What is Disney Inspired Travel | Planning Tips | Top Disney Inspired Destinations | Itineraries | Helpful Posts

What is Disney Inspired Travel?

Disney Inspired Travel is a “themed” vacation based on a Disney movie or attraction. It’s an itinerary based on the real-life places that have inspired Disney filmmakers and Imagineers for years; the places where you can literally walk in Walt’s foot steps; the places that bridge the gap between reality and fantasy; and the places where you too can pretend to be in your favorite Disney films for a day (or week). 

Who is a Disney Inspired Vacation for?

Literally EVERYONE.  There are so many variations that fit every demographic and budget.  If your boys are really into Baymax, take them to San Francisco.  Or if your daughters are really into Enchanted, take them to New York City.  Live in California? Take a day trip to some easy places around Los Angeles that inspired Walt Disney.  Live in the Midwest? Take a day trip to Walt’s home town.  The point is to find new places to explore where you will feel that tangible Disney magic.

Why go on a Disney Inspired Trip?

This is sort of a personal question that only you can really answer for yourself but for me, these types of trips allow me to delve even deeper into my love for Disney & Disney travel and they add a fun overarching theme to any vacation I may already be planning.

A few years ago, my only goal (as it related to travel) was to visit all of the Disney theme parks around the world. I was obsessed with achieving that goal and I was actually able to do so in a very short time.  Of course, every single theme park was amazing and now I want to return regularly, but after achieving this goal so quickly I felt a little like “now what”?  And then I discovered DISNEY INSPIRED TRAVEL. This unique style of travel has opened up a WHOLE NEW WORLD (literally) of amazing vacation ideas that are never-ending.

So by now, you may be saying to yourself, “Wow, this sounds awesome! But how do I go about actually doing this?”  If that’s you, then you’ve come to the right place. Keep on reading….

Disney Inspired Vacation Planning Tips

There are TONS of articles on the internet with ideas for real-life places that have inspired Disney movies and attractions.  In recent years, Disney and Pixar have given journalists unparalleled access to behind-the-scenes information about the creation and inspiration for almost every movie released.  What this basically means is that if you can dream it, you can probably do it… when it comes to visiting real-life places that resemble your favorites.

Where to Start

There are two ways to begin: 1) pick a destination you’re interested in visiting or 2) pick a film or landmark that you want to explore further.  I usually start with a destination that I’m interested in visiting and then work backwards to find the Disney related tie-ins. That said, for 2020, I can already see this strategy shifting to the 2nd option as travel options are limited.

Option 1: If you begin with a destination in mind, do a quick internet search to see if there are any Disney-related ties to that area.  This can often be a tedious process and I sometimes have to really dig through the internet to find what I’m looking for.  That’s honestly why I created this section of the blog.  I want to help readers like you, avoid having to waste so much time researching. (If I’ve already done it, why not share it?!) Once I find some initial ties, then I start to search for more information related to those movies or attractions.

Option 2: If you decide to begin with a movie in mind instead, you’ll want to do the same type of internet search but this time you’ll be using keywords related to the film or attractions you’re interested in.  Information is a bit easier to find when going this route as your search will often include specific cities or landmarks of note for that film.  After I have my list of places, I usually re-watch the film looking for those landmarks.  I’ll often take screenshots or write ideas in a notebook as I watch.  (I mean, I don’t really need another excuse to watch Tangled but I’ll take it!)   

Map It

Once you have a list of general places you want to see, create a custom map using Google Maps.  I add each attraction to the map and am able to see how close or spread out my destinations appear.  This really helps with phase 2 of the planning process.  It will help you understand how much time you will need to visit each place, how close the nearest airport is (if you’re flying), and if there are any other non-Disney attractions you want to check out while you’re there.  I do this same process for trips both domestically and internationally.

Accommodations

Once I have figured out approximate timing, then I start looking for accommodations based on my itinerary.  There may even be cases where you can stay at specific hotels or resorts that actually inspired Disney Imagineers themselves!  If there aren’t hotels of notable interest, I’ll often look at places to stay using travel points.  I highly recommend looking into credit cards with maximum travel benefits for these types of trips.  They’ll help you save tremendously on accommodations.  I’m currently using the Chase Ink Business Preferred card and the American Express Delta Platinum card.

Transportation

This one is a bit straightforward.  Depending on where you’re heading, you’ll either need to bring your own car, rent a car, or use public transportation.  If you’re following any of my itineraries on the blog, I make sure to provide recommendations for each. 

Road Tripping During Covid

I’ve added this section for 2020.  This year, travel has gotten exceedingly more difficult.  In fact, the CDC recommends that US citizens refrain from travel altogether unless it’s an emergency.  Does this mean we all need to remain homebound?  Well – yes and no.  Only you know if you’re at a higher risk or not, but if you do decide to venture out into the world, the only way I recommend doing so safely is through road tripping – where you have access to your own car or RV.  This will limit the number of people you come into contact with and help you protect yourself and your family.  There are lots of natural places throughout the US that have inspired Disney films and attractions that you can visit without having to be inside a building or come into contact with people.

