Disney has released a list of 30 locations that have served as inspiration for their iconic stories throughout the years. In honor of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, the company has also recreated famous scenes with exclusive photos. Some of the featured landmarks include St Paul’s Cathedral, which appears in ‘Mary Poppins’, the Calanais Standing Stones that inspired ‘Brave’, and Greast Fosters, whose maze inspired a memorable scene in ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
The list of landmarks spans across 13 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Rebecca Cline, the Director of the Walt Disney Archives, explained that these locations hold significance because Walt Disney was fascinated and inspired by everything he encountered. She encouraged people to embrace different cultures as they travel and to appreciate the diversity of the world.
A survey revealed that nearly half of the British population would choose a Disney location for a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Among 16-44 year olds, 41% said they would select their dream wedding destination based on castles and places that inspired Disney’s stories. Surprisingly, two-fifths of Brits were unaware that many Disney films and park attractions are based on real locations. For example, 75% didn’t know that the Sleeping Beauty Castle at California’s Disneyland was modeled after Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle.
To engage fans in the celebration, Disney is giving one lucky winner the opportunity to have a photoshoot with photographer Linda Blacker, who will transform them into their favorite Disney character. To enter the contest, fans are asked to recreate their favorite Disney scene and share it on Instagram or Disney UK’s Facebook page using the hashtag #Disney100TheLandmarks.
Here is the complete list of Disney landmarks:
UK and Ireland:
1. ‘Cruella’ (2021) / Liberty, London, England
2. ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians’ (1961)/ Regent’s Park, London, England
3. ‘Peter Pan’ (1953) / Big Ben, London, England
4. ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964)/ St Paul’s Cathedral, London, England
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), East Sussex, England
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
11. ‘Ratatouille’ (2007) / Le Train Bleu
12. ‘Tangled’ (2010) / Mont Saint Michel
13. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991) / Château de Chambord
14. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (1959) / Château de Saumur
Spain:
15. ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937) / Alcázar de Segovia
Croatia:
16. ‘The Little Mermaid’ (1989)/ Dubrovnik
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
20. ‘Pinocchio’ (1940)/ Rothenburg ob der Tauber
21. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, California/ Neuschwanstein Castle
22. ‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016) / Leipzig/ Halle Airport
Hungary:
23. ‘Black Widow’ (2021) / Budapest
Iceland:
24. ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (2016) / Reynisbara Black Sand Beach
Italy:
25. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015) / Forte di Bard
26. ‘Luca’ (2021) / Cinque Terre
27. ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023) / Ear of Dionysius, Sicily
Greece:
28. ‘Hercules’ (1997)/ Mount Olympus
Norway:
29. ‘Frozen’ (2013) / Akershus Fortress, Oslo
Jordan:
30. ‘Aladdin’ (2019)/ Wadi Rum