5 Locations to Visit That Helped Inspire Disney Movies

Photo via Flickr/Jiuguang Wang

As Rapunzel said in the movie "Tangled," “I’ve been on this incredible journey, and I’ve seen and learned so much.” It’s one of the reasons why we all can’t help but love Disney movies—the fact that they are a means of escape, taking us on these magic carpet rides to whole new worlds, fantastical or otherwise.

In a way, Disney movies stir wanderlust in us. Who wouldn’t want to attend a ball in Arendelle or hang out with anthropomorphic mammals in Zootopia or even explore the underwater world with Ariel? The best part is while we know that most of these lands are the stuff of imagination, they are inspired by real places, places that we can actually visit. From Europe to the Polynesian islands, here are five places to visit that helped inspire our beloved Disney movies.

Germany

Many of Disney’s animated films—Snow White, Cinderella, Tangled, and The Princess and the Frog, for example—are based on the stories of famous German storytellers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who in turn were influenced by the German folk tales and dreamlike landscape. So it makes sense that the Disney animators behind the movies would often look to Germany to serve as their muse.

Germanic influences are especially strong in "Tangled," "Snow White," "Pinocchio" and "Cinderella." "Tangled" and "Snow White" both boast half-timbered houses popular in the state of Bavaria, while "Snow White," "Pinocchio" and "Cinderella" were heavily influenced by German expressionist films. In addition, Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps is said to have been the inspiration for the "Sleeping Beauty" Castle.

Traces of Germany’s storybook past are still seen today. During your visit, get on the 370-mile Fairy Tale Route, which takes you to several attractions connected to the Brothers Grimm and their legendary work. Be sure also to explore the mysterious Black Forest, and drop by some of Germany’s most astounding castles including Cochem Castle, Lichtenstein Castle, Schwerin Castle and Hohenzollern Castle.

Polynesia

Sunny, sand-filled Polynesia may not be the most obvious setting for a fairy tale, but Disney’s latest venture, "Moana," proved that storybook fantasies could be told from anywhere. Although it helps that the islands are just naturally photogenic, and the Polynesian culture has its own fascinating stories to tell. In fact, the movie drew inspirations from Polynesian mythology and customs.

Another Disney movie that was inspired by the islands was "Lilo and Stitch," the very first animated feature to take place in the Hawaiian Islands. According to creator Chris Sanders, choosing Kauai as the film’s setting actually helped define the entire movie and its fundamental theme—the concept of ‘ohana.

Hawaii, Tahiti and Bora Bora, of course, are the most obvious Polynesian destinations. But did you know that New Zealand and the Easter Island are also part of the region? Other more off the beaten path places include American Samoa, Tuvalu and Tonga.

Caribbean

Many might argue that "The Little Mermaid," written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, is set in Denmark. But to make the underwater kingdom of Atlantica more appealing and colorful, several Caribbean elements were brought in. Sebastian’s accent, for one, was changed from English to Jamaican, which then influenced the overall musical style of the film. In addition, the colors Atlantica’s residents are sporting are definitely of the tropical variety. Some even think that former Danish Antilles territory USVI might just be the setting for this fairy tale favorite.

And, of course, there’s the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, which is supposedly set in the paradisal region. The movies, based on the famous Disneyland attraction, drew inspiration from those legendary pirate exploits in the Caribbean, even calling on famous pirate seaports like Port Royal in Jamaica and Tortuga in Haiti.

Must visit attractions in the U.S. Virgin Islands include Blackbeard’s Castle, Dano-Norwegian Fort Christian, and the Annaberg Sugar Plantation. In addition to Jamaica and Haiti, a great stop if you’re on the pirate trail is Nassau in the Bahamas where the Pirates of Nassau Museum offers visitors a treasure trove of information on the Caribbean’s most famous pirates. Then there are the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie locations, which include Wallilabou Bay in the Grenadines, El Conquistador’s Palominito Island, and the island of Dominica.

France

"Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty" and "Beauty and the Beast"—these are three of the most popular Disney movies that actually take place in the French Republic. It’s hard to not be inspired by this beautiful country whose architecture, language and landscape are inherently romantic. There’s also the fact that all three are based on fairy tales written by famous French novelists.

Other movies based in France include "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," DisneyPixar-producedd "Ratatouille" and "Aristocats," all of which are set specifically in Paris. The artists behind "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" even spent three days exploring the passageways, towers and secret rooms of the Notre-Dame Cathedral so that they could capture its essence.

When in Paris, take a free tour of the cathedral and explore the neighborhood of Marais. Later, follow the Ratatouille Film Trail, which takes you from Eiffel Tower to Tour d'Argent, the restaurant that is said to have inspired the restaurant in the film. If you’re in France a little longer, head to Normandy and visit the island commune of Mont Saint-Michel, which looks very identical to the kingdom of Corona in "Tangled."

United Kingdom

England and Scotland  are certainly two of the most idyllic destinations on this list with their rolling green hills, charming villages, babbling brooks, and spectacular architecture. The United Kingdom is also one of Disney’s favorite settings for its storybook movies.

Many of Disney’s popular features are set here. They include "Brave," "101 Dalmatians," "Peter Pan," "Robin Hood," "Alice in Wonderland," "Cars 2" and "Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World." "Brave" takes place in the Scottish Highlands; "Robin Hood," of course, takes place in Nottingham; "101 Dalmatians" and "Peter Pan" are both set in London particularly.

To go on a proper Disney tour of the UK, start in London and visit some of 101 Dalmatians’ filming locations including Battersea Park and Sarum Chase (aka Cruella De Vil’s mansion) in Hampstead. Then head to collegiate Oxford, where the story of Alice was born. Also visit the city of Nottingham where you can visit Nottingham Castle and see a statue of the Prince of Thieves. Lastly, explore the fascinating Scottish Highlands, which are simply brimming with epic views, lakes and castles.

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