Disney movies you avoid with your kids?

[Tink561]

Do you all remember the episode of Friends when Phoebe didn't know Old Yeller died because her mom always stopped movies that had sad endings and made up her own?

 

[phillmolly]

My 4yr old dear nephew loves Madgascar, but we had to stop watching it because he thought it was great fun to spit on everyone and everything!! There are some disney movies that I won't watch because they make me cry (Bambi, Dumbo, Tarzan, The Lion King). He enjoys most of them though, however Bambi did upset him because of the fire. He won't watch Monster's INC either. That is one of my fave's so I really do wish he liked. When we talk about it he says that he is now old and brave enough, but when we go to put in the DVD player he changes his mind. The first time we tried to watch he was around 2. He also dosn't like antz or a bugs life.

 

[SavvyMom]

Disney movies have always been "safe" to us. We let the kids watch and get into the movies ourselves. I think it all boils down to how you talk to your kids. My children need to know how "the real word works" but they also need to know how it should work. They can watch a movie about someone who dies, them cry over a puppy that is killed. It's the difference between fiction and nonfiction. Fantasy death is upsetting, for sure. But real death is a major big deal.

 

[mytwotinks]

I would not let my kids watch Hercules (sp) because of more than one God

That's the only one for me too. Same reason here.

 

[cheyennemama]

We don't watch "Pirates". Violent and scary.

 

[Mariposa]

No Disney movies we won't let DD watch..

To the PP who said that their friend wouldn't let their child watch Little Mermaid... We kinda get that. We never stopped DD from watching it, but did explain that, although things worked out okay in the end, Ariel is being VERY bad disobeying her dad just because she feels like it. Disobedience with good cause is a common theme amongst the Disney princesses.. but Ariel doesn't have good cause, she has a crush- not the same thing. (I understand the whole underlying racism theme in the Disney version, but kids don't get that- they're a bit bigger themed, they see Ariel disobey dad to get what she wants and get rewarded for it.. doesn't work for me.) So, we let DD watch the movie, but we've talked a LOT about how differently it could have gone for Ariel.

Sorry for the hijack.

 

[ModestMouse]

No Disney movies we won't let DD watch..

To the PP who said that their friend wouldn't let their child watch Little Mermaid... We kinda get that. We never stopped DD from watching it, but did explain that, although things worked out okay in the end, Ariel is being VERY bad disobeying her dad just because she feels like it. Disobedience with good cause is a common theme amongst the Disney princesses.. but Ariel doesn't have good cause, she has a crush- not the same thing. (I understand the whole underlying racism theme in the Disney version, but kids don't get that- they're a bit bigger themed, they see Ariel disobey dad to get what she wants and get rewarded for it.. doesn't work for me.) So, we let DD watch the movie, but we've talked a LOT about how differently it could have gone for Ariel.

Sorry for the hijack.

I think it's a lot more than having a crush. Ariel wants to know about the surface people--she's been collecting their stuff that's sunken in the ocean *long* before she sees Eric. She already has a great curiosity about the surface culture and her father Triton objects to *that*. To me, Triton sounds somewhat like the other posters here who don't want their kids exposed to the religion of the ancient Greeks--even considering classical Greek civilization had a huge influence on Western civilization and Christian thought. Triton was short-sighted in the movie. . .since Eric is the one who stops Ursula and saves Triton and the mer-people. Take from that what you will.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

I intend on reading though all of these posts tomorrow, but I have a minute to post now so I apologize if any of this has been mentioned. But, a co-worker of mine would not let her daughter watch The Little Mermaid because Ariel defied her father. Oh, puhhlease! Like Ariel was drinking and doing drugs. The real teachers of defiance are a child's peers. (I'm gathering up my strength for the teen years. LOL!)

I do have an issue with Tarzan though. It's bad enough that momma gorilla is killed, but did we have to hear her cries? I was 27 when I saw that movie in the theater for the first time and honestly, I thought I was going to have to get up and leave because I was so upset. I've never seen that movie again since.

 

[sara74]

We haven't limited the Disney movies that we would allow the kids to watch, but they have limited the ones that they want to see! DD doesn't want to watch Snow White, Lion King or Bambi. They are all too scary to her.

Lately we have been limiting screen time more and more anyway, so it is becoming rare for them to watch a full length movie. We have no TV or computer M, T or W and limited time the rest of the week (less than 2 hours a day) When DD starts K in the fall then there will be no screen time M through F. I'll have to watch Disney movies after the kids go to bed to get my fix!

 

[Cinders Mum]

I have not had a problem with letting DD watch any Disney movie. I have far far greater issues with programmes like The Simpsons, which is shown at 6pm every night here ..... now there's one which has no business being on tv before the watershed.....

Val
xx

 

[powellrj]

the only one I have ever had a issue with was Song of The South. It was re-released when my oldest was a preschooler and we got up and left during the movie. I had forgotten how racist it was.

