List of Disney References

This page lists Once Upon a Time and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland's references to various Disney works.

Season Four in General
CHARACTERS FEATURED

LOCATIONS FEATURED Items featured

"Rocky Road"

 * The Arendelle soldier refers to Kristoff as the official ice master and deliverer; a reference to his character in the film.
 * Mary Margaret adds her own personal touch to the mayor's office in the form of a painting of two bluebirds sitting on a branch, a reference to the bluebirds that Snow White interacts with in the Disney film.
 * "Marian" gains a streak of white hair in the same fashion Anna did in the film.
 * Hans states he did not kill Anna, but left her to die.
 * Elsa asks her aunt if she has ever built a snowman; a reference to Olaf and the Frozen song "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?". She also talks about the ice palace she built.
 * Dr. Hopper advises Mary Margaret that it's okay to let go of her child. This is a reference to the song "Let It Go".
 * Kristoff says that he's seen Anna fight wolves and snow monsters and "that idiot from the South Isles"; a reference to events from Frozen.
 * When Emma leaves the diner, an advertisement for computers with the ENCOM logo from the movie Tron can be seen on the street.

"Breaking Glass"

 * Elsa builds an ice staircase of the one she made in the movie Frozen during the song "Let It Go".
 * Snow Queen tells Elsa that she going to "build a snowman", just like in the song "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?".
 * Elsa says "I'm not afraid", which is a reference to the line Anna says right before the reprise of the song "For the First Time in Forever" from the movie Frozen.
 * David tells Mary Margaret that Belle will be able to reach them even if they fall through a portal to Asgard; a reference to the fictional realm Asgard from the movie Thor, in which Josh Dallas originally portrayed the Asgardian Fandral. ''
 * Elsa said that she sent a giant ice monster to chase her sister away, a reference to Marshmallow from Frozen.

"Family Business

 * Belle favorite book has a blue cover, just like her favorite book from the opening scene of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
 * Oaken say's "Hoo-hoo" and maces his hand like in the movie.
 * Kristoff says that Anna fell in love with Hans only ten minutes after meeting him.

"The Snow Queen

 * When Ingrid enters the clock tower, the clock (seen from inside) is set at 10:15, a reference to the scene from Frozen where Anna and Hans are singing "Love Is an Open Door" in front of a clock tower.
 * One of the babies, during the 'Mommy and Me' class, is wearing a Mickey Mouse outfit.
 * When Emma uses magic to handcuff the Snow Queen, the clock (seen from inside) is set at at 12:25, a reference to the time on the White Rabbit's pocket watch in Alice in Wonderland.
 * The instruments and the position of the musicians playing at the royal ball, are the same as in the movie.
 * The Duke of Weselton dances similar to the way he does in the movie.


 * The Duke asks, "Did I say that out loud?", just like he did in Frozen.
 * Helga pronounces his name "Weaseltown" instead of Weselton, and intends to stop the trading business between their kingdoms, just like Elsa does in the movie.
 * Ingrid freezes Helga similar to the way Elsa freezes Anna in Frozen.
 * Emma runs away after her powers become out of control the same way Elsa does in Frozen.
 * A set of Mickey Mouse ears cast in steel are lying in a box on the counter of Mr. Gold's pawnshop.

"Smash the Mirror"

 * Elsa expresses Anna's love of chocolate in Frozen with a table full of chocolate desserts for her return.
 * When Anna says, "Go away Anna, go away Anna", she recites dialogue from the "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" sequence in Frozen.
 * Kristoff uses his pickaxe from Frozen.
 * When Ingrid first arrives in the Land Without Magic in 1982, there is a Tron advertisement in the city streets.

"Fall"

 * Anna says to Hans that she sang with him, referring to their duet "Love Is an Open Door" from Frozen.
 * Elsa and Anna embrace, just like they do in the movie.
 * As the shards from Ingrid's spell fall from the sky, an advertisement for computers with the Encom logo from the movie Tron can be seen on the street.

