Movies to see before Disneyland - not too scary!

[MerryJ]

We have an unexpected trip to Disneyland with my three kids (7, 5 and 1) and we realized that the kids will probably miss out on some of the fun if they don't know the characters, so I want to get them to watch a few movies before we head off at the end of May.

Problem is, my 5 year old son, especially, but his big brother too, are kind of scaredy cats! We tried to get them to watch Finding Nemo, which we loved when we saw it pre-kids and they totally freaked out. Screaming in terror, climbing the walls, wouldn't watch it. DH got them through the first part, then gave up. I tried to pick up where he had left off (with the sharks bringing them to the "meeting") and they got through it and then the big fish with the light and the giant jaws happened and they begged me to turn it off.

We switched to Fantasia which they both loved, and not even a peep out of them during the devil bit at the end.

They made it through the Incredibles a few months back, although my 5 year old found it a bit too much.

We have recently watched the original three Star Wars movies. My 7 year old is now an official HUGE fan, and my 5 year old loves them, but finds them a little scary. I admit, I feel silly that my kids will watch Star Wars, but are afraid of a movie about a fish, but what can you do?

I really want to show them Bug's Life, given there is that full area based on it to visit. I saw it in theatres, and can't remember if it is scary, compared to Nemo.

I am also looking at Little Mermaid, Snow White, Peter Pan, Tarzan, Dumbo, Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty. Which ones are can't miss before the parks (but less scary than Finding Nemo!)

Oh - and should we plan on skipping the Nemo attraction at the park given the reaction to the movie? Anything else that will result in screaming, frantic, wall climbing children?

 

[ValpoCory]

We have an unexpected trip to Disneyland with my three kids (7, 5 and 1) and we realized that the kids will probably miss out on some of the fun if they don't know the characters, so I want to get them to watch a few movies before we head off at the end of May.

Problem is, my 5 year old son, especially, but his big brother too, are kind of scaredy cats! We tried to get them to watch Finding Nemo, which we loved when we saw it pre-kids and they totally freaked out. Screaming in terror, climbing the walls, wouldn't watch it. DH got them through the first part, then gave up. I tried to pick up where he had left off (with the sharks bringing them to the "meeting") and they got through it and then the big fish with the light and the giant jaws happened and they begged me to turn it off.

We switched to Fantasia which they both loved, and not even a peep out of them during the devil bit at the end.

They made it through the Incredibles a few months back, although my 5 year old found it a bit too much.

We have recently watched the original three Star Wars movies. My 7 year old is now an official HUGE fan, and my 5 year old loves them, but finds them a little scary. I admit, I feel silly that my kids will watch Star Wars, but are afraid of a movie about a fish, but what can you do?

I really want to show them Bug's Life, given there is that full area based on it to visit. I saw it in theatres, and can't remember if it is scary, compared to Nemo.

I am also looking at Little Mermaid, Snow White, Peter Pan, Tarzan, Dumbo, Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty. Which ones are can't miss before the parks (but less scary than Finding Nemo!)

Oh - and should we plan on skipping the Nemo attraction at the park given the reaction to the movie? Anything else that will result in screaming, frantic, wall climbing children?

Unfortunately, almost all Disney movies have some sort of scary part. I would just preview the movies and use your discretion to skip scenes that you think will scare your kids.

 

[strikrr]

I understand your scenario...I have had similar happen. We are going in June so I have been doing the same with my two kids DS(5yr) DD(2yr).

The problem in this case is that most Disney movies have some dramatic thing that happens to the main character which little kids often seem to perceive as "scary" but then the rest of the movies moves to resolve and make life all happy again. Getting through the "Scary" is the challenge. I just try to get my kids to laugh at what happens to the "bad guy" and say things like isn't that so funny.

Cars is pretty safe all the way through
Toy Story's are pretty good all the way around.
Wall-E is pretty safe all the way through
Mary Poppins is another good one.
Mermaid is good - Potential bad spots, Ursela scenes and shark scene
Pinocchio wasn't too bad except whale scene.
Tarzan - A couple of scenes with a Tiger chasing people
Peter Pan is pretty good all the way through. Maybe the croc chasing hook.
Cinderella - Just watched this with my kids for their 1st time and it was good all the way through...my son even liked it and wanted to watch again the next day.
Bugs Life may be a little much.
Any Silly Symphony should get them acquainted with regular characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto etc.

