best movies and videos to get familiar with characters?

[Disneyonmymind]

Hello everyone,
We are planning our third trip with DD9 and DD2 this summer. I hate to admit it but we haven't seen many of the classic Disney movies. We've seen
Cinderella,
Little Mermaid,
Toy Story,
101 Dalmations,
Lion King,
Nemo,
Monsters Inc.

Until recently, DD never wanted to watch movies because they were too scary. Now, she's past that and wants to see what she's been missing. Assuming we have only time to see about 8 movies, which ones would you suggest are best to enhance the WDW experience.

Also, any suggestions for the DD2? Are there any good videos for the younger set?
Thanks in advance

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Don't forget Aladdin

 

[alloyd1170]

Theyre not classics, but I got these to prepare my then 2 yr old for meeting the live characters: Sing Along Videos-Beach Party (WDW-Ariel, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Capt Hook, and some others), Small World (DL similar characters), and there is Campfire or something at FW (didnt buy this one). They play many songs (some made up, some from movies/rides), show things from each park (including some water parks), the characters sing and dance with kids of all ages, and the words scroll across the bottom so you can sing along too. Theyre quite catchy! My son likes to sing along now.

alison

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Thanks, for the help.
Aladdin - that's the one with Jasmine, right? We saw her last time at the MK and I felt badly that we didn't know who she was. I think we should see Alladin, Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White so at least we have a handle on the princesses.

Those sing-along videos sound perfect for my DD2 (and the rest of us too). Where can I buy them? Do I have to go to a Disney store? Sorry to sound so helpless...

I'm getting so excited, it's hard to focus on work.
Jackie

 

[goofyandmore]

We love Peter Pan! Also agree that the sing a long tapes are great. We have every one. My favorite is probably "You Can Fly."

 

[Drizzo67]

Alice in Wonderland
Pinnochio
Snow White
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (saw the characters in EPCOT-France)
Lady and the Tramp
Mary Poppins
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (new this year)
Any of the Pooh movies
Jungle Book

 

[vmkids]

Robin Hood is a must because the characters are out a lot, along with Peter Pan's, Sleeping beauty (Fantasmic makes since with this), Classic Cartoon characters(Chip and Dale are everywhere), Jungle book (poor Bloo people don't recognize all the time) Tarzan (for Tarzan rocks) and Pooh is everywhere.

Of course, find a book about brier rabbitt would be great too.

 

[vmkids]

Forgot Pocahontas it is one that has a lot of characters out and it is part of the Fantasmic show too. MUlan and Hercules characters are out a lot too.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Thanks, everyone!

Wow, there are a lot of good ones here. I think we may have to really start spending more time on our Disney "homework". I do remember seeing a character at AK that I didn't recognize. Maybe it was Bloo. I'll definitely have to add the Jungle Book to our "must-see" list since we all love AK.

Some others that you mentioned I wouldn't have thought of - like Peter Pan, Mulan, Pocahontas, Mary Poppins. I'm really looking forward to watching these movies with my family.

BTW - We saw Tweedledee and Tweedledum characters in MK last time and we didn't recognize them. The kids got their autographs and we asked some other guests who they were. Even after I heard their names, I didn't know what show, cartoon, etc they were from. Anyone know?
Jackie

 

[J. Galt]

Try the new Princess Sing-a-Long dvd/video. My 2 y.o. LOVES it and now she knows all of the princesses and their big hit songs. Its really nice because there aren't any scary parts (like in the actual movies), just song excerpts from each of the princess films.

p.s. Tweedledee and Tweedledum and from Alice in Wonderland.

 

[JCTigger]

A great way to get to know a bunch of the characters with out having to watch tons of hours of disney movies is by renting the sing along songs about the movies.... the only video store chain that i know that carries them is Hollywood Video (i use to work for them thats how i know)
With these sing a long songs each tape has a theme and they play a bunch of songs from diffrent movies...
I love watching these along with the themed park sing a long tapes... i wish they would put them on DVD

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Alice in Wonderland, huh? It figures, another movie I've never seen. I sure am un-educated.

I bet there's a lot of stuff at WDW that goes right over my head since I've never seen the movies. Maybe it will be different next time.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Thanks, JC, I just checked the website, and there is a Hollywood Video not too far from my house. I'm in luck! I better get busy, too, cause my "must-see" list has already exceeded 8 movies and/or sing-a-longs. If it weren't for that pesky thing called "my job"...

 

[Drizzo67]

I forgot two that my Disney Kids just love and they are basic "Mickey and Friends"

The Spirit of Mickey
Melody Time

 

[JCTigger]

Thanks, JC, I just checked the website, and there is a Hollywood Video not too far from my house. I'm in luck! I better get busy, too, cause my "must-see" list has already exceeded 8 movies and/or sing-a-longs. If it weren't for that pesky thing called "my job"...

Your welcome.... just to let you know when i worked there some of those movies were free kids rentals... so say you rent the hunchback of notre dame and pay for it you can take out 1 free kids rental im not sure of they still do that but just a heads up

 

[alloyd1170]

Sorry-I meant to add that the Sing Along Videos were available in our Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores. I wish they had them on dvd for the portable player we have in the car!

alison

 

[mommystieg]

I also recommend the sing a long videos. Before our first visit to WDW we used these videos to help prepare DD#2 for the characters(she was 26 months at the time). The videos we have are:
Disneyland Fun
Campout at Walt Disney World
Beach Party at Walt Disney World
Flik's Musical Adventure at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Let's Go to the Circus
These are live action and show the characters interacting with kids. Most of them also show some of the attractions at the theme parks. The free vacation planning video is also good. DD#2 still enjoys watching the planning video. These all are great for a quick, between trips Disney fix

 

[Disnurse2B]

Let me warn you, this could become addictive! In planning for our upcoming trip, I wanted to buy my DD (3) a few "princess videos" so she could become familiar with the characters. I HAVE CREATED A MONSTER (or, a princess, I should say.) We now own all the princess videos, 4 costumes, the princesss playhouse, the princess tent, the princess purses, the princess makeup kit...well, you get the picture. She wants to watch her DVDs 24/7. I have to drag her out to school everyday! Not only is she faminiar witht he characters, she insists I call her "Belle Jasmine." But, for the record, her very favorite is Belle, so I would reccommend Beauty and the Beast.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

the second disc of POTC gives good info on the ride

 

[swilphil]

I also recommend the Sing along videos. It's great because you can see several characters from the movies in just a half hour. Our local library carries several of the sing along videos. Our favorites are Be Our Guest and Heigh Ho. These are good because they have songs from Beauty and the Beast and Snow White, which are a little too scary (and long) for my kids. Friend Like Me has a couple of Alladin songs and one from Song of the South (Splash Mountain theme). Disneyland Fun is good because it shows some of the MK rides and lets kids know what the characters are like.