Beach St & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133

🕒 Hours: Shops & Attractions 10 AM - 9 PM daily (restaurants vary)

💰 Admission: Free to enter Pier 39; attractions inside vary

🌐 Website: https://www.pier39.com/

💡 Pro Tip: Visit the K-Dock area, facing the sea lions, especially in late afternoon or early morning for potentially fewer crowds and more lively sealion activity! 🎬 Fun Fact: The sea lions first started appearing at Pier 39 after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and their numbers have since grown significantly, making them a permanent fixture and attraction.

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🎬 Alamo Square's Painted Ladies Park - A Picture-Perfect Peril 🏡

🏛️ The Location

Alamo Square is a residential park offering panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline, including the famous "Painted Ladies" – a row of colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses. It’s a quintessential San Francisco postcard spot.

🎥 In the Film

This picturesque park becomes the setting for a tender reunion and a daring escape involving the toy villain. The toys navigate the hilly terrain and the grandeur of the Painted Ladies, using them as strategic points for observation and evasion during a tense moment.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: Steiner St & Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117

🕒 Hours: 5 AM - 10 PM daily

💰 Admission: Free

🌐 Website: https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Alamo-Square-Park-77

💡 Pro Tip: Head to the park early in the morning or late afternoon for the best light for photos, avoiding midday harshness and larger crowds. It's truly a stunning vista! 🎬 Fun Fact: The "Painted Ladies" are more formally known as "Postcard Row." Many of them survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, making them a significant part of San Francisco's architectural heritage.

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🎬 Lombard Street's Winding Wonderland - A Twisty Turn 🚗

🏛️ The Location

Lombard Street, often touted as "the crookedest street in the world," is a famous one-block section with eight hairpin turns. It’s a popular attraction, known for its challenging drive and beautiful flowerbeds.

🎥 In the Film

The toys undertake a thrilling, gravity-defying race down Lombard Street's winding curves. This sequence is a masterclass in animated cinematography, with rapid camera movements showcasing their agility and precision as they narrowly avoid obstacles (and speeding cars!).

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: Lombard St between Hyde St and Leavenworth St, San Francisco, CA 94133

🕒 Hours: 24/7 (can get very crowded with vehicles and pedestrians)

💰 Admission: Free

🌐 Website: No official site, but well-documented on SF tourism sites.

💡 Pro Tip: Walk down the stairs alongside the street for a unique perspective and to enjoy the beautiful gardens without the traffic. It offers fantastic photo opportunities looking up and down! 🎬 Fun Fact: While famous for being "the crookedest," Vermont Street on Potrero Hill actually has steeper turns, but Lombard Street’s distinct brick paving and beautiful landscaping make it far more scenic and popular.

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🎬 The Exploratorium's Imagination Zone - Where Discovery Awaits 🔬

🏛️ The Location

The Exploratorium is an interactive science museum located at Pier 15 on the Embarcadero. It's renowned for its hands-on exhibits that explore science, art, and human perception, encouraging visitors of all ages to learn through discovery.

🎥 In the Film

The Exploratorium's "Imagination Zone" becomes a fantastical backdrop for the toys, where they interact with scaled-down versions of the museum's exhibits. It’s a place of wonder and clever problem-solving for the gang, full of mirrors, light, and sound challenges.

📍 Visitor Info

📍 Address: Pier 15, (Embarcadero at Green St), San Francisco, CA 94111

🕒 Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM (closed Tuesdays)

💰 Admission: Adults approx. $39.95; discounts for seniors, youth, and children

🌐 Website: https://www.exploratorium.edu/

💡 Pro Tip: Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours here, as there are hundreds of exhibits to explore. It’s an incredibly engaging experience for families and curious minds alike. 🎬 Fun Fact: The Exploratorium developed the concept of the "Tinkering Studio," where visitors can engage in open-ended constructive activities with real tools and materials, inspiring creativity and problem-solving.

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🎬 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets

Pixar’s commitment to visual storytelling goes far beyond animation; it's about making animated worlds feel lived-in and real. For "Toy Story 5," this meant an obsessive level of detail in recreating San Francisco.

🎭 Director's Vision

🎯 Location Strategy: Director Andrew Stanton deliberately chose San Francisco for its diverse topography and iconic landmarks, providing a naturally exciting and dynamic environment for the toys' adventures. Every hill, street, and pier was evaluated for its narrative potential.

🎨 Visual Style: The goal was to maintain the whimsical "Toy Story" feel while pushing animation boundaries. The team experimented with new lighting techniques to capture San Francisco's unique atmospheric fog and golden sunsets, immersing viewers even deeper into the city's charm.

🎪 Production Highlights

🎬 Miniature Scouting: Before animating, Pixar developed miniature sets and used small cameras to simulate the toys' eye-level view, ensuring accurate scaling and perspective when interacting with the giant world.

🎭 Crowd Simulation: The bustling San Francisco streets required advanced crowd simulation technology, allowing hundreds of unique animated "background people" and vehicles to interact naturally as toys navigate through them.

🎨 Environmental Storytelling: Every nook and cranny of the city was considered for potential storytelling. From a discarded skateboard on Lombard Street to a forgotten coin at Pier 39, small details added depth.

🎯 Sound Echoes: The sound design team conducted extensive field recordings in San Francisco to capture the city's unique sonic landscape, translating the real-world acoustics of its streets and buildings into the animated film.

🌟 Cast & Crew Stories

😄 Voice Actor Immersion: To capture authentic reactions, some voice actors were reportedly given miniature props and instructed to "play" with them as if they were toys, adding realism to their performances.

😮 Weather Challenges: Animating the San Francisco fog and wind proved a significant technical challenge, as it had to look realistic while allowing the fast-paced actions of the toys to remain clear.

