Five Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks.

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On December 20th, 2013, Walt Disney Studios and Director John Lee Hancock will bring the new film Saving Mr. Banks to audiences across the country. It’s an uplifting film inspired by true events, much like Hancock’s previous film endeavor The Blind Side.

Saving Mr. Banks is the extraordinary, untold story of how Disney’s classic Mary Poppins made it to the screen—and the testy relationship that the legendary Walt Disney had with author P.L. Travers that almost derailed it.

Two-time Academy Award®–winner Emma Thompson and fellow double Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks star as the legendary author and entrepreneur. Their performances will truly garner Oscar® nominations for the both.

Having now some spent time with the film-makers and cast, here are five fun facts you may not have known about the making of this film.

1. It took Walt Disney 20 Years to get the rights from writer P.L. Travers to make the film Mary Poppins. Walt was adamant about getting this film made as he made a promise to his two daughters that it would be made into a motion picture. Walt never broke a promise he made to his children and he prevailed in getting the film made.

2. This is only the fourth film to have ever been shot with in Disneyland and it’s the first film to actually have a star depicting Walt Disney as he roamed the paths of the most magical place on earth. One of the other films to have shot in Disneyland just happens to be That Thing You Do directed by Tom Hanks who portrays Disney.

3. Richard Sherman served as a consultant on the film. At 85 years old, he is one of the only living people depicted in the film. He helped the cast and crew capture how the film Mary Poppins came to be and he even taught Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak to properly play the music from the classic film.

4. The film has had the blessing of the Disney family from the start of production. Walt Disney’s daughters invited Tom Hanks to the The Walt Disney Family Museum to view unseen photos and footage of Walt in order for him to capture the essence of Walt Disney.

5. On the day the film was shot at Disneyland, Tom Hanks dressed as Walt Disney took his two grandchildren on rides around the park. It mirrored the image of Walt Disney taking his two  young daughters around the park that he built for them. Tom thought he would introduce his grandchildren to Winnie the Pooh by taking them on the Hundred Acre Woods ride, but it sadly back fired as his granddaughter was completely terrorized of the ride. He now fears she may blame Walt Disney for forcing her to get on the ride.

This heartfelt and endearing film truly captures the magic of Walt Disney and will leave you with a sense of having walked in Walt’s footsteps.

Check out the trailer below:

SAVING MR. BANKS opens in theaters limited on December 13, 2013 and opens wide on December 20, 2013!

Stay tuned for our full film review coming soon.