See 'Saving Mr. Banks' On The Disney Backlot In Burbank, CA
Plenty of movies are made in studios, but Saving Mr. Banks is different. Besides shooting scenes inside sound stages, many scenes were shot outside at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA, too, on the walking paths current Disney employees frequent going to work. That's because those walkways are where the true story of P.L. Travers' reluctance to let Walt Disney adapt Mary Poppins actually happened. And If you're telling a true story, and have the ability to shoot in the actual locations, why wouldn't you?
Disney obviously realized this awesome opportunity to screen a movie both where it was shot, but also where the story actually took place, and are opening their backlot to the public. For one week only, fans can purchase tickets to see Saving Mr. Banks at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA.
The screenings take place from December 13-19 at 7 p.m. each evening, so the series is limited. Tickets are $50 each, but include a reserved seat, "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour, traditional set tour, tour of the Disney Animation building, photo opportunities with Mary Poppins characters, a Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary DVD and more.
Tickets are available at this link. Read more here.
While Peter and I were lucky enough to see the film on the lot, this screening is in a better theater and with all these extras. I might try to attend again. It's sure to be a magical night.
Here's our video review of Saving Mr. Banks from the lot. Below is the full press release.
Disney announced today that for one week only, guests will have the opportunity to see Disney's upcoming "Saving Mr. Banks," starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks, in a state-of-the-art movie theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California, and then walk in Walt Disney's footsteps on a special tour of the famous lot. This limited engagement features one show daily at 7 p.m. from December 13th through December 19th.Tickets are $50 each and include a reserved seat to watch "Saving Mr. Banks" in the Studio Main Theatre as well as the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour immediately following the screening, which showcases key locations that were featured in the film. On the tour guests will have photo opportunities with Mickey Mouse as well as Mary Poppins and Bert the Chimney Sweep characters from "Mary Poppins" and will get a chance to see sets from the film, such as Walt Disney's office and "Mary Poppins" author P.L. Travers' home. Guests will also visit the Walt Disney Animation building, where they will get a sense of the art of animation and the history of the Walt Disney Company. Included in the tour is a visit to the Legends Plaza to see the statue of Walt Disney and view the many historical plaques, including Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, and more. Guests will also receive a commemorative 50th Anniversary "Mary Poppins" DVD, a value of $17.99.To purchase tickets to this limited and exclusive engagement, call 1 (800)DISNEY6 or go to http://movies.disney.com/saving-mr-banks and click on the link on the homepage.Two-time Academy Award®–winner Emma Thompson and fellow double Oscar®-winner Tom Hanks topline Disney's "Saving Mr. Banks," inspired by the extraordinary, untold backstory of how Disney's classic "Mary Poppins" made it to the screen.When Walt Disney's daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book, P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins," he made them a promise—one that he didn't realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine. But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly agrees to go to Los Angeles to hear Disney's plans for the adaptation.For those two short weeks in 1961, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops. Armed with imaginative storyboards and chirpy songs from the talented Sherman brothers, Walt launches an all-out onslaught on P.L. Travers, but the prickly author doesn't budge. He soon begins to watch helplessly as Travers becomes increasingly immovable and the rights begin to move further away from his grasp.It is only when he reaches into his own childhood that Walt discovers the truth about the ghosts that haunt her, and together they set Mary Poppins free to ultimately make one of the most endearing films in cinematic history.Disney presents "Saving Mr. Banks," directed by John Lee Hancock, produced by Alison Owen, Ian Collie and Philip Steuer, and written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith. Executive producers are Paul Trijbits, Christine Langan, Andrew Mason and Troy Lum. The film will release in U.S. theaters on December 13, 2013, limited, and open wide on December 20, 2013.