While Disney may be best known for turning folktales into multi-million dollar animated dreams, at times it take inspiration from real life too.
Between 2006-2011, Disney has presented a CGI intro at the beginning of all of its movies - featuring elements that were dear to creator, Walt Disney.
The intro begins with a glowing star shining in the night sky, with the shiniest star representing The Second Star to the Right from Peter Pan.
The 'camera' then moves down to Magic Kingdom and goes across a bridge over a river towards the sea while a train goes down a railway track.
It then flies over the top of a castle that looks both like Sleeping Beauty/Cinderella's Castle with a flag bearing the Disney family crest, as fireworks go off and glowing arch flies over it.
While many may recognize the famous castle and Peter Pan's star, often people do not realize that the river and bridge are inspired from a river in a valley near Idaho and Washington.
![Between 2006-2011, Disney has presented a CGI intro at the beginning of all of its movies - featuring elements that were dear to creator, Walt Disney](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/14/20/81274265-13084097-image-a-29_1707943005975.jpg)
Between 2006-2011, Disney has presented a CGI intro at the beginning of all of its movies - featuring elements that were dear to creator, Walt Disney
The river and bridge represent the Snake river in the Lewiston Clark Valley, which borders the states of Idaho and Clarkston, Washington
![The reason why this particular river is featured before the beginning of every Disney movie is due to its special connection to the studio's creator, Walt](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/14/20/81273441-13084097-image-a-32_1707943047264.jpg)
The reason why this particular river is featured before the beginning of every Disney movie is due to its special connection to the studio's creator, Walt
![The Valley is near to Lewiston in Idaho, where the creator's wife, Lillian Marie Disney moved to in 1920 and went to business school.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/14/20/81273247-13084097-image-a-25_1707942450788.jpg)
The Valley is near to Lewiston in Idaho, where the creator's wife, Lillian Marie Disney moved to in 1920 and went to business school.
The river and bridge represent the Snake River in the Lewiston Clark Valley, which borders the states of Idaho and Clarkston, Washington.
The reason why this particular river is featured before the beginning of every Disney movie is due to its special connection to the studio's creator, Walt.
The Valley is near to Lewiston in Idaho, where the creator's wife, Lillian Marie Disney moved to in 1920 and went to business school.
In December 1923 , Lillian moved to Los Angeles to be with her sister for a job and ended up at the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studios after Walt asked her to work for him.
In 1925, the pair ended up returning to Lewiston to get married at her brother's home.
![In December 1923 , Lillian moved to Los Angeles to be with her sister for a job and ended up at the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studios after Walt asked her to work for him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/14/20/81273269-13084097-image-a-27_1707942597181.jpg)
In December 1923 , Lillian moved to Los Angeles to be with her sister for a job and ended up at the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studios after Walt asked her to work for him
![In 1925, the pair ended up returning to Lewiston to get married at her brother's home](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/14/20/81273241-13084097-image-a-28_1707942600859.jpg)
In 1925, the pair ended up returning to Lewiston to get married at her brother's home
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/14/21/81273333-13084097-image-m-48_1707944996990.jpg)
According to the official Walt Disney Fan Club, Lillian and Walt were on a train together from New York bound for Los Angeles in 1928 when Lillian came up with the name 'Mickey' for the iconic anthropomorphic mouse
According to the official Walt Disney Fan Club, Lillian and Walt were on a train together from New York bound for Los Angeles in 1928 when Lillian came up with the name 'Mickey' for the iconic anthropomorphic mouse.
While Walt decided to name him 'Mortimer Mouse' and told Lillian about it, she decidedly responded: 'Not Mortimer. It's too formal. How about Mickey?'
A real life incident between the couple involving their pet dog also acted as inspiration for the movie, Lady and the Tramp, according to The Walt Disney Family Museum.
At the age of 98, Lillian suffered a stroke on December 15, 1997 - the same day as Walt's death in 1966 - and died the next day.
The couple is buried at Forest Lawn in California.