18 Wondrous Places On Earth That Inspired Some Of The Most Beautiful Disney Scenes

For those of us who grew up watching Disney movies, and even now as adults who still love to snuggle up and enjoy Disney's works, we are often in awe of the beautifully animated places featured in the films. The studio never disappoints, not only when it comes to the heartwarming stories that resonate with people of all ages but also in taking the extra time to ensure that every little detail is up to par.

This includes their amazing cinematography. Especially in their animated films, they always seem to know exactly how to portray the locations they feature, and they are almost always depicted so beautifully that you wish they were real places you could visit!

Well, there is actually some truth to that—many of the locations they animate in their films are based, if not loosely, on some of the most wonderful places our world has to offer. After all, Mother Nature is truly one of the best artists to admire, right?

Disney never fails to bring out our inner child, and no matter what age we are while watching their animated films, we always become enchanted by the castles, lights, and mountains featured. They consistently add a dramatic twist to everything so beautifully—and yes, we still can't forget that lantern scene in Tangled.

This just goes to show that our imagination can truly bring out the best when we also seek beauty in the world—combine those elements, and voila! We now have a masterpiece right before our eyes.

Here are some of the most notable examples of the wondrous places that inspired Disney's settings in their films:

1. The "Brave" Castle Is Based On Eilean Donan In The Scottish Highlands

2. The Coronation Scene In "Frozen" Is Based On St. Olaf's Church In Balestrand, Norway

3. "Hercules" Ancient Greece In General

4. "Finding Nemo" Sydney Harbour, Australia

5. Eric's Castle In "The Little Mermaid" Is Based On Chateau De Chillon, On Lake Geneva, Switzerland

6. Aladdin's Agrabah Is Based On The Taj Mahal

7. "Peter Pan" Big Ben, London

8. The "Sleeping Beauty" Castle Is Based On Neuschwanstein, As Is Cinderella's Castle In Disneyworld, Orlando, FL

9. "Up" Angel Falls, Venezuela

10. "Oliver & Company" New York City

11. Corona, In "Tangled" Is Based On Mont Saint-Michel, In Normandy

12. "Mulan" The Forbidden City, Beijing

13. "Cars" U-Drop Inn, Shamrock, Texas

14. The "Snow White" Castle Is Based On Alcazar, In Segovia, Spain

15. Moana's Motonui Is Based On Samoa

16. Pinocchio's Village, Collodi Village, Italy

17. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Paris

18. "The Emperor's New Groove" Is Based On Machu Picchu In Peru

These photos truly illustrate how beautifully the human mind and the environment can work hand in hand. We can't keep saying we wish those Disney worlds were real, because they are, and they are just waiting for us to visit them!

Have you been to any of these places before? Share your thoughts in the comments, or share this article with your family and friends to see!