To celebrate its 100th anniversary, The Walt Disney Company has opened its vaults to reveal a list of 30 locations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa that have inspired, and featured in, its films and theme parks over the past century.

These locations and productions are presented in a series of paired photographs, so fans can compare the real-world attractions with how they’ve been reinterpreted and used by Disney’s filmmakers and designers. 

Examples include the Norwegian fortress that partly inspired the castle in Frozen, the Tudor estate that influenced the maze in Alice in Wonderland and the enchanting forest that informed the setting for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

Research commissioned by The Walt Disney Company found that two in five (42 per cent) Brits are unaware that many Disney films and park attractions are based on real-world locations.

The study also found that when Brits were asked which UK locations they would like to see featured in future Disney films, the Lake District topped the list (14 per cent), followed by Loch Ness (10 per cent) and Edinburgh Castle (10 per cent).

Scroll down for all 30 pictures to see how incredible real-world places have had starring roles in Disney productions – and fired up the imaginations of its creative staff…

Disney has released first-look images of its renovated Disneyland Hotel – and revealed that the five-star Disneyland Paris property will reopen on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Disney said in a statement that ‘every centimetre of the interior of this legendary establishment is undergoing a complete “reimagination” – from the spectacular grand lobby to the luxuriant rooms and suites’.

Future guests at the not-so-faraway hotel, Disney said, will experience ‘a new luxury concept interwoven with beloved royal Disney characters both classic and new’.

All 487 rooms and suites – 346 Superior Rooms, 82 Deluxe Rooms, 41 Castle Club Rooms, 16 Signature Suites, 1 Princely Suite and 1 Royal Suite – are ‘entirely redesigned with an elegant atmosphere as well as modern comfort and luxury amenities’, Disney said.

It continued: ‘The tradition of Disney storytelling can be found inside all rooms and suites, from artwork and subtle touches that celebrate iconic elements of Walt Disney Animation Studios royal stories down to the last decor details.’

Guests staying in The Castle Club – ‘an exclusive hotel within the hotel’ – will enjoy a range of VIP benefits and services, including extra privacy with a dedicated private elevator and check-in area, as well as a breakfast with Disney Princess characters in the Castle Club Lounge.

Suites, meanwhile, ‘will offer unprecedented levels of immersion into royal Disney stories’.

And whatever room they’re in – ‘children will be welcomed like princesses and princes during their stay’, declares Disney.

There will even be spaces tailored just to them, we’re told, such as the Royal Kids Club, ‘where they will be immersed in augmented reality magic and unforgettable encounters’.

And there’s more.

Disney continued: ‘[In the] My Royal Dream experience… young guests will be able to transform into their favourite Disney royalty with the help of regal hairstyles, special outfits, accessories and a little pixie dust.

‘And after a full day creating magical memories at the parks, families will have the opportunity to enjoy together a spa experience at Disneyland Hotel Spa by Clarins or a relaxation session in a dedicated space. Additionally, all the hotel’s restaurants, bars and lounges will offer kid-friendly treats and exquisite themed pastries.’

Disney added: ‘Disneyland Hotel is the first Disney hotel to propose a five-star journey celebrating Disney royalty in all its expressions. From Cinderella to Frozen and The Sword in the Stone, and from The Princess and the Frog to Moana, guests will be given the lead to become part of the story and create their own magical moments.

‘Combining their creativity with the expertise of European suppliers and craftspeople, the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris team has developed a singular, immersive experience that pays vibrant homage to both Disney royal stories and celebrated European landmarks such as Le Chateau de Versailles or Neuschwanstein Castle.

‘The hotel will offer its guests a unique entertainment program that creates memories alongside beloved royal Disney Characters, or Mickey, Minnie and their friends in new exclusive regal attire and even an exclusive La Troupe Royale Disney.’

Natacha Rafalski, Presidente of Disneyland Paris, said: ‘This marks a new chapter for Disneyland Paris, as we continue to be one of the leaders of the European tourism industry with our unique blend of immersive storytelling and world-class hospitality.

‘We are thrilled to unveil the newly reimagined Disneyland Hotel, a one-of-a-kind five-star property celebrating Disney’s beloved royalty and storytelling. Our commitment to innovation and unparalleled guest experiences remains unwavering, and we look forward to welcoming guests to one of the most immersive hotels in Europe.’

Reservations are now open at www.disneylandparis.com.

Disney has unveiled its latest cruise ship – with renderings revealing dazzling interiors.

Disney Treasure, Disney Cruise Line’s sixth ship, is slated to set sail from Florida on her inaugural cruise in December 2024.

The 4,000-passenger ship, which measures 1,119ft (341m) in length and weighs approximately 144,000 gross tons, is being constructed at Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard. 

The vessel, a sister ship to Disney Wish, which launched last year, promises to ‘unlock the far-reaching realms of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel and embrace dynamic tales from beloved Disney Parks attractions, through captivating and immersive experiences on the high seas’. A statement adds that Disney Treasure will ‘harness a design concept that calls upon the bold and heartwarming stories of beloved Disney characters’. 

