Planning a family holiday involves an element of democracy, and increasingly, youngsters are having a say and getting their way when it comes to choosing destinations. With this in mind, we decided to investigate what children want from family holidays, and the external influences that might shape their choices.
In partnership with our friends over at the well-loved children’s party planners, Sharky & George, we sent out a survey and held an event to help us figure out what makes a great family holiday. Our research revealed that around 64% of children have been inspired to add a destination to their holiday bucket list after watching a film. Films have the power to ignite imagination, elicit daydreams about the worlds they immerse us in and invoke a desire to experience these for ourselves. Read on to find out about some of the most mentioned movies, that might inspire your own family to put down the popcorn and pack a suitcase...
The Lion King, Kenya
Disney’s The Lion King has long encouraged animal lovers to seek out Kenya’s safari parks, in search of the character’s real-life counterparts. And we have no doubt that the December release of Mufasa: The Lion King, a live-action addition to the original franchise, will continue to boost safari holiday bookings. Our Simba and Friends family itinerary includes the chance to meet Pumba’s giraffe companions, to picnic at the real-life ‘Pride Rock’ in Laikipia and visit the Masai Mara, where you can see Scar’s hyena pals, as well as elephants, giraffes and plenty of warthogs, just like Pumbaa.
Encanto, Colombia
Set in the enchanting highland town of Encanto, this adorable Disney film follows the multi-generational and magically gifted Colombian family, the Madrigals. Although the film’s eponymous village is fictitious, the 18th-century town of Barichara in Santander serves as the film’s inspiration, with its whitewashed buildings, cobbled streets and red-tiled rooftops. The slender palm trees that tower over the verdant landscape are based on those of the Cocora Valley, near Salento – the tallest palm trees in the world, standing at 200 feet. Plan a family trip to Colombia and experience its vibrant, colourful and diverse backdrops for yourself.
Mamma Mia, Greece
Anyone who’s seen Mamma Mia would be lying if they said they hadn’t dreamed of jetting off to Greece and setting up shop on a secluded island. So, it’s no wonder that it cropped up among our survey answers as a film able to inspire holiday dreams. The plot plays out on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi. However, Skopelos served as the main filming location for the much-loved musical. Sitting pretty in the western Aegean Sea, the island forms part of the Northern Sporades archipelago and looks the part with its bougainvillea-bordered villas and cliff-side villages. Embark on your own Greek island-hopping adventure as a family and fall in love with the Aegean along the way.
Moana, Hawaii
Another animated favourite, Moana is set about 2,000 years ago in the South Pacific, a region made up of over 10,000 islands. The movie’s moniker means ocean in multiple Polynesian languages, and while the titular character’s home island of Motunui was created for the film, its (fictional) geographical position places it east of Tonga in Polynesia. The film’s fantasy world draws real-life elements from various cultures throughout Oceania, with the filmmakers travelling to Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and Fiji before production began. Hawaii holidays will offer a window into Moana’s world, or if you fancy venturing further afield, speak to our experts about a family adventure to the far-flung islands of Moorea, Rangiroa and Fakarava in French Polynesia.
Barbie, Los Angeles
Sadly, the pink, plastic and (apparently) perfect Barbie Land doesn’t exist in real life, so fans of the 2023 biopic can’t make a pilgrimage to the film set. Nevertheless, Barbie was mentioned in answer to our survey as a film that is currently inspiring youngsters’ wanderlust. When Barbie and Ken dare to venture into the real world, they find themselves on the iconic and gritty boardwalk of Venice Beach. Set off on your own Californian family road trip and see where the duo gets their first taste of real life (after their own road trip from Barbie Land to LA). Make sure to stop off in Hollywood – where the magic of cinema comes to life – so youngsters can see their favourite film stars immortalised on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Written by Luisa Watts