"Poor Unfortunate Soul"

 * The episode is named after a song from the Disney film The Little Mermaid. The song is sung by Ursula to Ariel.
 * Ursula sings "Part of Your World" and "Fathoms Below" during the episode. Both songs are from the Disney film The Little Mermaid.
 * Poseidon possesses a trident similar to the one that Ariel's father, King Triton, does. Ursula takes the trident from her father and and uses it to perform magic, just like Disney's Ursula takes Triton's trident and uses for the same purpose in The Little Mermaid.
 * Poseidon sees humans as dangerous, just like Triton does in the movie.
 * Ursula's mother was killed by pirates, just like Ariel's mother was in the 2008 prequel.
 * Ursula loves singing/music due to her mother's influence, and because she loves singing, she goes against her father's orders, just like Ariel does in the prequel.
 * Ursula is seeking passage to Glowerhaven, a reference to Prince Eric's line from The Little Mermaid, "You're not still sore because I didn't fall for the princess of Glowerhaven?"
 * Hook points out that if they spill any squid ink, "Storybrooke will have a giant squid in its harbor", a reference to the scene in the animated film, where Ursula grows into a giant.
 * Hook steals Ursula's singing voice by trapping it inside a sea shell, just like Ursula did when she took Ariel's voice in the Disney film.
 * Hook opens his eyes and sees the face of Ariel, which is reminiscent of the scene in The Little Mermaid, where Eric opens his eyes and sees Ariel's face after she rescues him from drowning.


 * Ursula's father has a problem with singing/music because it reminds him of his wife's death, just like Ariel's father does in the prequel. Like Ariel's father, he realizes he was wrong and decides to accept singing/music in their lives.
 * The aria sung by Ursula when she gets her singing voice back, is the same tune that Ariel sings in the Disney film, when Ursula takes her voice.
 * Gold says regarding August "Let's see if we can pull this puppet's strings." This references the song, "I've Got No Strings".

"Sympathy for the De Vil"

 * The song that Cruella hears on the radio is a jazz instrumental version of the song "Cruella De Vil", from One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
 * Madeline's car is similar in design and color to Cruella's car from One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
 * The dalmatians growl at young Cruella, which is a similar attitude shown in the Disney movie.
 * Cruella calls Isaac a fool, which is an insult her Disney animated counterpart also uses.

Season Five in General

 * Merida from Brave is introduced in "The Dark Swan".

"The Dark Swan"

 * Young Emma visits a movie theater and watches The Sword in the Stone.
 * When Emma emerges from Vault of the Dark One, the Darkness (in the form of Rumplestiltskin) can be heard whistling "Whistle While You Work" from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
 * This episode features the Will-o'-the-wisps and the Hill of Stones from the movie Brave.
 * Merida tells Emma that she's met her share of witches, a reference to the Witch from Brave.
 * Merida tells Emma, "Just be glad you're not a bear", a reference to Queen Elinor's story from Brave.
 * Hook makes a reference to Henry's "Wookiee prisoner gag".

"Dreamcatcher"

 * Just before Merida is about to look through Henry's storybook, an advertisement for computers with the Encom logo from Tron can be seen on the street.

"The Bear and the Bow"

 * The title of this episode was the original title of Brave.
 * The kingdom of DunBroch from Brave appears for the first time.
 * This episode introduces young Macintosh, young Macguffin, Wee Dingwall and Merida's brothers, as well as their homeland DunBroch, from Brave.
 * Merida and Belle visit the witch's cottage from Brave.
 * The potion, which transforms people into bears, is named "Spell of Mor'du", a reference to the main antagonist of Brave.
 * Merida fires an arrow straight another arrow, splitting it down the middle, just like she does in the movie.
 * The clan symbols seen on the banners are near identical to the ones from the mo]vie.
 * The witch's magic ingredients are used to transform Merida into a bear, just like what happened to her mother in the movie.
 * The moment where Merida, in bear form, looms over Mr. Gold with her teeth bared, mirrors the scene where Merida is attacked by Mor'du in the movie.
 * An automated message from Merlin appears from out of a cauldron, just like the witch's automated message in Brave.

