Best Disney movies to watch beforehand...

[FergusBC]

My girls have watched move of the Disney princess movies - over and over again - and pretty much all of the more recent Disney/Pixar films! We're going to go and watch Princess and the Frog this afternoon! But I got thinking about some of the more classic Disney movies that would be good background before visiting the park.

So am starting a list of movies that we 'need' to get from the library before our trip LOL... So far am thinking Dumbo, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland. Hmm...anyone have other recommendations of must-see-before-you-go movies ? Ones that rides and/or attractions would be based on...?

The girls don't know about the trip yet and hopefully won't until just before we head out. They'll probably think mommy's gone a little over the edge when I start showing them every movie from the library!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

ALL of them!! HA HA! No really, today I am watching Samantha Brown's Disney Favorites AND the Disney Cruise line! Gotta love the travel channel! !!!

Oh and Toy Story is a great one!

 

[DizNee Luver]

My girls have watched move of the Disney princess movies - over and over again - and pretty much all of the more recent Disney/Pixar films! We're going to go and watch Princess and the Frog this afternoon! But I got thinking about some of the more classic Disney movies that would be good background before visiting the park.

So am starting a list of movies that we 'need' to get from the library before our trip LOL... So far am thinking Dumbo, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland. Hmm...anyone have other recommendations of must-see-before-you-go movies ? Ones that rides and/or attractions would be based on...?

The girls don't know about the trip yet and hopefully won't until just before we head out. They'll probably think mommy's gone a little over the edge when I start showing them every movie from the library!

We found the movies you have listed are a great start!! We also did Jungle Book (so if you see Baloo...they know who it is), Winnie the Pooh, Playhouse Disney shows if you want to catch that show and if you can get some ride-ons to watch (via youtube) that also prepares them. Play lots of the music to familiarize them with the songs & also prepare them for it being somewhat loud. And keep the princess & pixar movies going.......all of these will play a big part in their experience.

 

[LavenderPeach]

How about Tarzan for the tarzan treehouse and Song of the South for Splash Mountain (although admitedly I haven't seen song of the south so i don't know if it's any good).

Or maybe Mary Poppins. I love that movie. There's a little connection with Mary Poppins and the carousel. They ride a carousel in the movie and then there's the horse at DLR that I guess Julie Andrews rode on (and designed?).

Old cartoons with Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, etc.

Oh, Who framed Roger Rabbit for Roger Rabbit's cartoon spin.

 

[FergusBC]

Jungle Book! How did I forget that?! LOL...I love that movie. Thank you.

I don't know if I'll be able to get them interested in Winnie the Pooh but maybe if I leave it lying around they'll ask me to put it on. I also found the Sing Along Disneyland Fun set in the park. A little dated by the glimpse of the hairstyles I saw but should be good.

We thinking of driving to Seattle and flying out so if nothing else, we'll be able to play some in the car for them. Although my husband's threatened to leave if we start singing "It's a Small World" (so guess what I've been humming every time I walk by him...?!)

 

[FergusBC]

ALL of them!!

LOL...Well, we have almost 3 months so we might be able to do it!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

LOL...Well, we have almost 3 months so we might be able to do it!

Exactly! I am telling you with Buzz and TSM watch the Toy Stories! The kids LOVE THEM!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Oh oh and NEMO! You can watch Crush and the subs!

 

[christineka]

I showed my kids "Steamboat Willie" which they initially didn't want to watch because it was black and white. They watched and begged for more! Dh thought we should watch Tron. The kids thought it was boring and so did I. He showed the kids Pirates of the Caribbean, but I didn't approve. (My older kids 6-10 said they liked it.)

I was thinking along the same lines as you: Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Song of the South (but we don't have that one and won't see the grandparents to borrow beforehand), Dumbo, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, (I hated Rodger Rabbit and will never watch it again), the pixar movies, and Tinkerbell if the kids haven't read the books.

 

[spacemermaid]

If you'll be seeing the Aladdin show at CA when you're there, have the kids watch the movie before you go

 

[raftislander]

Fantasyland has rides for Peter Pan, Dumbo, Snow White, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, and Mr Toad (The movie title is something like the Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad and is two stories -including the one about the headless horseman). There is also a Sword in the Stone Ceremony with Merlin. Pixie Hollow has Tinkerbell and the newer fairies. Splash Mountain is based on Song of the South, but if you can find the movie, you might want to preview it before showing it to your kids. It seems like I frequently see characters out from Mary Poppins, Robin Hood and Jungle Book. Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, Monster's Inc, Aladdin, Bug's Life, Nemo, Tarzan all have attractions/shows in DL/DCA. If you are going after the Rivers of America have been refilled, then there are the Davy Crockett canoes. I also think that watching Pollyanna gives young kids a better sense of what Main Street is about.

