Inspiration for Disney Parks & Resorts

Originally built in the 13th-century, this medieval castle and fortress in the Norwegian capital of Oslo was designed to protect the city and provide a royal residence for the family of the King of Norway. The castle tower and part of the cathedral are replicated in Epcot’s Noway Pavilion as the exterior for Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, which also takes its name from the real-life location meaning “the (fortified) house of (the district) Aker”. The buildings and design of these grounds served as part of the inspiration for the design of Arendelle’s Castle in Frozen (2013). You can see the similarities on the brick fortress walls, the sloped roofs, and the round, green towers. Today, this fort is open to the public as a park and contains a series of museums detailing the history of the grounds as well as Noway’s military history. Address: 0150 Oslo, Norway Visitor Information: Akershus Festning

Known as America’s first boardwalk, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk stretches over 5 miles along New Jersey’s beachfront. On this pedestrian walkway, you can find hotels, casinos, and restaurants including WanderDisney locations Rainforest Cafe and Trattoria Il Mulino. This area, along with Coney Island’s boardwalk served as the design inspiration for Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas. Just down the road, you’ll also find Lucy the Elephant, a roadside attraction that’s honored in Disney’s BoardWalk’s lobby. This location is mentioned in our blog post: A Photo Tour Of The BoardWalk’s Hidden Disney Castles Address: Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Visitor Information: DO|AC (Casino Reinvestment Development Authority)

The Bab Abi al-Jounoud or Bab Bou Jeloud (also spelled Bab Boujeloud or Bab Boujloud) is an ornate city gate dividing the western entrance of Fez to the medina (old city). This city entrance, also known as the Blue Gate is replicated in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Fès, Morocco Visitor Information: Regional Council of Tourism FES

Located on the eastern side of Bergen’s Vågen harbor, Bryggen’s historic district of buildings dating back to the 14th century is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The row of colorful dockside buildings inspired part of the facade to Epcot’s The Fjording, a souvenir shop in the Norway Pavilion. The area is also said to have been the inspiration for the seaside village of Arendelle in the Frozen franchise. This location is mentioned in our blog post: A Perfect Disney Day In Bergen, Norway Address: Bryggen, 5003 Bergen, Norway Visitor Information: Visit Bergen

In 1974 an artist collective named Ant Farm installed Cadillac Ranch: an art installation along the historic Route 66 (this stretch in Texas is now known as Route 40) which inspired the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. The roadside attraction features 10 brightly colored classic Cadillacs buried face-first in a row. Fans of Pixar’s Cars franchise may recognize a similar sight as the filmmakers paid very appropriate homage to the Ranch in the mountains surrounding Radiator Springs, named Cadillac Range. Parks buffs will notice that this same mountain range is also incorporated into the theming of the high-speed Radiator Springs Racers attraction. Address: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124 Visitor Information: Atlas Obscura

The Chellah Necropolis is a complex dating back to medieval times on the east side of Morocco’s capital city of Rabat. The area has gone from a Phoenician (thanks) trading site to a Roman colony, to a Muslim burying ground and mosque. Today, the area is considered a historic archaeological site and park, open to visitors for a fee. The mosque’s minaret (tower used to announce the call to prayer), which still stands, was replicated and can be found in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Quartier Chellah, El Youssoufia, El Youssoufia 10190, Morocco Visitor Information: TripAdvisor

Chichén Itzá is an archeological complex on the grounds of a former Mayan city established between 750 and 900 AD. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a popular tourist destination. Among the site’s Mesoamerican pyramids is its most well known, El Castillo (also known as Temple of Kukulcan), which is the main inspiration for the pyramid found in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion. Address: Tinum, Yucatan, Mexico Visitor Information: Zona Arqueologica de Chichen Itza (Available only in Spanish)

Chillon Castle is a medieval castle built on a limestone rock in Lake Geneva between Montreux and Villeneuve in Switzerland. It has survived since the Bronze Age and has been used as a fortress, prison, and residence for counts. Today, it houses a museum which showcases its history. While it isn’t a replica, this castle served as the architectural inspiration for Prince Eric’s shoreside castle in the 1989 animated feature, The Little Mermaid. You can find scale versions of Eric’s castle while riding the Storybook Land Canal Boats in both Disneyland and it’s Disneyland Paris counterpart, Le Pays des Contes de Fées. You can also find a version of it in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom as the facade for Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction. Address: Avenue de Chillon 21, 1820 Veytaux, Switzerland Visitor Information: Château de Chillon

This Magana, or hydraulic clock, hangs above the medina (the walled, old quarter of the city), just across the street from the entrance to the Abu Inania Medersa, one of the largest theological schools in Morocco. Eagle-eyed Epcot fans know that a replica of this clock exists in the Morocco Pavilion, just left of the entrance to Restaurant Marrakesh. Epcot’s version is an idealized one: what the clock may have looked like when it was in working order, back in the heyday of water clocks. The real clock was built in 1357 by the astronomer master Abou l’Hassan Ali Tlemsani and used a complex system of water released into 13 metal bowls on regular intervals. Today, the clock mechanism is in extreme disrepair, with no more bowls left on the wooden perches. It may be a bit hard to find in the medina’s maze but if you can navigate to the Abu Inania Medersa or Cafe Clock, a well-publicized restaurant with great reviews, you know you’re close. The clock is just above the cafe’s entrance corridor, across the street from the Medersa. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of […]

The Columns of San Marco (Saint Mark) and San Todaro (Saint Theodore) stand guard in front of Doge’s Palace and St. Marks Square in Venice, Italy. These two marble and granite pillars overlook the lagoon and represent the city’s two patrons: the winged lion (symbol of Saint Mark) and Saint Theodore (the Byzantine Saint of Amasea), the city’s first protector. A set of scale replicas of these famous landmarks can be found guarding the entrance to Epcot’s Italy Pavilion. Address: Piazza, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Visitor Information: APT of the Province of Venice

Coney Island’s Boardwalk (Riegelmann Boardwalk) is a nearly 3-mile stretch of a boardwalk on the south shore beaches of Brooklyn, New York. Along the pedestrian walkway, you can find amusement parks like Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park (both are WanderDisney locations!) along with shops and food stalls. This area, along with Atlantic City’s boardwalk served as the design inspiration for Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas. Coney Island attractions like Lucy the Elephant and extinct attractions like Sonora Webster’s diving horse act and the Flip Flap Railway are honored in various ways around Disney’s BoardWalk. This location is mentioned in our blog post: A Photo Tour Of The BoardWalk’s Hidden Disney Castles Address: Riegelmann Boardwalk, Brooklyn, NY 11224 Visitor Information: Official Website of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Crossroads of the World is an outdoor shopping area on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Built in 1936, The building’s iconic art deco tower and spinning globe have been replicated as a small shopping kiosk (topped with a 5’3” tall Mickey Mouse statue) at the entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The shop even shares the same name, Crossroads of the World. Address: 6671 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Visitor Information: Crossroads Hollywood