If you grew up watching Disney Channel’s 2015 hit Descendants, you’ve probably wondered where was the first descendants filmed, especially when you see that whimsical blend of prep school glamour and fairy tale villain grit. The movie, which follows the teen kids of Maleficent, Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella de Vil as they leave the Isle of the Lost to attend Auradon Prep, quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spawning three sequels, a soundtrack that topped Billboard charts, and even a line of merchandise. I’ve spent years tracking filming locations for Disney’s most popular original movies, so I’ve compiled all the verified details you won’t find on random social media posts, plus little-known facts about how the crew transformed everyday spots into the world of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost.
Where Was The First Descendants Filmed? Primary Filming Hub Overview
If you’ve ever asked where was the first descendants filmed, you might be surprised to learn that none of the movie was shot in the United States, despite being set in a fictional fairy tale version of America. The entire production was based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, one of the most popular filming destinations for Disney and other major studios. Vancouver’s film industry is nicknamed “Hollywood North” for good reason — more than 60 major Disney projects have filmed in the region since 2010, including the entire Descendants franchise.
Most of the movie’s interior scenes were shot at Bridge Studios in Burnaby, a small suburb 15 minutes east of downtown Vancouver. The crew built 12 full custom sets on the studio’s soundstages, including the entire Auradon Prep dorm complex, the Isle of the Lost open-air market, and the grand coronation hall where the movie’s climax takes place. The studio lot is not open to public tours, but you can view the exterior from the public sidewalk if you’re in the area, and you’ll even see signs for other productions filming there most weeks.
Tax incentives were a big reason Disney chose Vancouver for the shoot. British Columbia offers up to 30% back on eligible production costs for projects that hire local crew, which meant the studio could allocate more budget to set design and special effects than they would have been able to if they filmed in Los Angeles. The region’s diverse landscape, which includes everything from dense old-growth forests to modern city skylines and gritty industrial waterfronts, also meant they didn’t have to travel far to get all the different shots they needed for the movie’s two distinct settings.
Popular Outdoor Filming Locations You Can Visit IRL
Almost all of the movie’s outdoor scenes were filmed at public spots around Vancouver that you can visit for free, no special tickets required. All of these spots are easy to find if you’re researching where was the first descendants filmed for a future trip, and most are accessible via public transit from downtown Vancouver.
The most recognizable spot is the Auradon Prep main entrance, which was filmed at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus. The building’s curved glass and stone facade perfectly fit the elegant, fairy tale vibe of Auradon’s elite prep school, and you can stand in the exact same spot where Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos first stepped out of their limo when they arrived at the school. The Chan Centre is also used for concerts and events throughout the year, so you can even catch a show there if you plan your trip right.
If you’re more interested in the Isle of the Lost scenes, most of those were shot along the New Westminster waterfront, a 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. The crew covered the area with custom graffiti, stacked old shipping containers, and added fake rubble and broken neon signs to make the clean, modern waterfront look like the run-down, isolated island where fairy tale villains are exiled. Most of the modifications were removed after filming wrapped, but you can still see a few of the original shipping containers that were used as background props near the River Market building.
Top spots to add to your Descendants filming location itinerary:
- UBC Chan Centre: Stop by the front plaza to take the same photo as the VKs when they first pull up to Auradon Prep. The building is open to the public during event days, and the surrounding campus has plenty of cute coffee shops to visit after your photo op.
- New Westminster River Market: Grab a bite to eat at one of the local food stalls before walking the waterfront where the VKs grew up. You’ll still spot a few of the original shipping containers used in the movie’s background shots along the pier.
- Stanley Park’s Prospect Point: This spot was used for the scene where Mal and Ben have their first date overlooking the water. The view of the Burrard Inlet is exactly the same as it appears in the movie, with no digital edits added to the background.
You don’t need to rent a car to visit any of these spots. All are accessible via Vancouver’s public transit system, and a day pass for the bus and SkyTrain costs less than $10 CAD. If you go between October and March, you’ll avoid the summer tourist crowds and won’t have to wait to get photos at the most popular spots.
Lesser-Known Filming Spots For Super Fans
These hidden spots are often missed by casual fans who only look up the basic answer to where was the first descendants filmed, so visiting them makes for a really unique experience if you’re a diehard fan of the franchise.
The scene where the VKs sneak into the Auradon museum to steal the Fairy Godmother’s wand was filmed at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s downtown rotunda. The crew covered the existing modern art with medieval-style tapestries, added golden chandeliers, and lined the halls with fake suits of armor to turn the contemporary art space into Auradon’s royal museum. The steps leading up to the gallery were also used for the exterior of the coronation hall, where the movie’s final battle takes place. I visited last year, and if you stand on the top step of the main staircase, you can get the exact same angle as the shot where the VKs walk up to the coronation.
The scene where Carlos first meets Dude the dog was filmed at Burnaby Central Park, near the park’s Japanese garden. The crew added a few fake run-down sheds and overgrown plants to make the well-maintained park look like a neglected area on the edge of the Isle of the Lost. You can still walk the same path where Carlos and Dude first interact, and the park has plenty of picnic spots if you want to stop for a snack after exploring.
Almost none of the movie’s outdoor scenes used green screen — the crew relied on Vancouver’s natural beauty and existing architecture to bring the fairy tale world to life, which is why so many spots are immediately recognizable to locals who have seen the movie. You won’t have to use much imagination to feel like you’re standing in Auradon or the Isle of the Lost when you visit these spots.
Why The Crew Chose These Specific Filming Locations
Knowing why these locations were picked also gives context to the answer of where was the first descendants filmed, beyond just a list of addresses. The production team had two non-negotiable requirements when scouting locations: they needed spots that could easily be transformed to look like either the polished, perfect world of Auradon or the gritty, run-down Isle of the Lost, and they needed all spots to be within a 45-minute drive of each other to cut down on travel time for cast and crew.
Vancouver checked both boxes perfectly. The city has a huge range of architecture, from elegant, historic university buildings to gritty industrial waterfront areas, so the crew didn’t have to travel far to get shots for both settings. On most filming days, the cast and crew only had to travel 15 to 20 minutes between sets, which saved hours of time every week that could be spent filming instead of commuting.
The crew also worked with local Vancouver artists to create the graffiti for the Isle of the Lost set, so much of the art you see in the background of Isle scenes is original work from local street artists, most of whom still work in the city today. The production team donated $10,000 to a local street art non-profit after filming wrapped as a thank you to the artists who contributed to the movie’s unique look.
Another big reason the crew chose these specific spots is that most of them are closed to regular traffic for at least part of the day, so they didn’t have to shut down major public roads or deal with large crowds of onlookers while filming. That was especially important for the coronation scene, which had more than 200 extras and required the entire block around the Vancouver Art Gallery to be closed for three full days of filming.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Vancouver or just curious about how your favorite Disney movie was made, knowing where was the first descendants filmed adds a whole new layer of fun to rewatches. You don’t have to be a super fan to appreciate how the crew transformed ordinary spots into a magical world where fairy tale characters come to life. If you do end up visiting any of these locations, make sure to tag your photos with #DescendantsFilmingLocations so other fans can see them too. There’s nothing cooler than seeing a spot you recognize from a movie in real life, and these locations are all easy to access for anyone visiting the Vancouver area.