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SALT LAKE CITY — The internet has been abuzz with talk of Disney’s newest streaming platform, Disney+, since its announcement in August. With the arrival of shows and movies, new and old, Utahns might find a few places they recognize while they stream.
The Rocky Mountains and the Salt Lake Valley are oftentimes seen in the backgrounds of these films, but local parks and high schools also take precedence during the filming process.
Here’s a list of movies and TV shows that will be streaming on Disney+ with a bit of Utah flair.
Andi Mack (2017 - 2019) =======================
This three-season series focuses on Andi (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a young girl trying to find out how she fits in and distinguish herself from the world around her. The show is known for its fearless and open depiction of real-life issues such as learning disabilities, unplanned pregnancies, and sexual identity.
With the series being shot on-site in Salt Lake City, well-known areas around Sugarhouse, the Avenues, Liberty Park and the city of Magna are seen in the background.
Buffalo Dreams (2005) =====================
Josh Townsend (Reiley McClendon) moves to New Mexico where he volunteers at a tribal buffalo reserve. There he meets local boy Thomas Blackhorse (Simon Baker) and the two butt heads. However, the two must learn how to work together to help preserve Navajo land and stop a buffalo stampede after a group of troublemakers causes problems within the reserve.
Local areas in the film include Antelope Island, Park City and Skull Valley.
The story follows prima donna snowboarder Kayla (Dove Cameron), who unceremoniously gets kicked off her snowboarding team. With no team to help her compete for an upcoming snowboarding competition, Kayla asks Will (Luke Benward), a former snowboarding champion who ended his career after an embarrassing viral video, to help train her while also helping him regain his lost confidence.
Snowboarding scenes were shot at popular resorts such as Solitude, Park City Mountain Resort and Brighton.
Dadnapped (2009) ================
Living in the shadow of the main character of her father Tripp Zoome's (Jonathan Keltz) spy novels, Melissa Morris (Emily Osment) tries desperately to get her dad to notice her. Upon the start of their overdue vacation, Melissa’s father gets kidnapped by a trio of overzealous and obsessive fans. The pair get kidnapped again after Melissa saves her father, and it is up to the trio and herd of fans to save the two.
Scenes were shot in the Magna area at the Empress Theater, and in Draper at Juan Diego Catholic High School.
Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999) ===============================
This horror-themed movie focuses on Frances Bacon McCausland (Erin Chambers), who is being framed by the boogeyman for the strange and mysterious pranks happening around her town. She enlists the help of imaginary friend Larry Houdini (Ty Hodges) as they try to uncover why the boogeyman is causing problems.
The movie was shot in and around Salt Lake City and Ogden High School.
Double Teamed (2002) ====================
Based upon the real-life story of twins Heather and Heidi Burge, played by Poppi Monroe and Annie McElwain, respectively, who switch schools for a chance to obtain better college volleyball scholarships, upon their fathers’ insistence. However, they are asked to join the girl’s basketball team due to their height. Problems arise as Heidi wants to participate in drama, the twins lie about their financial situation, and jealousy ensues.
The high school scenes were shot on location at Hillcrest High School and other areas such as the Capitol Theater.
Go Figure (2005) ================
Fourteen-year-old figure skater Katelin Kingsford (Jordan Danger) dreams of being a world-class figure skater. When she’s offered the opportunity to train with Natasha Goberman (Cristine Rose), a renowned Russian skating coach, at a private school, she joins the girl’s hockey team on a scholarship and tries to juggle both sports.
School shots were filmed at Westminster College and around Salt Lake City.
Going to the Mat (2004) =======================
After moving from Manhattan to Salt Lake City, Jace Newfield (Andrew Lawrence) is a blind student who finds it hard to impress others despite his attempts at winning his classmates over with his musical skills. After being labeled a “jerk,” Jace decides to join his school’s wrestling team with the hopes of fitting in and making friends along the way.
School scenes were shot at Hillcrest High School and Northridge High School.
Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas! (2011) =========================================
Based on the Disney Channel Original Series family sitcom, “Good Luck Charlie,” this film follows the Duncan family are they head to Palm Spring, California, for the holidays. Their oldest daughter Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) and mother Amy (Leigh-Allyn Baker) get separated from their family and try to find their way back after being stranded without a flight.
Salt Lake City and St. George stand in place for Las Vegas, Palm Springs and Denver. The Gateway and Salt Palace make an appearance and are modified to look like the Las Vegas Strip and a makeshift airport, respectively.
Halloweentown High (2004) =========================
The third installment in the “Halloweentown” franchise, the film follows young witch Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown) as she and her group of magical friends get approval to go to school in the mortal world under the condition that should something dangerous result from their presence at the school, they are to all lose their magical abilities. With an enemy intent on destroying all magical beings, the kids must work together to stop this unexpected force.
Filming occurred at Juan Diego Catholic High School and around Salt Lake City.
Hatching Pete (2009) ====================
Pete Ivey (Jason Dolley) offers to step in and help his friend Cleatis Poole (Mitchel Musso), who dresses up as their school’s chicken mascot but is allergic to the costume itself. After gaining popularity during his performance in the costume at a school basketball game, Pete continues to dress up and perform as the chicken with the hopes of impressing his crush. After gaining mass attention from his town, Pete must decide to come clean about being in the costume to everyone.
High school shots were filmed at Hillcrest High School, as well as a parade shoot in downtown Payson on Main Street.
