Travel
Celebrate Disney’s centenary by visiting some of the destinations behind the classics, such as Frozen and Toy Story.
ByRhonda Carrier
Published October 9, 2023
• 6 min read
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Disney movies can act as the perfect inspiration for family travel, highlighting lesser-known destinations as a possible location for the next trip — Colombia in the Oscar-winning Encanto, for example, and the South Pacific in Moana. With the studio marking its 100th anniversary this October, there are new ways to get inspired. Start with Disney100:The Exhibition, running at ExCeL London from 13 October 2023 and celebrating the centenary through 10 interactive galleries of memorabilia. It gives the whole family a chance to revisit their favourite Disney flicks — and, through them, some of the real-life destinations that inspired their beloved storylines.
Toy Story series (1996, 1999, 2010 and 2019)
The four Toy Story movies, in which a cohort of dolls and playthings secretly come to life, are set in the ‘Tri-County’ area — a fictional location in San Francisco Bay (West Cutting Boulevard, one-time location of Pixar’s HQ, is referenced in two of the films). With its colourful Chinatown, vintage tramways, eerie prison island of Alcatraz and California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco is one of the very best family city-break destinations in the US. It’s also a great jumping-off point for adventures in Yosemite National Park, where you can hike, cycle, horse-ride, river-raft and camp in a landscape of giant redwoods.
Attractions: With the series having reached near-cult status among Disney fans, there are Toy Story Land areas in several Disney parks around the globe, from Paris and Florida to Hong Kong and Shanghai. They vary by size and by rides; Paris, with the RC Racer roller coaster, the caterpillar-like Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, is a highlight. The Toy Story Hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort was also inspired by the franchise.
Finding Nemo (2003)
The tale of clownfish Marlin and his son Nemo takes place on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, one of the best places in the world to see and learn about marine life: there are around 600 types of coral, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species and more than 30 species of whales and dolphins, not to mention thousands of fishes. Many families choose to base themselves in mainland Cairns or Hamilton Island, one of the Whitsundays — both gateways to the world’s largest coral system, be it with boat rides or guided snorkelling tours. Older kids can get involved in citizen science projects, too, such as safeguarding turtle nests or monitoring mangroves.
Attractions: The big screen’s favourite clownfish has a number of attractions to his name. You can hop aboard The Seas with Nemo & Friends dark ride at Florida’s EPCOT theme park; the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at California’s Disneyland Park; and Crush’s Coaster at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris.
Frozen and Frozen II (2013 and 2019)
The fictional kingdom of Arendelle, home to sisters Anna and Elsa and the rest of the Frozen cast, was inspired by the landscapes of Norway. The country is a perennial winter favourite with families, especially its far north. Here, the Arctic capital of Tromsø is a good bet for spotting the Northern Lights, while Finnmark — the Norwegian part of Lapland — offers the chance to meet the Indigenous Sami people and enjoy reindeer sleigh-rides, dog sledding and snowmobile safaris.
Attractions: At Florida’s EPCOT theme park, visitors sail past scenes inspired by the Frozen films. Stage performances of the stories take place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — also in Florida — and Paris’s Walt Disney Studios Park. The first entirely Frozen-themed area is set to open in Hong Kong in November, with similar experiences in the works at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea.
Moana (2016)
The tale of a girl lured from her island by adventures at sea, Moana was inspired by the history and culture of the South Pacific. Scenes of atolls and green volcanic peaks came from Polynesian and Melanesian islands such as Tetiaroa, Fiji, Samoa and Moorea. Fiji alone has over 300 islands, with miles of white-sand beach, coral reefs and rainforest perfect for a castaway trip. Its two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, have compact but multicultural cities, too, with markets and heritage sites to discover between activities in the wild.
Attractions: The first Moana attraction at a Disney park — a trail where kids can play with water at all stages of its journey from sky to sea — is scheduled to open at EPCOT by the end of the year.
Encanto (2021)
This recent classic puts the spotlight on Colombia — not an obvious family destination but one worth considering for its mix of Andean peaks, Amazon rainforest and Caribbean beaches. Lovers of the film will have noticed its nods to the country’s biodiversity, and visitors can discover natural wonders in habitats such as Tayrona National Park, home to black howler monkeys and elusive jaguars. Hiking, sea kayaking and snorkelling are all on the agenda, and for rides and shows, make for the Parque del Café amusement park in Quindío, which celebrates the country’s coffee-growing heritage.
Attractions: While the movie doesn’t have a dedicated Disney area yet, an Encanto meet and greet is set to open at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida by the end of 2023, and plans have been mooted for a future attraction there, too.
Published in the October 2023 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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