7 Tourist Spots That Inspired Disney Movies’ Locations

January 7, 2016

• Disney animated movies like Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and many other Disney hits have always been a part of our childhood.

  The characters, the compelling stories and the superb setting makes you dream as a kid that you want to go there someday.

  But did you know that some of the places featured in Disney movies are inspired by some great travel destinations?

  The Forbidden City in Beijing China – Mulan

  

  Photo credits: popsugar.com
  disney.wikia.com

  Situated in the heart of Beijing, The Forbidden City in China was an imperial palace of the 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

  In the movie, the imperial palace also served as the palace of the emperor.

  Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France –  Hunchback of Notre Dame        

  

  Photo credits: aahabershaw.com
  gothereguide.com

  The Notre Dame Cathedral Paris is a gothic cathedral located in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France.

  The famous cathedral where Quasimodo spent his entire life.

  St. Olaf’s Church, Balestrand, Norway – Frozen

  

  Photo credits: cloudfront.net

  This church built in a stave church style and was completed in 1897. The church was built in memory of Margaret Sophie Green Kvikne – a vicar’s daughter from Yorkshire, England – who came to Norway as a mountaineering pioneer.

  The church was the inspiration where Elsa was crowned as the Queen of Arendelle in Frozen.

  U Drop Inn, Shamrock, Texas – Cars

  

  Photo credit: roadtrippers.com

  Ramone’s House of Body Art (an automotive body shop in the village of Radiator Springs) in Cars was inspired by U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. The U-Drop Inn  was built in 1936 along the historic Route 66 highway.

  Grand Central Terminal, New York City, USA – Wreck-It-Ralph

  

  Photo credit: deccanchronicle.com

  Grand Central Terminal (GCT) is a station located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is the largest train station in the world which spreads over 49 acres and has 44 platforms.

  In the movie Wreck-It-Ralph, GCT served as an inspiration of the Game Central Station wherein all video game characters congregate.

  Taj Mahal, Agra, India – Aladdin

  

  Photo credit:deccanchronicle.com

  Taj Mahal is actually a tomb that Emperor Shah Jahan built in 1632 for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

  The turrets of Taj Mahal inspired the turrets of the sultan’s palace in the film Aladdin.

  Angel Falls, Venezuela – Up

  

  Photo credit: abc7ny.com

  The beautiful Angel Falls inspired the Paradise Falls in the Disney’s Up.

  Angel Falls is considered today as the world’s highest waterfall with an uninterrupted fall of 979m.

  If you’re planning to travel this year, why not visit at least one of these places and feel the magic of Disney!

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