🎉 Landmark Approval: Pixar reportedly collaborated with San Francisco city officials to ensure their animated portrayal of iconic landmarks was respectful and accurate, even in its whimsical toy-scale distortions.

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🗺️ Plan Your Visit

Ready to step into the giants' world of "Toy Story 5" and experience San Francisco like never before? Here's how to turn your cinematic adventure into a real-life trip!

🏨 Where to Stay

💰 Budget: USA Hostels San Francisco - $50-70/night - Close to public transport and a vibrant atmosphere, perfect for solo travelers or small groups.

🏛️ Mid-Range: Hotel Abri - $150-200/night - Centrally located near Union Square, offering comfort and easy access to most attractions.

✨ Luxury: The Fairmont San Francisco - $300-500+/night - A historic landmark offering stunning views of the city and bay, embodying classic San Francisco elegance.

🚗 Getting Around

🚇 Metro: San Francisco's MUNI system (buses, streetcars, historic F-Line streetcar, Cable Cars) is excellent for getting around. Consider a Clipper Card for easy tap-and-go travel.

🚗 Car: Driving can be challenging due to hills, one-way streets, and expensive parking. If you do drive, allow extra time for parking, especially near popular spots. Ride-sharing services are plentiful.

🚶 Walking: Many of San Francisco's neighborhoods are best explored on foot. Be prepared for hills – they're part of the city's charm (and a good workout!). Walking between Lombard Street and North Beach is very doable.

📸 Photo Tips

🌅 Best Times: Early mornings (before 9 AM) or late afternoons (after 4 PM) are ideal for softer light, fewer crowds, and those quintessential San Francisco golden hour shots.

📱 Instagram Spots:

* The Golden Gate Bridge: From various viewpoints like Fort Point or Battery Spencer. * Painted Ladies: Stand in Alamo Square Park with the city skyline behind the houses. * Lombard Street: Frame your shot looking down the famous curves or up from the bottom.

🎬 Movie Moments: Recreate some of the toy-level shots! Get down low for unique perspectives on the Golden Gate Bridge, or capture the dizzying twists of Lombard Street from a toy's point-of-view.

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❓ Quick Answers

🎬 Is this based on a true story?

No, "Toy Story 5" is a fictional animated film, but its stunning San Francisco backdrops are lovingly recreated from real-world locations.

🗺️ Can I visit all locations in one day?

While ambitious, you could hit the highlights of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Lombard Street, and Alamo Square in a long day, especially using public transport or a tour. The Exploratorium might require a half-day itself.

💰 How much should I budget?

A realistic budget for a single person for a day in San Francisco (excluding accommodation) could range from $70-$150, depending on food choices, admission fees, and transport method.

📱 Are there guided tours?

Yes! Many San Francisco city tours cover most of the iconic landmarks seen in "Toy Story 5." Look for themed tours or hop-on/hop-off buses for flexibility.

🎭 When was this filmed?

As an animated film, "Toy Story 5" wasn't "filmed" in the traditional sense, but production (animation, rendering, voice acting) took place roughly between 2023-2025 for its 2026 release.

🌍 Is San Francisco safe for tourists?

Generally yes, but like any major city, it's essential to be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded tourist areas or after dark. Stick to well-trafficked areas and keep valuables secure.

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🎬 Ready for Your Cinematic Adventure?

"Toy Story 5" isn’t just another animated movie; it’s a love letter to San Francisco, showcasing its unique charm and character through the eyes of its most imaginative residents. These locations aren't just backdrops; they're integral to the story, bringing every laugh, tear, and thrilling chase to life.

So, print out this guide, pack your explorer's hat, and get ready to rediscover San Francisco. Whether you're a lifelong "Toy Story" fan or a casual moviegoer, seeing these iconic spots in person, knowing the adventures that unfolded there, is an unforgettable experience. Come see where the magic was really made!

Year Released

2026

Director

Andrew Stanton

Filming Locations

5 locations

Behind the Scenes

Director Andrew Stanton envisioned a new frontier for Woody, Buzz, and the gang, and San Francisco proved to be the ultimate playground. The animators meticulously researched every street and landmark, transforming the city's iconic features into a larger-than-life backdrop for pint-sized heroes. This dedication brought an unparalleled depth and realism to the animated world, making every adventure feel incredibly tangible, even for toys.

Hundreds of reference photos and drone footage were captured across San Francisco.
A specialized 'toy-eye-view' camera simulation was developed to perfectly match the toys' perspective.
The fog effects over the Golden Gate Bridge scene required unprecedented rendering power.
Animators spent weeks studying sea lion movements at Pier 39 for the arcade scene.
Over 50 new 'background toys' were designed specifically for the San Francisco settings.
The sound design team recorded ambient street noises from Lombard Street to enhance authenticity.
The film's color palette drew inspiration from classic San Francisco postcard art.
Original concept art for the Exploratorium scene included fantastical, impossible exhibits.
A dedicated team studied toy interaction with specific real-world textures, like concrete and wood.
The film incorporated subtle nods to other Pixar films hidden in the cityscapes.
Some secondary characters were inspired by real people spotted on the streets of SF.
The production used cloud computing for the first time on a large scale for complex crowd scenes.

Location Gallery

The Golden Gate Toy Bridge

Pier 39's Seal & Play Arcade

Alamo Square's Painted Ladies Park

Lombard Street's Winding Wonderland

The Exploratorium's Imagination Zone

Travel Tips

Best time to visit most of these locations is during spring or fall for mild weather.
Consider booking accommodations in advance, especially during tourist season.
Guided tours are available that cover The Golden Gate Toy Bridge, Pier 39's Seal & Play Arcade, Alamo Square's Painted Ladies Park in one day.