From "Tangled" To "The Little Mermaid" – Here Are 18 Disney Settings And The Real Life Places That Inspired Them

From Beauty and the Beast to Frozen.

Disney animated movies are known for their magical aesthetic and fantastical worlds, but the inspiration for these places can sometimes come from real-life locations.

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^ case and point.

Here are 18 animated Disney settings, plus the real-life places they were inspired by...

1. Frozen

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Akershus Fortress, which is located in Oslo, Norway, is a historic castle and fortress that was visited by the film's crew, and ultimately provided some inspiration for Anna and Elsa's castle in Frozen. 

2. Beauty and the Beast

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Château de Chambord is a renowned castle located in the Loire Valley of France, which filmmakers visited during the making of Beauty and the Beast. Known for its distinct Renaissance architecture, the grandeur and elegance of this landmark is one of the influences on the overall aesthetic of the Beast's castle.

3. Alice in Wonderland

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During a 1935 trip to the UK, Walt Disney visited The Great Fosters, a Tudor-era manor house believed to have been a Royal Hunting Lodge for both King Henry VIII and later his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.

4. Brave

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The team behind Disney and Pixar's Brave have said the Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, UK, were a key inspiration while developing the film. The striking appearance of the stones inspired those that appear in Brave. The Ring of Stones play a pivotal role and backdrop in many of the film's scenes, including the first scene with Mor'du.

5. Hercules

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In the 1997 Disney animated film Hercules, Mount Olympus is depicted as the majestic home of the Greek gods, including Hercules' father, Zeus. Throughout the movie, Hercules, the protagonist, aspires to join the gods on Mount Olympus and become a true hero.

6. Luca

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The Disney/Pixar film, Luca, takes place in a fictional seaside town called Portorosso on the Italian Riviera. The creators drew inspiration from various real-life coastal towns in Italy, including Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre, meaning "Five Lands" in Italian, refers to the collection of five colourful villages nestled along the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. 

7. Ratatouille

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The creators of Ratatouille drew inspiration for Gusteau's restaurant from a number of restaurants in Paris, including Guy Savoy, Le Train Bleu, Taillevent, and, most famously, LaTour d'Argent. The history and style of these iconic French restaurants helped inspire the ambience and cuisine of Ratatouille, and added depth and authenticity to the film's depiction of the French culinary world.

8. Sleeping Beauty

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Disney Legend Eyvind Earle was responsible for the overall production design – including styling, background, and colour – in Sleeping Beauty. Earle drew on many sources of inspiration, including the illuminated manuscript Très Riches Heures de Jean, Duc de Berry. Within the manuscript, the Château of Saumur can be seen, further positioning the tome as a source of inspiration for King Stefan's castle.

9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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Alcázarde Segovia, located in Segovia, Spain, is one of the most distinctive and well-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. It's often cited as an inspiration for the castle in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Alcázar's distinctive shape, with its turrets and steep roofs, bears a resemblance to the castle depicted in the film.

10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (again)

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The Black Forest in Germany – with its dark and mystical woods, ancient trees, crystal clear streams, and the occasional glimpse of wildlife – served as visual inspiration for the fairytale setting of Disney's animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

11. Tangled

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Mont Saint-Michel, an island in Normandy, France, was one of the inspirations behind the kingdom in Walt Disney Animation Studios' 50th feature film, Tangled. The historic tower, which stands on the Island, was also used as inspiration for the Kingdom of Corona's castle in which Rapunzel is trapped.

12. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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The animated film really captures Notre Dame with its Gothic architectural style and intricate details. The Cathedral is the heart of this film, given that the main character, Quasimodo, lives in the bell tower which is his sanctuary and the only home he has ever known.

13. The Lion King

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While the iconic Pride Rock in The Lion King is not based on a specific real-life location, it draws inspiration from various landscapes and geological formations found in Africa, including Masai Mara in Kenya. The film's creators have stated that they were inspired by the natural beauty of Masai Mara, part of the Serengeti National Park.

14. The Little Mermaid

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Dubrovnik, with its ornate architecture and stunning scenery, is one of two Croatian cities that partly inspired Prince Eric's castle in The Little Mermaid. Dubrovnik is known for its imposing medieval walls, red-roofed buildings, and seaside location, which inspired the castle's coastal setting and medieval architecture.

15. Winnie The Pooh

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Ashdown Forest in the UK is home to A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, later animated by Disney. Walt Disney discovered Pooh's whimsical misadventures through his daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and sought out the screen rights as early as 1937.

Hundred Acre Wood plays an integral part story, as he and his friends love to play there. The forest's picturesque landscapes – including its open heathlands, ancient woodlands, and rolling hills – provided the inspiration for the idyllic and enchanting setting of this famous series of books. 

16. One Hundred and One Dalmations

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Regents Park acts as a backdrop for some key scenes in One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The park is the location where the main characters Pongo and Perdita (and owners Roger and Anita) meet for the first time. In the scene, the Dalmatians can be seen knocking Roger and Anita into the pond after their exciting encounter results in their leads getting tangled.

17. Pinocchio

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The quaint medieval Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany is known for its beautiful architecture and well-preserved buildings. The town's cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and fortified walls create a fairytale-like ambience, which serves as an inspiration for the village in the 1940 classic film, Pinocchio.

18. Peter Pan

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London's Big Ben has been featured as a backdrop and more prominently in several films. Perhaps most famously, Big Ben can be spotted in Peter Pan as Peter and the Darling children fly over London's skyline on their way to Never Land.

It's believed that the use of Big Ben is featured so often in Disney films to establish the setting as London, adding to the authenticity and recognition of the location as shown on screen.

Thanks to Disney for providing us with this research and happy 100th birthday to you!

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