High School Musical movie franchise (2006 - 2008) =================================================
This three-part popular movie franchise follows the story of athlete Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), academic achiever Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) and their friends as they pursue their dreams, sports and musical careers at East High School. Drama and mischief ensue with jealousy from Ryan and Sharpay Evans (Lucas Grabeel and Ashley Tisdale), along with constant support from Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu) and Taylor McKessie (Monique Coleman).
Most famously known for its connection to East High School, the film also shot in Murray High School, the University of Utah and Entrada at Snow Canyon in St. George.
This new mockumentary web series is set to release as part of Disney+’s new line-up. Based on the popular movie franchise and shot at East High School, students at the school prepare to put on a musical production based on the film series.
This new series was shot at East High School in Salt Lake City.
Johnny Tsunami (1999) =====================
Hawaiian teen Johnny Kapahaala (Brandon Baker) moves from the sunny islands to snowy Vermont. Johnny has a hard time at his new private school and finds that the public school and private school are divided by skiers and snowboarders, which cause restrictions on who can or cannot ride on certain sides of the mountain. Johnny must compete with top skier Brett (Zachary Bostrom) for the chance to open the mountain to all and date his dream girl.
Many of the ski and snowboarding shots were filmed at Brighton Ski Resort.
Life is Ruff (2005) ===================
Calvin Wheeler (Kyle Massey) has most everything going for him except for the final comic book in his Gotham Man series, valued at approximately $3,000. After getting attacked on his skateboard by a fellow classmate’s show dog, Calvin decides to adopt a dog and enter him into a competition where the winner wins a cash prize of $5,000. While trying to keep the dog a secret from his parents, with a little help from his friend Raymond Figg (Mitchel Musso), Calvin realizes he has a lot to do before he can enter the competition.
The film was shot in different areas around Salt Lake City, including Liberty Park and Salt Lake Community College.
The Luck of the Irish (2001) ============================
Kyle Johnson (Ryan Merriman), school basketball star, is curious about where he’s from after learning his school is putting on an event celebrating cultural heritage, although his family is reluctant to tell him. Kyle soon finds out he has Irish heritage and that the lucky gold coin that hung around his neck, keeping him and his family from turning into leprechauns, has been switched by a faulty one. Kyle must try to find the magic coin while making sure no one around him realizes his physical changes along the way.
The movie shot scenes at Juan Diego Catholic High School, Lagoon and in Salt Lake City.
Minutemen (2008) ================
Three teenage boys, Virgil Fox (Jason Dolley), Charlie Tuttle (Luke Benward) and Zeke Thompson (Nicholas Braun) build a time machine. Originally built so that the trio could go back in time to buy winning lottery tickets, they decide to go back and stop their classmates from facing embarrassing moments before they occur. Their constant time traveling has great ramifications and they must figure out what to do and save themselves, as well as their school.
The film was shot at Murray High School and Highland High School.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) ===============================================
As the third installment of the Pirates franchise, this film follows Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) as they journey and sail off the end of the map into the Land of the Dead to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) for a final battle.
The film features the Bonneville Salt Flats as a depiction of Davy Jones’ Locker.
The Poof Point (2001) =====================
Scientists Marigold and Norton Ballard (Dawnn Lewis and Mark Curry) invent an anti-aging machine. During a test run, the machine faces issues and when the pair goes inside to investigate the problem, the family dog accidentally activates the machine, affecting the two inside. As time passes, the parents begin to act and think differently, slowly regressing into children. It’s up to their kids Eddie and Marie (Tahj Mowry and Raquel Lee) to get their parents back into their machine while cleaning their messes along the away before they “poof” away.
The film is said to be shot in Utah although no specific areas are mentioned.
Read It and Weep (2006) =======================
Shy freshman Jaime Bartlett (Kay Panabaker) daydreams about her life without the pressures of school and trying to fit in. She writes these feelings down in her digital journal, creating her alter ego Isabella, “Iz,” who is more confident and popular. By accident, she turns her journal in as a writing assignment and wins a writing contest. Her newfound fame leads her to become more like her alter ego and she starts to wonder if popularity is worth leaving the ones you care about behind.
Scenes occurred at Murray High School and around Salt Lake City.
Right on Track (2003) =====================
Based on drag racing sisters Erica and Courtney Enders, (Beverley Mitchell and Brie Larson) play to pair who are at the top of what is considered a “man’s” sport. The sisters battle fellow racers with the hopes of winning national championships and titles in the future.
The raceway scenes were filmed at Rocky Mountain Raceways and around Salt Lake City.
Return to Halloweentown (2006) ==============================
This final installment in the “Halloweentown” franchise follows Marnie Piper (Sara Paxton) as she graduates high school and heads to Witch U. There, she realizes that she cannot use magic. As strange happenings occur, Marnie tries to figure out these ordeals at her new university.
Shots were filmed at Juan Diego Catholic High School and around downtown Salt Lake City.
The Sandlot (1993) ==================
Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves into a new neighborhood, intent on making new friends but has a hard time playing the game of baseball, which all the neighborhood boys participate in. Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) offers to help Scotty and the group of boys band together throughout the summer and enjoy crazy adventures and rivalries before the school year starts.
Scenes were done around Salt Lake City, Midvale and Ogden.
Know a Disney movie we might have missed? Let us know in the comments below.
