Portions of Disneyland park will be blocked off November 6-7 so that crews can film Tom Hanks portraying Walt Disney in the upcoming motion picture, “Saving Mr. Banks.” The film will tell the back story of the making of Disney’s 1964 classic “Mary Poppins” film.
The movie filming will require portions of Disneyland to be closed temporarily for the filming, which will occur during regular park hours. The movie stars Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, Emma Thompson as book author P.L. Travers, and Colin Farrell as Travers’ father. The last time Tom Hanks filmed at Disneyland, it was for the movie “That Thing You Do.”
Usually, park guests can get a view of filming when it takes place during regular park hours. In this case, the views may be limited due to the film being set in 1961. The crew can’t accidentally have any modern day visitors visible in the background, which means the set will likely be closed off significantly.
We know that four balloon vendors and four Main Street, U.S.A. vehicle drivers were selected for roles, which tells us that Main Street will be one of the filming locations. Aside from Main Street, Sleeping Beauty Castle is likely one of the only other locations suitable for filming considering the need for historic authenticity. Most other areas of the park have changed dramatically in appearance over the years.
If you really want to catch a glimpse of the movie stars, there are a few tactics to improve your odds. First, being near the filming location always helps. There are only so many ways in and out of Disneyland. At some point, the actors will need to walk through the general crowds for a brief period before they can be whisked through a backstage exit.
If they are filming on Main Street, the giant backstage gates near the Mad Hatter store will likely be used for the crew to enter and exit. This is one of the main backstage routes and will be the most logical way for the camera crew to bring equipment on stage. If you hang out near this spot, you’ll likely catch one of the stars as they head back to their limo backstage.
And finally, there are some incredibly good odds that the cast and crew are staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. It is close to the parks, offers four star accommodations, and this is a Disney film after all. You would be surprised by the number of celebrities you will spot if you just hang around long enough at the hotel’s valet circle. Eventually, the cast will need to pass through the main entrance doors if they want to catch their limo waiting out front. If your timing is right, you can grab a quick photo or autograph.
For your average guest, the filming and temporary closures won’t impact your stay. It will just be a story to tell people when you get back home. So don’t worry about the closures. At most, you’ll only miss out on parts of Main Street being temporarily blocked off.
The movie “Saving Mr. Banks” is due in theaters on Dec. 20, 2013.
Do you think that the announcement regarding the filming will increase or decrease trafic at the parks on those two days?
The filming might draw in a few locals who with annual passports, but it is unlikely to impact the overall crowds those days. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.
Thank you for your response. :)