Must See Movies Before A First Trip...

[Gracefulskinny]

I've seen many who do movie nights to prep their kids for a trip to WDW. What movies do you think are must see movies before a trip and why?

 

[kugelette]

I've seen many who do movie nights to prep their kids for a trip to WDW. What movies do you think are must see movies before a trip and why?

Planning to do this also. Picking movies that have characters available for M&G so he knows who they are.

 

[rachael95]

I think it depends on how old your child is as well. Since my DS is only 2, I'm sticking with these movies:

• Cars 1 only
• Mater's Tall Tales
• Planes
• Toy Story 1 & 2*
• Jake and Neverland Pirates
• Mickey Mouse Club (I tried showing him Mickey and the Beanstalk and the Sorcerer's Apprentice section of Fantasia and it bored him and he ignored it.) Just from watching Mickey Mouse Club from a couple of Appisodes on the iPad, he knows the entire gang.

*Note on Toy Story movies, I fast forward through scenes that are too intense for a two-year-old. Example: Woody scaring Sid in TS, Woody's nightmare in TS2, and Jessie's song in TS2 because DS said it makes him sad.

We tried the Incredibles and Wreck-It-Ralph, they were too intense we felt. Since we don't have a lot of the classic movies, we're using books and iPad game apps (like "Ariel's Musical Surprise" and "Winnie the Pooh Wonder & Wander" to introduce those characters.

 

[awalker1015]

Incredibles, Princess and the Frog, beauty and the beast, Frozen, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Little Mermaid- what ages are your kids?

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

In addition to the above, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean.... Depends on your kids' ages, boys or girls?

 

[Honeybee83]

My daughter is 2 and will be 2 1/2 on our trip. We've been watching for a while so she'll be ready in September. She now easily knows the main Mickey gang (Micky mouse clubhouse), Cinderella, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Snow White, Belle, Ariel, Anna, Elsa, Dumbo, Alice, Peter and Wendy, Mary Poppins, Nemo.

There's a good chance your tyke won't know EVERY disney character on your trip. Just give them a good base of main characters so they'll recognize someone. It makes it so fun for them.

 

[Kristina4109]

We'll look at the character meals we have coming up and we'll watch something that highlights those characters. So the Fab 5, Lilo and Stitch, Chip and Dale, stuff like that.

 

[GotLabradors]

I would watch any movie that has a ride you're planning on attached to it. That way the kids have a point of reference. My 6 y.o. DD's favorite is Mary Poppins. I am hoping we can catch her at one of the character meals for which she is listed. The other thing my kids are enjoying right now is watching youtube videos of the rides at Disney. Every time the 2 younger ones finish a video, I hear "Can we ride that one, too?". Our trip isn't until September of 2015.

 

[CaryHaven]

All of the above are good. But my daughter doesn't like "scary" movies so she doesn't watch POTC although she will ride the ride (not as scary to her). I also love the Dumbo ride but can't stand the movie (just too sad - sadder than Bambi to me for some reason). So I try to give them a good roundabout dose of new characters and old classics except for whatever they're not "into" or makes me cry buckets.

 

[pigletgirl]

We'll watch whatever DH and I want, because I love Disney! DD will watch whatever we do. She doesn't seem to get scared very easily.

 

[awalker1015]

All of the above are good. But my daughter doesn't like "scary" movies so she doesn't watch POTC although she will ride the ride (not as scary to her). I also love the Dumbo ride but can't stand the movie (just too sad - sadder than Bambi to me for some reason). So I try to give them a good roundabout dose of new characters and old classics except for whatever they're not "into" or makes me cry buckets.

I can't watch Bambi or Dumbo either!!!

 

[Gracefulskinny]

I can't watch Bambi or Dumbo either!!!

Count me as part of that club! I think DD(2) might be as well. We tried watching it a while back (it really is a horrible movie when you really look at it) and she actually tried to turn the t.v. off!!

 

[kam1011]

Toy Story and Monsters Inc./Univ.

 

[sabmom]

Definitely Peter Pan. I think that ride is magical for kids who have seen the movie and are of a certain age. They think they are really flying to Neverland.

 

[CaryHaven]

Count me as part of that club! I think DD(2) might be as well. We tried watching it a while back (it really is a horrible movie when you really look at it) and she actually tried to turn the t.v. off!!

I KNOW. I hear that "Baby Mine Don't You Cry" song and I INSTANTLY tear up. Just thinking of her locked up, rocking her baby through the window.

That movie should come with a warning.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I would suggest watching a few episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It is an age-appropriate introduction to Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto.

Don't forget to introduce the Winnie the Pooh Characters. Both movies are good. (Winnie the Pooh and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.)

As for the other rides, it is tricky because all the feature length movies have intense scenes. When my kid was 2, we didn't watch very many of them. She started to watch the feature length movies around age 3-4. I do not fast forward scary scenes. In my opinion, the movies have more of an impact of the viewer understands the peril the characters experience. Mind you, I don't use these movies as a babysitter (like I did with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse). I was right beside DD with hugs and blankets (for her to hide her own eyes) and we got through all the scary scenes in Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Wreck It Ralph, etc. The only movie I had to stop entirely was Mars Needs Moms, which opens with scenes of Milo's mom being kidnapped by aliens. The movie highlight's Milo's efforts to get his mom back, which is great, but kiddo wasn't ready for the whole "Mom's gone" part.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Cinderella
Toy Story
Monsters Inc/Monsters University

I think those are the three you absolutely have to get in. Make sure they know the Mickey and Pooh gang! Other movies I suggest:

Peter Pan
Pirates of the Carribbean (This is a great babysitting tool when I have to watch a two year old, so yes, if they are that young they do understand some of the plot and aren't afraid to ask about the rest!)
The Little Mermaid
The Jungle Book

 

[Gracefulskinny]

I KNOW. I hear that "Baby Mine Don't You Cry" song and I INSTANTLY tear up. Just thinking of her locked up, rocking her baby through the window.

That movie should come with a warning.

Not to mention the drug references and the bullying. DH had to point out the Drug references.

 

[cantwaitfordis]

Finding Nemo
Peter Pan
Monsters inc
Lilo and stitch
Toy story
All the princess movies)

 

[rachael95]

Count me as part of that club! I think DD(2) might be as well. We tried watching it a while back (it really is a horrible movie when you really look at it) and she actually tried to turn the t.v. off!!

My DS is not going to see Dumbo or Bambi either. I have a Bambi book from when I was a kid that does the story - but completely cuts out the sad parts. It's SUCH a much happier/better story than the original. I'd love to see "parental" cuts for certain movies. Yes, life has sadness and loss. But....let's keep them innocent as long as possible. It's hard enough explaining to my DS (2) who STILL asks two months later about our cat who died of old age. I don't want him connecting the dots with Bambi's mama and his mama.