The Inspiration Behind Piston Peak in Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue

Have you ever wondered about The Inspiration Behind Piston Peak in Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue?

I would have never imagined how much detail and planning goes into creating the location for a Disney animated movie.

When we sat down with Toby Wilson at Disneytoon Studios to learn about the process of creating Piston Peak, the location of Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue, I was astounded at the attention to detail that went into this movie!

I had recently been to Yosemite National Forest, and I recognized a few places while watching the movie, so I knew that they relied on that incredible scenery for inspiration...but I really just had NO IDEA of the magnitude!

The Inspiration Behind Piston Peak in Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue

An actual photo I took in Yosemite National Forest in April...

And the place Toby's team went to get inspiration  Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue set of Piston Peak.

I knew that Piston Peak looked familiar!

Toby Wilson told us that he and Bobs Gannaway spent time exploring Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park taking photos and jotting down their ideas of what they wanted Piston Peak to look like.

It is always more "real" if a movie set seems like a real place, and what better way to accomplish that than by modeling it after a real place?

The Grand Fusel Lodge in Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue is modeled after two different hotels: the Ahawani Resort in Yosemite National Park and the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

The inside is modeled after the Old Faithful Inn and the outside of the building is modeled after the Ahawani. Isn't that cool?

There is so much detail in the Grand Fusel Lodge, which is one of the main locations in the Piston Peak National Park, where everyone comes to meet up and spend the night in one of the 327 hangers.

As you watch Disney's Planes: Fire and Rescue, watch for places that you recognize from both Yosemite National Forest and Yellowstone National Park.

It will give you a new appreciation for all of the time and dedication the Disney creative team puts into bringing us these incredibly realistic and powerful movies!

 

Disney's Planes: Fire & Rescue 

Disney’s Planes are back in the high-flying comedy adventure “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE,” landing on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand platforms Nov. 4, 2014.

In this heart-pumping, laugh-filled follow-up to last year’s smash hit “PLANES,” world famous racer Dusty Crophopper joins an elite fire and rescue unit and learns what it takes to be a true hero. Featuring non-stop action, memorable characters and never-before-seen bonus features, “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” is this fall’s must-own animated family film!

After flying to the top of the box office this summer as the #1 animated movie in America three weeks in a row, “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” soars to spectacular new heights on Blu-ray and Digital HD, featuring wondrous high definition picture and sound, plus thrilling bonus features, including the all-new exclusive short “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular;” the mock-umentary promotional piece "Welcome to Piston Peak;” “CHoPs” TV Promo and “Air Attack:  Firefighters From The Sky,” an exciting inside look at the making of the film featuring real-life smoke jumpers and firefighters.

Additional bonus features include Spencer Lee’s "Still I Fly" music video, deleted scenes with filmmaker introductions, and two “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” shorts: “Dipper” and “Smokejumpers.” Exclusively available on Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) are the bonus shorts “Blade Ranger” and “Piston Peak.”

“PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” is fueled by a star-studded voice cast that includes Dane Cook (“Planes”) as Dusty, Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”) as Dipper, Ed Harris (“Gravity”) as Blade Ranger, Captain Dale Dye (“Saving Private Ryan”) as Cabbie, Cedric the Entertainer (“Ice Age”) as Leadbottom, Erik Estrada (“CHiPs”) as Nick “Loopin” Lopez, Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) as Chug, Teri Hatcher (“Desperate Housewives”) as Dottie, John Michael Higgins (“Pitch Perfect”) as Cad, Hal Holbrook (“Into the Wild”) as Mayday, Stacy Keach (“Planes”) as Skipper, Regina King (“Ray”) as Dynamite, Anne Meara (“Night at the Museum) as Winnie, Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”) as

Harvey and Wes Studi (“Avatar”) as Windlifter. It was directed by Roberts Gannaway (“Secret of the Wings”) and produced by Ferrell Barron (“The Fox and the Hound 2”).

Bonus Features:

Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD/SD & Disney Movies Anywhere

Exclusive Animated Short - “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular”

"Welcome to Piston Peak! - This mock-umentary promotional piece shows off all the highlights of the acclaimed Piston Peak National Park and its aerial firefighting team.

"CHoPs” TV Promo - An in-world TV promo with announce.

Air Attack:  Firefighters From The Sky - This high-energy, music-driven behind-the-scenes piece takes an inside look at the real smoke jumpers and firefighters who attack wildfires from the air as Director Roberts Gannaway and Producer Ferrell Barron take us through their journey in making the film.

Spencer Lee Music Video "Still I Fly"

Deleted Scenes with Filmmaker Introductions:

“Honkers” and “Dusty's Dream No More”

• Animated Shorts: “Dipper” and  “Smokejumpers”

*Digital bonus offerings will vary per retailer

DVD 

• Spencer Lee Music Video "Still I Fly"

Exclusive DMA Discover Content:

• Animated Shorts:  “Blade Ranger” and “Piston Peak”

Disc Specifications:

Feature Run Time: Approximately 83 minutes

Rating: Feature Film: “PG” in U.S.; “G” in Canada (CE + CF)

Additional Bonus Features Not Rated

Aspect Ratio:Blu-ray Feature Film = 2.39:1 DVD = 2.39:1

Audio:  Blu-ray Feature Film = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, French & Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby

DVD = English, Spanish, & French 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby

Languages/Subtitles: English, Spanish, & French