"The Bear King"

 * The "Bear King" is King Fergus' nickname in the movie Brave. "The Bear King and His Daughter" was one of the proposed titles for the movie.
 * This episode introduces King Fergus, Queen Elinor and the Witch from Brave.
 * The kingdom of DunBroch and its castle appears.
 * Two bear carvings are sitting on a shelf in the witch's cottage, a reference to the events of the movie, where the Witch made a living selling bear carvings.
 * King Fergus says that the Witch gave his daughter magic, and turned his wife and boys into bears, a reference to the events of the movie.
 * The carvings on the castle thrones are similar to DunBroch symbol on Merida's pendant from the movie.
 * King Fergus' clan symbol (a sword against a circular pattern) is near identical to the one from the movie.
 * The Witch warns Merida that if the enchanted helm is not returned by sundown tomorrow, she'll turn everyone into bears.
 * Merida is seen riding a Shire horse, a reference to Angus from the movie.

"An Untold Story"

 * In the opening shot of the scene everyone returns to Storybrooke, an advertisement for computers with the ENCOM logo from Tron can be seen on the street.

"The Savior"

 * In Belle's dream, she prepares tea for Rumplestiltskin, a reference to the scene where Chip and Mrs. Potts bring Belle some tea in the Disney movie. The tea set includes cups, a teapot, a creamer and a sugar bowl, which mirrors the scene in the movie, where Chip and Mrs. Potts are accompanied by a living sugar bowl and a living creamer.
 * In Belle's dream, she drops a teacup, but Rumplestiltskin catches it and says that it's not even chipped; a reference to Chip from the Disney film. The segment where Belle is holding the cup and the teapot are a reference to Chip and his mother Mrs. Potts.
 * In Belle's dream, she and Rumplestiltskin dance to an instrumental version of the title song from Beauty and the Beast. Belle's yellow dress is similar to the one her Disney counterpart wears in the dance scene from the movie.
 * The red bird is an allusion to Iago from the Aladdin trilogy.

"The Other Shoe"

 * The evil stepmother is named Lady Tremaine, just like in the Disney film.
 * Clorinda wears a greenish dress before the ball, and also pulls her hair back with a yellow bow, just like Drizella does in the animated Disney film. Tisbe also wears a yellowish dress like Drizella does, though has her hair styled similarly to Anastasia.
 * When Cinderella presents the dress she intends to wear for the ball, Clorinda destroys it by throwing it into the fireplace. This is similar to the scene in the animated film, where the titular character presents her new dress and the stepsisters tear it apart.
 * Cinderella plans to wear her mother's dress to the royal ball, but it is destroyed when Tremaine gives the dress to Clorinda, who puts the gown into the furnace, as Tisbe holds back Ella. This alludes to the live-action film where Cinderella plans on wearing her mother's dress until her stepmother and stepsisters intentionally tear the dress apart.
 * Cinderella's mother's dress is pink, but the gown the she wears to the ball is blue. This is a reference to the live-action film, where the Fairy Godmother transforms Cinderella's tattered pink dress into a blue dress.
 * The way Lady Tremaine and her daughters name Ella "Cinderella" ("Cinders on Ella. Cinderella.") is similar to the live-action film ("Dirty Ella. Cinder-ella!").
 * This episode features Gus from the animated Disney film Cinderella.
 * Like Disney's Anastasia, Tisbe wears a pink dress during the ball and has her hair styled similarly.
 * Cinderella asks if Prince Thomas is charming, which causes Snow White to mention that the name "Charming" is already taken by somebody else. Prince Charming is the name of the prince in the animated Cinderella film.
 * It is also a common misconception that the prince in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is named "Prince Charming", when officially he is only known as "The Prince".
 * Just like Disney's Anastasia, Clorinda falls in love with a low-class man, but her mother disapproves of their relationship. Eventually, she is helped by Cinderella, before standing up to her mother and being reunited with her lover.
 * Lady Tremaine mentions her cat, a reference to Lucifer from the animated Disney film.
 * When David visits Belle aboard the Jolly Roger, a teapot and a tea cup are sitting on the table, a reference to Chip and Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast.

