Jennifer Morrison (Emma), Lana Parrilla (Regina/Evil Queen), Raphael Sbarge (Jiminy Cricket/Dr. Hopper), and Josh Dallas (Prince Charming) share some of their Disney favorites.
What is your first Disney memory?
Raphael Sbarge: There are so many. I remember Fantasia as being one of the first movies I ever saw and being both frightened and not being able to take my eyes off it as a kid. There’s something dark and twisted and so fabulous about it. I remember Snow White. And, of course, Pinocchio.
We definitely were a full-force Disney family.
Jennifer Morrison: I’ve been going to Walt Disney World since I was probably in my mother’s womb. We used to go three times a year. We would drive from Chicago. Pack up the car and cooler and make the 21-hour drive. We have been on every backstage tour, every making-of, every behind-the-scenes tour. We had a system down so we didn’t have to wait in line. This was pre-FastPass. Everything has changed with FastPass. We definitely were a full-force Disney family.
As I got older, I found Ursula fascinating to watch.
Do you have a favorite Disney movie?
Lana Parrilla: I have two, actually. Dumbo, which I love. That was my favorite Disney movie to watch with my dad. The other is The Little Mermaid. I think every little girl wants to be a mermaid. I would definitely swim out to sea and pray to the mermaid gods to turn me into a mermaid. The Little Mermaid was a favorite. I think initially I adored Ariel. As I got older, I found Ursula fascinating to watch. Her body language and the bigness in character. She’s not only big in size but in voice and in movement. I loved it. She also has some effect on a subconscious level in the development of the Evil Queen. Little nuances here and there, like in those fun scenes with Hansel and Gretel, there are scenes where I can play Ursula.
Josh Dallas: My favorite Disney movie changes all the time. But, I always go back to Pinocchio. I think because it’s my first Disney memory.
Jennifer Morrison: As a little girl I really loved The Little Mermaid. When that came out, there was nothing else like it. I probably watched that movie 1,000 times. I know the words to every song. As I grew older, it’s a tie between The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. They are so cinematic with great storytelling.
Do you have a favorite Disney character?
Jennifer Morrison: For me, it was always a strong tie between Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. Looking back, I think there were subconscious reasons. From the Cinderella perspective, I was a very misunderstood kid. I was a little slow to develop socially. I did well academically but my social skills kicked in later in life. I was an outsider, so I identified with her sense of being an outsider. With Alice, since I was five years old I knew I wanted to be an actor and was fascinated with the world and playing all these different characters. I identified with her going down the rabbit hole. That’s what my life has become, going on different adventures—different films and television shows that I get to be a part of.
Lana Parrilla: Ursula has been my number one. I just love her. She’s a load of fun. To me she just steals that show!
What’s your favorite Disney park attraction?
Josh Dallas: If I had a favorite ride, it’s a tossup between Space Mountain and Indiana Jones. Space Mountain . . . Because it’s like flying through a sky in your dreams. The Indiana Jones movies were so seminal to me growing up. I loved them! And wanted to be Indiana Jones. So that ride allowed me to be Jones for a few minutes.
It was really amazing how artful and beautiful and magical it was.
Raphael Sbarge: Splash Mountain. I guess it’s the drop. That sense of, for a moment, you don’t know if you’re going to make it. And then you splash. The fear, the adrenaline, and then the relief. My kids seem to love Toy Story Mania. In California Adventure, it’s World of Color. That blew my mind, how spectacularly sophisticated that was. It was really amazing how artful and beautiful and magical it was.
Jennifer Morrison: I always liked Pirates of the Caribbean. I don’t know why I was so fascinated by it. And in general I love Epcot. I had a fascination for the world and travel, so I got to have a taste of all these places. I actually learned how to use chopsticks in the Japan pavilion at Epcot. I did always enjoy Epcot.
