Disney Movies and Their Inspirations: 9 Places That Really Exist

Disney movies are reliable mood lifters. But what do they have to do with travel? Many of the places shown in the movies actually exist. We'll show you where in the world Mulan, Aladdin, and others are set.

Disney transports us to another world with its movies. And sometimes, it's just necessary to escape everyday life, ride on a flying carpet with Aladdin, sing 'Hakuna Matata' with Simba, or accompany Elsa on her journey out of the ice. But in the end, it's all just fantasy.

When you head out on your next trip, you can bring a little bit of Disney magic into real life. Because some of the locations actually exist. We're showing you nine Disney world locations that should be on your bucket list.

A cursed girl, a brave knight, and a beautiful castle surrounded by a dangerous thorn bush: The story of Sleeping Beauty has been melting hearts for decades. Can't get enough of the romantic tale?

Then head to Bavaria. There, you'll find the inspiration for the fairy tale castle where Sleeping Beauty waits to be awakened by her prince: Neuschwanstein Castle. The enchanted castle sits on a hill near Füssen and is already a tourist magnet.

By the way: In fall and winter, the sight of the pleasure palace is particularly magical, when light fog settles over the forest or the castle stands out in the winter snow landscape.

The heartwarming story of Grandpa Carl who tries to fulfill his lifelong dream at over 70 is one of the most popular Disney movies. In 'Up,' Carl takes his house to the skies with hundreds of balloons and experiences many adventures. He flies past a beautiful mountain where he eventually lands.

You can visit this mountain with its waterfalls, too. It's modeled after Angel Falls in Venezuela. If this place isn't on your bucket list yet, it's time to add it. It's also the world's tallest waterfall, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.

The adventures of Aladdin took us into a magical world in our childhood. Unfortunately, you've probably realized by now that there are neither magic lamps nor genies, and we missed the era of flying carpets.

But we have a little consolation for you: The palace where Princess Jasmine lives with her father actually exists.

You can find it in India. The Taj Mahal is already one of the most popular travel destinations in the country because of its unique architecture. Visiting is worth it, as it takes you a little bit into the world of Aladdin and his flying carpet.

'The Emperor's New Groove'. If you've ever wondered what the Disney creators were thinking when making this crazy film or how they came up with the story involving llamas, you should definitely take a trip to the location that inspired it. Because where the king turns into a llama in the film and then fights back to the throne, llamas also exist in real life.

The mysterious Incan site of Machu Picchu in Peru looks almost exactly like the landscape that follows us throughout the entire movie. And there are numerous llamas living there. They're quite natural for the locals. But whether the film or the llamas came first, you'll have to discover for yourself, preferably on site.

Many young girls wanted to be like Mulan: The Chinese warrior who disguised herself as a young man to join the army is still an idol for many women today. The likelihood of experiencing adventures similar to Mulan's in today's world is slim. Nevertheless, you can visit the places where her story is set.

The landscape is inspired by real-life China. The Emperor's Palace, where Mulan ultimately fights the Huns, was inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing. Until a few years ago when it opened to tourists, it was not accessible to the public. It was indeed the home of the Emperor of China.

Thrills, roaring engines, and cool cars: The Disney series Cars revs up the hearts of young and old car fans alike. They enjoy witty lines and plenty of car races. If that's not enough, you can also appreciate the fantastic scenery where the Cars zoom around.

If watching on the screen isn't enough, drive to the location. Or better yet, fly. Because the landscape is inspired by Arizona and Texas in the USA.

There, you can even visit the starting point for the first big trip of the talking Disney cars: the U-Drop Inn. Nowadays, fans of the Disney movie frequently visit the location.

Simba wanders the savanna with his father Mufasa, they go on hunts. Or Timon and Pumbaa look for a good meal. Do images immediately pop up in your head when you hear these words? No surprise, who doesn't know the story of The Lion King?

While the animals don't sing in real life, you can find the places where Simba roams in our world. They're set in Africa. Some scenes are inspired by Tanzania's Serengeti.

Most of them, however, derive from the real landscapes and wildlife of Kenya. There you can also find the famous Pride Rock.

An ice castle? True Disney fans recognize it from the story of Frozen: Ice Queen Elsa accidentally turns everything she touches with her hands into ice. So, she disappears and builds herself a huge ice palace. Does that sound like a cool concept for your next vacation?

Then head to Canada. There, a small holiday village built on this concept exists. Not only are there houses made of ice, but also chairs, tables, and entire bars. The best part: your trip will definitely be unique because the hotel's architecture changes every year as the ice melts in between.

As a real inspiration for the castle, Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut, specifically the Lutheran church there, could have been a source. At least, tourists flock there due to this not officially confirmed rumor, overwhelming the small town. But: 'That apparently was in a Chinese newspaper, but I'm not aware of it,' says Mayor Alexander Scheutz.

A story about friendship that just happens to unfold in paradise: With Lilo and Stitch, Disney hit the mark twice. The girl experiences adventures with her little blue friend amidst palm trees, dream beaches, and almost always sunny skies.

Lilo always wears a small Hawaiian dress. And that's the clue to the location that's largely responsible for the world of the two friends: Hawaii. Specifically, the city of Hanapepe on Kauai, an island that's part of Hawaii.

Haven't had enough Disney locations for your bucket list? You can keep going: We've also searched for Disney spots in Europe.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations at bettercities.net, and the best travel deals on our Deals page.

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