"Street Rats"

 * The Cave of Wonders from Aladdin appears.
 * Emma tells Jasmine how she watched the Aladdin movie.
 * The term "street rat" is used to describe Aladdin, Emma, and a group of thieves that Jafar encounters on the streets.
 * One of Jasmine's possession is the Golden Scarab of Agrabah, a reference to the Golden Scarab Beetle from the movie.
 * There is a treasure called the Diamond in the Rough, which turns Aladdin into a savior. Aladdin is referred to as "the Diamond in the Rough" throughout the movie.
 * Aladdin steals apples, and eats them with Jasmine.
 * The monkey figurine that Aladdin finds in the cave, is a reference to Abu from the movie.
 * Jafar has a bird with an uncanny resemblance to Iago.
 * When trying to convince Aladdin to give up the role as savior, Jafar asks him if "Prince Aladdin" doesn't sound more appealing. This is a reference to the events of the movie, where Aladdin pretends to be a prince.
 * Jafar imprisons Jasmine within a giant hourglass, just like in the Disney film.
 * The Sultan is seen playing with toy miniatures.
 * Jafar has the Sultan under his control with a spell, which Aladdin breaks hold of by damaging his serpent staff.
 * Aladdin tells Jasmine "I could show you the world", referencing the song "A Whole New World", which opens with the lyrics "I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid".

"I'll Be Your Mirror"

 * When Aladdin steals from Mr. Gold, a cymbal-banging monkey toy is sitting on the pawnshop counter. This is a reference to Abu, Aladdin's monkey in the movie, who was turned into a cymbal-banging monkey toy by Jafar.
 * Henry tells the Evil Queen that she "can't Darth Vader him" and adds, "I'll never join you". This is a reference to the famous scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, where Darth Vader asks his son Luke Skywalker to join him, and Luke answers, "I'll never join you!"
 * The queen answers that they "watched those movies enough to know that Darth Vader wasn't so black and white"; a reference to Anakin Skywalker's story from the Star Wars saga.
 * Aladdin says that the genie was freed from the lamp, a reference to the events of the movie.

"A Wondrous Place"

 * This episode is named after a lyric from the song "A Whole New World" from the Disney film Aladdin, which ends with "A thrilling chase / A wondrous place / For you and me". The song is sung by Aladdin and Jasmine. Jasmine's last words to Aladdin in this episode are, "Let me show you my world," which is a reference to the opening lyric "I can show you the world / Shining, shimmering, splendid".
 * This episode is a rendition of Aladdin, with Aladdin, Jasmine, Jafar, the Sultan, the flying carpet, and two allusions to the Genie. The episode also introduces new characters from the film: Prince Achmed and the Street Vendor, who is based on Farouk.
 * Ariel has a collection of forks, a reference her dinglehopper (a.k.a. fork) from The Little Mermaid.
 * Jafar has been turned into a genie by the time of this episode, a reference to the events of the movie, where Jafar is transformed into a Genie.
 * A plush resembling Rajah from Disney's Aladdin can be seen when Hook takes the staff from Ariel.

"The Song in Your Heart"

 * The blue bird chirping a tune on the perch mirrors the chirping birds from the song "Whistle While You Work".
 * The lyrics "With a heigh heigh heigh / And a ho ho ho" sung by Grumpy are a reference to the song "Heigh-Ho" from the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
 * The lyric "He's got no strings" sung by Geppetto is a reference to the song "I've Got No Strings" from the film Pinocchio .
 * Hook throws his mug of alcohol into the tavern fireplace, just like Gaston does in Beauty and the Beast.

"Hyperion Heights"

 * The family in the backseat of Henry's car are all wearing Mickey Mouse hats, while a Mickey Mouse backpack is lying on the hat shelf behind them.
 * When Jacinda is rushing to work in the morning, she runs past a shop called Radcliffe Pet Day Spa, a reference to Roger Radcliffe from One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
 * The words that Lady Tremaine says to use the Fairy Godmother's wand, "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", come from the Cinderella film.
 * The plot revolving around the Fairy Godmother's wand is similar to the one from Cinderella III: A Twist in Time. The wand is used against the Fairy Godmother to neutralize her and is stolen by Lady Tremaine to commit her wrongdoing.
 * Cinderella's ball gown and the Prince's outfit are similar to those from the live-action Disney film.
 * Henry mentions the animated movie Cinderella to the woman he meets.
 * Sabine is cooking when we first meet her, a reference to The Princess and the Frog, where her counterpart Tiana is a waitress who likes to cook and dreams about opening her own restaurant.