My kids are older and my oldest is grown, I would take them now because we could talk about how things have changed and how times are different than they were when it was shown on the big screen. I just wasn't prepared to explain it to a preschooler.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I think we've watched them all. I did, however, choose which movies at which stages of development. Lighter ones during the nightmare years, etc. I still don't like the stampede in the Lion King!

Interesting about Song of the south. We have it on video, and my kids have seen it. They were older when we got it, so we just talked about the content, and enjoyed the movie.

eta: I forgot, I gave away Hunchback. I really hated seeing that man throw the mom down the stairs. They didn't need to show it. Of course, I had babies at the time and was hormonal, so I don't know that I would still feel that way!

 

[Rob R]

my kids are 2 and 3, and there is NO WAY they are watching the POTC movies. My wife and i watched the first one, and it's just a little too much for a 2 year old to grasp.

rob

 

[dameodie]

Is it bad for your children to know what a cross dresser is? My 6 yr old openly talks about lesbians/gays and anything related to that

That's what I was thinking... someone who's a cross dresser is simply someone who wears clothes typically thought of as being worn by the opposite gender. No need for sexuallity to enter into the conversation at all...

Some men fall in love with women, but some fall in love with other men. Same with women. There's no need to go into the down'n'dirty details with a young child, but they can certainly understand love...

 

[dameodie]

No Disney movies we won't let DD watch..

To the PP who said that their friend wouldn't let their child watch Little Mermaid... We kinda get that. We never stopped DD from watching it, but did explain that, although things worked out okay in the end, Ariel is being VERY bad disobeying her dad just because she feels like it. Disobedience with good cause is a common theme amongst the Disney princesses.. but Ariel doesn't have good cause, she has a crush- not the same thing. (I understand the whole underlying racism theme in the Disney version, but kids don't get that- they're a bit bigger themed, they see Ariel disobey dad to get what she wants and get rewarded for it.. doesn't work for me.) So, we let DD watch the movie, but we've talked a LOT about how differently it could have gone for Ariel.

Sorry for the hijack.

I agree with this too... DSD7 worships Ariel, and defiance with cause may be okay when you're an adult or an "adult" in a fantasy setting where people are considerd adults sooner than they are in real life. But I really don't like her getting excited about Ariel not listening to her father because her father is "mean"...

That being said, we also talked about WHY Triton is "mean" and we don't forbid her from watching the movie.

 

[Starr W.]

my kids are 2 and 3, and there is NO WAY they are watching the POTC movies. My wife and i watched the first one, and it's just a little too much for a 2 year old to grasp.

rob

I took my eldest last year to see POTC, part II and left the 5yr old at home with DH. The 9 yr old got creeped out at one point and wanted to leave!

Sorry I didn't really think it was that good of a movie(though my sister would pay good money to watch Johhny Depp in anything).

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Whenever we watch any movie the first time, we sit down and watch it as a family so we can talk about anything we find upsetting or a little much. My 5 year old dd hasn't seen all the Disney Movies, but I have seen most of the old ones so I can pick and chose which ones I think she can handle. Favorite at the moment is Ariel. She, too, thought her "daddy was soooo mean" but that also led into a great conversation about the importance of obeying your mommy and daddy.
The only one I have a real objection with is HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. My least favorite Disney movie by far, it is violent and VERY sexually suggestive. I don't feel like explaining that one to a 5 year old. Oh, and of course POTC. But she's only 5. Our 10 year old DSD loves them. I love Johnny Depp. So it works out.
As for the racially insensitive things: That doesn't bother me. Instead, it gives a good look as to how much the world has changed since then. It gives a great chance for discussing racism and the need to treat all people equally. My DD 5 has seen Peter Pan many times. At first, she was bothered by the "RED MAN" song and asked why those people were red. One of our friend's is a Native American and "he's not red". So, we just explained a little about the term and the struggle of the Native Americans. No big depth, just enough of what a 5 year old could grasp.
I am excited for when she will be old enough to watch some of those old real life movies like Pollyanna, Song of the South, Old Yeller, and Summer Magic, etc.....But, that will be awhile before she's old enough for those.

 

[dopeysgirl]

to mommiepoppins and mytwotinks: i agree...no hercules. we love Jesus too! and i think its too much to explain to preschoolers about lots of gods (greek) at this point. plus its a little dark with all the fire scenes, etc.

we also need to remember that disney is not perfect either, so some movies might have a hunting scene which would upset PETA or adoption topics that upset agencies, etc. but my i feel alot better letting my kids watch my disney dvds cause i know them by heart rather than nickelodeon/cartoon network which often shows questionable material!

i think that in the end, each family has to do what they feel is best for thier family!

 

[Tess'smom]

My DD can watch any disney movie she wants to. However, she doesnt like to watch a lot of them because they are so sad at times- Bambi -Mom killed, Dumbo, - taken away from Mom, Lion King - Dad killed. In short, she doesnt like the ones were the main character loses family or friends.

That actually limits the number of Disney films she wants to see.

 

[happygirl]

I'm not crazy about Lilo and Stitch, not crazy about how rude stitch is