If you do decide to road trip this year, check out my suggestions for what to bring with you on a road trip.

Top Disney Inspired Destinations

As you can imagine, there are hundreds of places you can visit around the world to find the real-life Disney magic I’ve been talking about in this post. Below I’m outlining a few of the biggest and most well-known destinations.  This is by no means a complete list but gives you a taste for what you could do.

Top 5 Real-Life Disney Locations in the United States

1. Route 66 – Cars

One of the things that makes the original Cars film so special is the story of Radiator Springs, this tiny town on the once-bustling Route 66.  The story of Radiator Springs is a compilation of the real-life stories of many business owners along the real Route 66 in America.  This is an incredible road trip idea and will bring Radiator Springs to life for you in amazing new ways.

For more see: Places Along Route 66 that Inspired Cars

2. Yellowstone – The Good Dinosaur

As one of Pixar’s more underrated films (imo), The Good Dinosaur takes place almost exclusively throughout Wyoming.  It’s the story of a frightened young dinosaur, Arlo, who must learn to face his fears as he makes his way through the wilderness back to his home. Taking a trip to the Grand Tetons & Yellowstone, you can see the landscape that inspired the filmmakers and you can literally walk in Arlo’s shoes as you explore the impressive great outdoors.

For more see: Places in Wyoming that Inspired The Good Dinosaur

3. New York City – Oliver & Company

This popular 80s film, has become a cult classic among millennials and rightly so, it features incredible music from Billy Joel after all.  If you want to add a twist to your next trip to New York City, take a few hours to check out the places that inspired this movie.

4. New Orleans – The Princess & the Frog

If you’re a Princess & the Frog fan, New Orleans should be a Disney destination at the top of your list! You can’t help but imagine yourself in the movie as you walk down Bourbon Street.  The city is Tiana’s home.  It’s a real-life place where you can taste the food that inspired her to open her own restaurant and you can visit the old mansions that inspired the La Bouff mansion.

5. Kauai – Lilo & Stitch

Looking for something a bit more tropical?  Why not head to Hanapepe in Kauai, Hawaii?  Home to the loveable Lilo & Stitch.  Learn to surf, go shopping, attend a luau and more – but watch out or you may just find yourself an alien of your own. :p

Top 5 Real-Life Disney Locations Around the World

1. Paris – Ratatouille

Most people already know that Paris is the place for foodies, but have you ever eaten your way through Paris with Ratatouille in mind?  Spend a day exploring the city through Remy’s eyes. Due to the popularity of the film, you can even take a Ratatouille inspired-sewer tour!

2. African Safari – The Lion King

Let’s face it, an African safari is probably on every travel afficionado’s bucket list. But did you know that Hell’s Gate National Park in Kenya was the actual inspiration for many of the film’s landscapes? This is one of those destinations where working with a reputable tour company is a necessity. To take it a step further, why not go on this Safari with Adventures by Disney?!

3. France – Beauty & the Beast

“Little town, it’s a quiet village”… was literally on repeat in my mind as I walked the streets of Riquewihr and Ribeauville on the eastern side of France.  In fact, the entire Alsace region of France feels like it was taken straight from this beloved fairy tale.

For more see: Places in France that Inspired Beauty & the Beast

4. Norway – Frozen

The setting of Disney Animation’s biggest franchise of ALL TIME was actually inspired by the culture and landscapes of Norway.  If you can stomach the cold, head here in the winter and feel what it’s like to be in Arendelle.

5. Iceland – Frozen 2

As if the settings in Frozen weren’t beautiful enough, Disney animators decided to step it up to another level for Frozen 2.  It’s widely known that the film’s settings are based on the lush landscapes of Iceland and you can’t help but feel Elsa EVERYWHERE when you visit in the winter.

For more see: Places in Iceland that Inspired Frozen 2

For even more Disney inspired destination ideas, check out My Disney Inspired Travel Bucket List!

Disney Inspired Itineraries

By now, I hope you are thoroughly inspired to get your Disney inspired travel on! This style of vacationing has literally changed my life. I hope you too will experience the magic while exploring these Disney hidden gems. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, don’t you worry, I’ve got you covered.  I’ve spent the last 6 months looking into Disney related travel and have started checking off itineraries on my own bucket list. 

See below for a few of my own itineraries to get you started on your adventures:

• Cars Route 66 Itinerary
• The Good Dinosaur Wyoming Itinerary
• Frozen 2 Iceland Itinerary
• Beauty & the Beast France Itinerary

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