First-of-its-kind features on board include a restaurant inspired by the film Coco, an Aladdin-themed ‘grand hall’ and a Zootopia-inspired sweet shop.  

The overriding theme of the ship is ‘adventure’, a decision made to ‘honour Walt Disney’s legendary passion for travel and exploration’.

This begins with the food offering. Unique to the ship is the aforementioned Plaza de Coco, the ‘world’s first theatrical dining experience’ themed around the 2017 hit Disney and Pixar animation Coco.

Detailing what to expect from the immersive restaurant experience, Disney says that the story of lead character Miguel and his family will continue where it left off on screen as they take diners on ‘colourful, music-filled journeys that celebrate family memories and togetherness’. Diners will enjoy ‘festive’ dinners with dishes that offer a ‘modern twist’ on traditional Mexican fare and a line-up of live entertainment. 

Another brand-new addition to the cruise line is Jumbeaux’s Sweets, a candy shop inspired by the ice cream parlour featured in Disney’s ‘Zootopia’.

For the adults on board, new to the cruise line is the Periscope Pub, a bar that’s inspired by the 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Here, ‘guests will dive into the mythical depths of uncharted oceans amidst the submarine-styled interiors and take a look at the watery world below through an intriguing glass ceiling’. Craft beers and light bites will be served.

Themed cocktails can be sipped at Skipper Society, another brand-new feature of the ship. This bar – complete with campground-style furnishings – is inspired by the Jungle Cruise boat ride attraction at Disney theme parks around the globe.

Many features echo those that are found on sister ship Disney Wish. For instance, Worlds of Marvel, Disney Cruise Line’s immersive Marvel-themed dining experience, which ‘celebrates favourite Avengers characters and stories’, is returning.

As is 1923, a restaurant named for the founding year of Walt Disney Animation Studios. It’s said to be ‘steeped in the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age’.

There are two adults-only eateries on board – Palo Steakhouse, offering ‘authentic Italian dining’, and Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, said to ‘offer the most luxurious dining experience on board, featuring a gourmet menu crafted by three-Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Lallement’. 

The new ship will also feature ’24-hour room service, speciality treats, [and] gourmet cafes’, a statement reveals.

Beyond dinner and drinks, the vessel is chockablock with family-friendly entertainment venues that are said to immerse guests ‘in worlds both real and imagined, through interactive storytelling, character encounters and Broadway-style theatrical adaptations of inspiring Disney adventures’.

The Aladdin-themed Grand Hall – the ship’s ‘most prominent gathering space’ – will ‘host dedicated shows, character encounters and musical performances’.

Another new addition to the fleet will be Sarabi, a two-storey entertainment hub named after the lioness matriarch from The Lion King. The space, said to ‘evoke the natural beauty and openness of the savanna’, will be the setting for themed games such as ‘Family Time Game Show’ and ‘Villains Game Night’. 

Return features on board, meanwhile, include the Walt Disney Theatre, billed as an ‘opulent show palace that will come alive with original Broadway-style productions developed exclusively for Disney Cruise Line’. Shows include ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Disney Seas the Adventure’, which are both said to be ‘Disney Cruise Line fan-favourites’. 

Disney hints that there’ll be an all-new theatre show coming to Disney Treasure – but details of the production have yet to be released.

Just as they can aboard Disney Wish, guests can experience the Hero Zone sports venue and the Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas, where first-run films from Disney, Pixar and Marvel are screened. 

The Oceaneer Club – another return feature for kids and teens – is a ‘wonderland of immersive spaces’ that allows children to ‘enter the captivating worlds of [their] favourite Disney stories’.

It features the Marvel Super Hero Academy, where kids can train to become superheroes; Fairytale Hall, a collection of prince and princess-themed activity rooms; Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, where little ones discover the secrets of the ‘creative masterminds’ behind Disney theme parks; Star Wars: Cargo Bay, where children can be immersed in their own Star Wars story; and Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck, a maritime-themed playground.

On the upper decks of the ship guests will find an ‘expansive district themed to Mickey and friends’.

Herein lies the AquaMouse ride, a returning feature from Disney Wish. It has a brand-new theme aboard Disney Treasure, telling the story of the ‘Curse of the Golden Egg’, which ‘follows Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a zany misadventure into an ancient temple’. 

Describing the ride, Disney says: ‘Powerful jets will propel two-person ride vehicles through 760ft (231m) of winding tubes, offering breathtaking views of the ocean and the ship below.’

There’s also a Toy Story-themed district – just as there is aboard Disney Wish – designed for families with young children that will include a splash zone, wading pool, family waterslide and smoothie bar.

The Quiet Cove adult area is another return feature from Disney Wish. ‘This secluded adults-only district will feature a luxurious infinity pool, poolside bar and chic café,’ says Disney.

For even more rest and relaxation, adults can retreat to the Senses Spa, ‘a tranquil oasis offering indulgent spa and beauty treatments’.

For a workout, the Senses Fitness gym will offer ‘state-of-the-art exercise and wellness facilities’.

