Cash-strapped commuters who wish they could disappear into a magical land with talking animals, take heart! The Walt Disney Co will be handing out free subway rides in the busiest U.S. subway stations to promote the DVD release of “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” on Dec. 2.

Disney says it hopes to “spread a little magic” to strap-hangers in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco who may not be aware that the Pevensie kids in C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books — on which the films are based – were transported there while waiting for the subway.

The DVD will be available on standard definition and Blu-ray formats and will include the usual featurettes as well as a special DisneyFile, a copy of the film that can be downloaded and viewed on portable devices.

The studio has high hopes for  “Caspian”, which did relatively middling business of about $420 million  at theaters worldwide – a little over half its predecessor’s box office take — but is expected to be a top seller during the holidays.