"Beauty"

 * Various people wear costumes of Disney characters:
 * Elsa from Frozen. There's also a man wearing a male version of Elsa's coronation outfit.
 * Alice from Alice in Wonderland.
 * Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
 * The Incredibles from the movie of the same name.
 * The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus..
 * During Weaver's conversation with Tilly and while Ivy is searching for Lucy, two boys walk by—one wearing a blue, yellow and red costume and the other wearing a red, white and black costume. The costumes are from the Disney Descendants franchise. More specifically of Jay, the son of Jafar and Carlos, the son of Cruella De Vil.
 * This episode features Ellie, Carl Fredricksen and their child from the Disney/Pixar animated movie Up..
 * The romantic scene between Belle and Mr. Gold features the melody of "Beauty and the Beast" from the Disney film of the same name.

"Greenbacks"

 * Victoria's prisoner, who is later revealed to be Gothel, asks for her "special brew" and Victoria later obtains the herbs for it; a reference to the scene from Tangled, where the queen is healed with a special brew infused with the golden flower (in the traditional fairytale, the queen is cured by eating rapunzel salad).
 * This episode introduces Eudora and Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog.
 * Sabine makes beignet, just like her counterpart Tiana does in The Princess and the Frog.
 * Sabine works as a waitress at Mr. Cluck's Chicken Shack but dreams of starting her own business and takes money from the rent jar to pay for it; a reference to The Princess and the Frog, where Tiana works as a waitress and sets aside the money she earns, in a box, to save up money to start her own restaurant.
 * The logo on Sabine's food bags, which Lucy designed, is a firefly, a reference to Ray, one of the supporting characters in The Princess and the Frog, who is himself a firefly. The firefly ruby is also a reference to him.
 * The place where Sam Ochotta was arrested for drunken behavior is called the Pleasure Island Cabaret, which was named after Pleasure Island from Disney's Pinocchio. Rogers remarks that alcohol turns some people into jackasses, an indirect reference to the events of the movie, where mischievous boys on Pleasure Island who indulge in alcohol and other vices are turned into donkeys (the word "jackass" refers to both a male donkey and a stupid person). In addition, Sam shouts that he "isn't going to some salt mine"; in the movie, the donkeys are sold to salt mines and other places for money.
 * When Victoria finds out about Jacinda and Sabine's pop-up beignet shop, she calls an unseen character named Ralph and tells him to "wreck it".
 * Ivy refers to herself as being a clever girl, much like Disney's Drizella Tremaine did in the live-action Cinderella.

"Eloise Gardener"

 * Hook has to sing in order to locate the golden flower and reveal its "heart", which is similar to the way Mother Gothel and Rapunzel sang to activate the golden flower's healing powers.
 * Mickey Mouse appears on the watches Tilly is selling.

"Pretty in Blue"

 * A Star Wars backpack is hanging on a chair during Alice's tea party.
 * A Mickey Mouse figurine is lying in the grass during Alice's tea party.
 * Alice says that she slew a Jabberwock, a reference to the 2010 live action film, where the character does just that.
 * When Henry is reunited with his old friend Jack, he quotes Lando Calrissian's line from the scene where the latter is reunited with Han Solo in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He even pretends to punch Jack before he hugs him, just like Lando does to Han.
 * Jack says that Henry one of these days, Henry has to show him "this Star Wars thing", and Henry responds, "That's The Empire Strikes Back, but close enough".