After action-packed days, guests will look forward to a good night’s sleep. A statement says the ‘luxurious accommodations aboard Disney Treasure will strike an inviting balance between modern design and nostalgic charm with a fresh, natural colour scheme and custom artwork that will entice guests to peer beyond their staterooms into fantastical worlds from heartwarming Disney adventures’.

It’s said that most of the ship’s 1,256 staterooms will offer an ocean view, and 70 per cent will feature a verandah space.

There are four different styles of ‘royal’ suites on board that are designed to ‘pay tribute to the faithful feline companions of daring Disney characters’. For instance, the Bagheera Royal Suites are inspired by the panther from The Jungle Book and the lush forests he calls home. 

The Rajah Royal Suites, meanwhile, are themed to Princess Jasmine’s protective tiger who dwells in the royal palace of Agrabah in Aladdin.

Those who splash out on the concierge experience will stay in ‘indulgent’ suites with interiors inspired by the ‘majestic grasslands Simba calls home in The Lion King’. They’ll also enjoy access to ‘an exclusive concierge lounge with a private sun deck that serves as the perfect place to relax, sip a cocktail and enjoy a variety of food and beverages throughout the day’.

Disney Treasure will embark on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, on December 21, 2024, followed by an inaugural season of itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members can book a cruise from September 12, 2023, while bookings will open to all guests on September 20, 2023. For more information visit disneycruise.com.

Disney’s blockbusters have captivated children for generations, with many dreaming to look ‘as pretty as a princess’ one day.

But scientists now say that Cinderella and Aurora are among countless characters that are more harmful to the self-esteem of young boys and girls. 

New research, led by the University of California, has shed light on the connection between the body shape of a youngster’s favourite princess and their confidence.

Aurora, Snow White and Cinderella were deemed to have a ‘less positive’ influence on a child’s self-esteem based on their thinness.

In contrast, children who idolise Brave’s Merida or Moana were far more likely to be confident, thanks to their more ‘realistic’ body types. 

‘Disney princesses are presented to children as aspirational characters,’ the authors wrote. 

‘For example, Disney princesses are often depicted as extremely thin, and their thinness is often associated with their desirability (e.g., Snow White is referred to as the “fairest of them all” and Aurora is blessed with the “gift of beauty” in their respective films). 

‘Thus, Disney films with thin princesses may reinforce the social narrative that thinness is more socially desirable, or as other authors have written, goodness is equated with thinness.’

As part of their analysis, researchers examined a dataset of 61 Disney films, with a total of 112 characters ranked on their body size.

Generally, this saw princesses from Disney’s older films categorised as ‘thin’, while more modern figures like Merida fell into the ‘normal-sized’ category. 

A group of parents were then asked which princess their child most identified with, in addition to other questions on their youngster’s perceived self-esteem.

Frozen’s Princess Elsa was a clear winner among both boys and girls, with 76 and 94 respectively deeming her as their favourite.

Meanwhile, the ‘realistically-sized’ Moana came second, while ultrathin princesses like Elsa, Anna and Jasmine also featured in the top 10. 

Overall, experts found that children were more likely to have a positive outlook on their self-esteem if their favourite princess was averagely sized.  

But those with a thinner favourite princess had no significant link between the time spent ‘playing pretend’ as them and their esteem.

This was the case for both boys and girls, but previous research indicates that boys may even be influenced much more by Disney’s princesses. 

Psychologist, Catherine Hallissey, told MailOnline that characters such as this can influence long-held attitudes even if it goes unnoticed. 

‘Children and adults are influenced by everything in their environment so if children are playing with a certain type of toy, it will influence their thoughts and attitudes,’ she said.

‘If that toy is an idealised version of beauty, this will have an impact on the child’s perception of beauty and, by extension, how they feel they measure up to this idealised version of beauty. 

‘So, if a child is playing with a toy that has a more realistic body type, the child is more likely to develop a more realistic view on body shape, size and proportions.’

As a result of the findings, authors believe that averagely-sized characters are most beneficial to children – acting as a ‘protective context’ to their esteem.

They wrote: ‘Specifically, depictions of princesses’ body size seem to be particularly impactful for young children, although our analyses suggest that perhaps thin princesses are not necessarily harmful for young children.

‘Instead, our findings suggest that princesses with average body sizes create a protective context for children’s body esteem, especially as they engage with these princesses through pretend play.

‘These findings present greater nuance to our understanding of the effect of media engagement on children’s development of body esteem and gender stereotypes, allowing us to better understand how Disney princesses specifically may play a role in children’s lives and growth.’ 

Disney Plus reveals premium and budget streaming prices after losing 11.7m customers in three months

By Daily Mail City & Finance Reporter

Published: 17:16 EDT, 10 August 2023 | Updated: 02:56 EDT, 11 August 2023

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Disney+ announces Netflix-style crackdown on password sharing and a new ad-based streaming option for UK users as it fights to reverse falling profits

• Streaming giant is to launch a new, advert-based streaming option for UK users
• It will cost £4.99 per month, with a standard option at £7.99 and premium £10.99

By Sam Tonkin

Published: 08:04 EDT, 10 August 2023 | Updated: 08:05 EDT, 10 August 2023