On the TV side of things...Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Disney Jr/Mickey Mouse Clubhouse would be good. You can often find dvd's of these with several episodes. These would be good because in CA they have a whole show revolving around these.

The Finding Nemo ride is pretty tame and fun. They do show the fish with the giant teeth and Bruce the shark but in both cases it is more of a still shot vs any type of action of them chasing like in the movie.

If they get through Little Mermaid in CA there is a fun ominmover type ride that is about that movie. A good portion revolves around the fun musical part of the movie.

 

[Pesky]

Agree with pps. They listed some great ones and couldn't agree more with the lists they've given you. Might also want to look at Winnie the Pooh (very safe), Aladdin (if you think they can deal with the snake at the end). Bug's Life is okay but the grasshoppers are a little scary. There is also Princess and the Frog but the shadows are a little intense.

A bit different than the movies but you might want to check out videos on DLR from your local library or netflix and also show the kids some of the rides on youtube to prepare them so you don't have kids freaking out in a dark ride (might want to pick up some tubes of glow bracelets from the Target $1 bin now to help on those dark rides). You can also show them how large the characters are so they aren't weirded out by that. GL!

ETA: Thought of another one -- the Tinker Bell movie (the first one -- the second one has some rats that might be too much). Not too scary at all and can help set the stage if you visit Pixie Hollow.

 

[nannyz]

Most of the characters they will see in DL can be seen on TV on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Winnie the Pooh, etc.

 

[shellie may]

I love watching disney movies before trips and you have gotten really good suggestions, but In my opinion I would not watch Snow White. Who's ready for an embarrassing story?? Story Time!!!

Okay I admit that the movie Snow White terrified me when I was little. My older sister locked me in a room with the lights off and I was completely traumatized by it. Even the ride terrified me I remember distinctly closing my eyes through the entire ride the very first time i rode it at MK. To be honest I just watched it recently for the first time since I was little and I admit I was still freaked out by it. I even admit that when I went to disneyland for the first time in February I screamed really loud when the witch opened the door and all you saw was her face. My mom thought it was hilarious when her grown 19 year old daughter was all of a sudden sitting on her lap. Im a horror flick junkie and not really anything scares me except for the old hag in Snow White

This is just my opinion and maybe Im just a big baby because a lot of people love snow white and my niece can sit through the movie just fine, but Snow White scares me and Im not ashamed to admit it

 

[pixiewings71]

Just a quick fyi, they have the "big fish with the light and giant jaws" during the Nemo ride so you might want to either skip it or watch it in the handicapped viewing area instead.....I don't mean to be rude but if they get really scared and start screaming in the sub it won't be pretty.......lol

Good luck, my girls love all Disney movies, even the scary parts, and have since they were really young....

Oh, just thought of another ride you might want to skip, Snow White has some pretty scary parts in it.....you may want to pre-ride to see how they might do on that one.

 

[Potterswife]

Take them in the Nemo viewing room...do not take them on the subs if you have any concerns. My 5 year old nephew who rides Splash mtn got scared and there was no place we could go because we were on the sub. Then if they can do the viewing room, take them on the subs.

Snow White and Pinnochio can be scary, I would not ride them first, get them warmed up on other rides...Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Casey Jr, etc.

Movies I had my nephew (5) and niece watch (2) before our trip...all were watched in the daytime and not at night

Dumbo
Snow White
Cinderella
Lots of Pooh Bear movies
Bugs Life (only a bit scarry when Hopper arrives)
Peter Pan
Pinnochio
Little Mermaid
Toy Story
Monsters Inc (not that scary once you explain why they need the kids to scream and be sure they understand the monsters are even more scared of the kids, the ride is not scary at all, imo)

 

[scrapshappen]

You will probably want to completely avoid "It's tough to Be a Bug." My six year old completely melted down during it. He has an anxiety disorder, but doesn't scare easily. He has seen all those movies you mentioned and none of them bothered him at all.