Inside The Disney Vaults:
Disney Reveals List Of Real-World Locations That Have Inspired Its Most Loved Films Over The Last 100 Years
Disney is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a list of 30 landmarks across Europe, Middle East and Africa that have inspired its most beloved films
Disney also pays homage to its beloved films in a series of exclusive pictures echoing iconic moments in their real-world settings
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, The Walt Disney Company has opened its vaults to reveal a list of 30 locations across Europe, Middle East and Africa that have inspired its movies, parks and fan’s hearts over the last century. From Big Ben in London to the colourful province of Cinque Terre in Italy, the list of landmarks covers 13 countries and showcases the spots that have inspired some of Disney’s most famous stories.
As part of the celebrations, Disney has also recreated famous scenes from its 100-year history with exclusive photography, including locations such as Great Fosters, England where its topiary maze was said to have inspired a memorable scene in Alice in Wonderland.
The list of 30 locations that have inspired Disney storytelling over the last 100 years, from the scorching deserts in Africa, to the frozen lands of Iceland, includes:
- Black Panther (2018) / Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, South Africa
- The Lion King (1994) / Masai Mara, Kenya
Rebecca Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives, said:
“Towards the end of his life, Walt Disney was honoured as the “Showman of the World”. It was a very apt honour, as he was fascinated and inspired by everything he experienced and saw, no matter where it was. As he once said himself, “Always, as you travel, assimilate the sounds and sights of the world.” And we have all benefited from his love of cultures the world over. “Joining the Alice in Wonderland celebratory images are pictures shot at St Paul’s Cathedral, an iconic building featuring several times in Mary Poppins, the Calanais Standing Stones, Scotland, which inspired Pixar’s Brave movie, and a One Hundred and One Dalmatians animation inspired image.”
Disney 100: The Landmarks
For the first time, Disney has opened its archives to reveal a list of 30 locations across Europe that have inspired its movies, parks and fans hearts over the years. The team have revealed the facts behind these real-world landmarks, with direct quotes from film makers and transcripts from production dating back to the 1940’s.
UK and Ireland
1. Cruella (2021) / Liberty London
2. One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)/ Regent’s Park, London
3. Peter Pan (1953) / Big Ben, London
4. Mary Poppins (1964) / St Paul’s Cathedral, London
5. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) / Skellig Michael, Ireland
6. Avengers: Endgame (2019) / St. Abbs Village, Berwickshire, Scotland
7. Winnie the Pooh (2011) / Ashdown Forest (Hundred Acre Wood), UK
8. Brave (2012)/ Calanais Standing Stones, Stornoway, Scotland
9. Alice in Wonderland (1951)/ Great Fosters, UK
France
10. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) / Notre Dame Cathedral, France
11. Ratatouille (2007) / Le Train Bleu, France
12. Tangled (2010) / Mont Saint-Michel, France
13. Beauty and the Beast (1991) / Chateau de Chambord, France
14. Sleeping Beauty (1959) / Château de Saumur, France
Spain
15. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) / Alcazar de Segovia, Spain
Croatia
16. The Little Mermaid (1989) / Dubrovnik, Croatia
Africa
17. Black Panther (2018) / Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, South Africa
18. The Lion King (1994) / Masai Mara, Kenya
Germany
19. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) / The Black Forest, Germany
20. Pinocchio (1940) / Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
21. Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland, California / Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
22. Captain America: Civil War (2016) / Leipzig/ Halle Airport, Germany
Hungary
23. Black Widow (2021) / Budapest, Hungary
Iceland
24. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) / Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Iceland
Italy
25. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) / Forte di Bard, Italy
26. Disney and Pixar’s Luca (2021) / Cinque Terre, Italy
27. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) / Ear of Dionysius, Sicily, Italy
Greece
28. Hercules (1997) / Mount Olympus, Greece
Norway
29. Frozen (2013) / Akershus Fortress, Norway
Jordan
30. Aladdin (2019) / Wadi Rum, Jordan
Read the complete list here.