 

[IndianaPrincess]

I'd recommend "Sing Along Songs - Disneyland Fun" - it's not a movie, but it pumps up the trip!!!

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Marry Poppins is a must! I would also see about getting some of the music from the movies. We use limewire and just search for each of the songs from the movies. It's a small world isn't a movie but has a great song. I play them at nap time for my kids and while they are playing. That really helps them get into the DL mood. Then when we are in the parks theres a lot of Ohhs and Awws! It's cute!
Bugs life is a must! Our family LOVES Bugs land. I think they did a really great job submerging us in to that make believe land. It's really great! My girls LOVED it in the dark too! They thought it was so neat.
Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Dumbo, we love the old Disney Cartoons. I know if your library doesn't have some of them netflix does. Although I really like Tarzan it's a little harsh in places for really small children. Just a warning.
My girls watched the Pirates movies and all though the movies are a little old for them they love Jack Sparrow now. You could use an excerpt from the movie to get them psyched about the ride... IMO the first is harder for the little ones then the rest.

 

[Mugglemama]

My girls have watched move of the Disney princess movies - over and over again - and pretty much all of the more recent Disney/Pixar films! We're going to go and watch Princess and the Frog this afternoon!

Frog and Princess was the one I was going to suggest. We went and saw it yesterday afternoon also, and I thought it was so good...and a lot of the music and imagery is very reminiscent of Disneyland's New Orleans Square.

 

[bumbershoot]

Bug's Life and Toy Story for DCA.

 

[Disney Dreams]

My girls have watched move of the Disney princess movies - over and over again - and pretty much all of the more recent Disney/Pixar films! We're going to go and watch Princess and the Frog this afternoon! But I got thinking about some of the more classic Disney movies that would be good background before visiting the park.

So am starting a list of movies that we 'need' to get from the library before our trip LOL... So far am thinking Dumbo, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland. Hmm...anyone have other recommendations of must-see-before-you-go movies ? Ones that rides and/or attractions would be based on...?

The girls don't know about the trip yet and hopefully won't until just before we head out. They'll probably think mommy's gone a little over the edge when I start showing them every movie from the library!

I don't know how old your girls are, nor do I know how much seeing a Disney movie does to prep kidds for a Disney Park visit, but -

I pulled this list together for someone else a while back. Here you go:

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad - Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Aladdin, Pinocchio, Cinderella, and more - Storybook Land Canal Boats
Alice in Wonderland - Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland - Mad Tea Party
Alice in Wonderland - Games on Main Street
Cinderella - meeting the Princess and Fairy Godmother
Dumbo - Dumbo
Dumbo - Casey Jr.'s Circus Train
Fantasia and SOOO many other movies - Fantasmic!
Finding Nemo - Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Turtle Talk with Crush
Haunted Mansion - Haunted Mansion
Indiana Jones movies - Indiana Jones Adventure
Jungle Book - character meet 'n' greets
Mary Poppins - meeting Burt & Mary and the Carousel
Monsters Inc. - Monsters Inc.
Peter Pan - Peter Pan
Pinocchio - Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Pirates of the Caribbean - Pirates of the Caribbean
Robin Hood - character meet 'n' greets
Sleeping Beauty - the castle, the walk-through
Song of the South - Splash Mountain
Star Wars - Star Tours
Sword in the Stone - The sword in the stone in Fantasyland
Tarzan - Tarzan's Treehouse
Toy Story - Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Toy Story Midway Mania
Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Winnie the Pooh movies - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

- Dreams

 

[Disney Fool]

May I add a few?
The Wind in the Willows (PBS version)-(Mr. Toad's wild ride)
The Aristocats (Marie is a character)
Beauty and the Beast (Belle)
the Little Mermaid (Ariel)
A Very Goofy Movie (Goofy and Max are characters)
A Bug's Life (DCA)
101 Dalmations (cartoon version for Cruella)
Meet Me In St. Louis -with Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien for ambiance on Main Street---Pollyanna also great choice
FYI: Add Swiss Family Robinson if you're going to WDW!

 

[gethane]

Perhaps a stupid question: How do we get a hold of these movies?

I had so many of these movies on VCR back when my now almost grown kids were young, but don't have any idea what happened to them. We probably threw them away. And now I can't seem to find them on Netflix because of the way Disney releases, then closes release, of these DVDs. Do we join up with Blockbuster? Will rental stores have them?

 

[Disney Fool]

Try your local library. They often have these movies or can do an interlibrary exchange with another library. Ask friends if they have these movies sitting on their shelves in DVD format.

Song of the South was pulled years ago for not being politically correct. There are pirated versions out there, but you cannot get the original anymore.