"Secret Garden"

 * Tiana's Palace is named after Tiana's restaurant from The Princess and the Frog.
 * Memento Mori is based on the Disney World attraction of the same name.
 * Madame Leota from Disney's The Haunted Mansion appears.
 * Several of Leota's lines are taken directly from her The Haunted Mansion counterpart's lines or the Ghost Host's lines in the attractions.
 * Gothel references the song "Mother Knows Best" when having Robin make her choice between her and Zelena.
 * The ending where Doctor Sage's hair is cut is reminiscent of the scene where Gothel cuts off a lock of Rapunzel's hair in Tangled.
 * When Zelena and Wish Hook enter Memento Mori, a cymbal-banging monkey toy is sitting on the table. This is a reference to Abu, who was turned into a cymbal-banging monkey toy by Jafar.
 * While Henry was in the hospital, he comments Lucy will she say that Doctor Sage is Doctor Strange.

"A Taste of the Heights"

 * This episode introduces Prince Naveen from The Princess and the Frog.
 * Naveen's homeland is Maldonia, just like in the movie.
 * The Rollin' Bayou's symbol is a firefly, a reference to Ray, one of the supporting characters in The Princess and the Frog, who is himself a firefly.  (The Princess and the Frog, 2009) ​
 * Among the food for sale at the Rollin' Bayou are beignets and gumbo, both of which are heavily featured in The Princess and the Frog.
 * Drew's food truck is called the Flamin' Cajun, a reference to Ray, a Cajun firefly from the movie.
 * Drew and Sabine talk about how Drew has had an easy life with a lot of things handed to him, while Tiana had to work hard to get where she is. In The Princess and the Frog, Naveen is a pampered prince, while Tiana is a waitress who works hard to save up money to open her own restaurant.
 * Drew used to work at his family's restaurant, but later ends up running his own food truck, like Sabine does. This is a reference to The Princess and the Frog, where Tiana and Naveen end up running a restaurant together.
 * Drew admits that he flunked out of cooking school. In The Princess and the Frog, Naveen is bad at cooking and is taught to do so by Tiana.
 * When Naveen and Tiana are in the swamps, sounds of croaking frogs can be heard. In The Princess and the Frog, Naveen and Tiana were both turned into frogs.
 * The alligator that attacks Naveen and Tiana while they are in the swamps of the bayou is an allusion to Louis the alligator.

"Sisterhood"

 * The lanterns from Disney's Tangled appear. Also mentioned are the golden flowers from the film.
 * Flynn's Barcade is a reference to Flynn's Arcade.
 * A Recognizer vehicle from the Tron franchise is pictured on one of the Barcade's windows.
 * Weaver says that if Mr. Samdi tries to get in his way, he will send him to the other side, a reference to the song "Friends on the Other Side".

"Breadcrumbs"

 * The signs in front of the Rollin' Bayou say "A New Orleans Tradition", a reference to The Princess and the Frog, which takes place in New Orleans.

"Chosen"

 * The pancakes Jacinda makes are shaped like Mickey Mouse heads.

"The Guardian"

 * The skulls and orange flowers in the Cave of the Departed are a reference to the sugar skulls and orange marigold flowers from Coco.
 * The masks in the room are also similar to the ones worn by Dr. Facilier's friends on the other side in The Princess and the Frog.
 * Mr. Samdi says that if Mr. Gold kills him, he will never get back to "that sweet wife on the other side", a reference to the song "Friends on the Other Side".

"Flower Child"

 * Jacinda finds a frog plushie in the box, a reference to Tiana and Naveen, who were transformed into frogs in The Princess and the Frog.
 * The film Ratatouille is listed on Henry's board, under Remy's name. Remy is the name of the rat protagonist from the movie.

"Is This Henry Mills?"

 * The film Ratatouille is mentioned on Henry's board under Remy's name. Remy is the name of the rat protagonist from the movie.
 * There is a postcard promoting balloon trips in Belle and Mr. Gold's travel book and the notes inside the book include the text "we haven't don as much of South America as I'd hop". Belle and Mr. Gold's journey across the realms in "Beauty" is based on Carl and Ellie's dream from Up, where Carl sets out to fulfill their dream to see the wilds of South America by tying thousands of balloons to his house.

"Down the Rabbit Hole"

 * The stuffed rabbit sitting by the small table in the beginning of the episode is wearing a petticoat; a reference to the White Rabbit. This can also be seen in "Who's Alice" and "And They Lived...".
 * Young Alice wears the signature blue dress from the Disney film. This can also be seen in "Who's Alice".