What movies to watch so kids are familiar with things?

[MuddyriverMC]

We are taking the kids to DLR in September. We've been before, but not since they were really old enough to get anything other than princesses. Is there a comprehensive list of the attractions ( including stores, random pit stops, rides, etc. ) and which movie or book would go with it? My littles haven't seen Mary Poppins so they would not understand the decor at Jolly Holiday Bakery. I want them to feel as much of the magic as possible in the little things. We have five months to make this happen. <3

 

[sdchickie]

Mary and Bert are frequently walking around as well as Peter Pan and Hook, Alice and the Mad Hatter (he has always been one of our favorite character interactions), There are also several villans walking around too. As far as movies to go with the rides, I would say Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Cars, and if your kids are younger there's a whole Bugs Life section of CA Adventure. If your kids are older the Pirates movies go with the ride. I would take a look at a park map and see what rides they have then go get those movies.

 

[lalasmama]

Depending on age...
Mary Poppins (Mary and Bert on Main Street often)
Old school Mickey Mouse cartoons like Steamboat Willie (can't remember the name of the little cinema on Main Street that shows these)
Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye)
Tarzan (Tarzan's Treehouse)
Nightmare Before Christmas (Haunted Mansion)
Song of the South (Splash Mountain)
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh (Winnie The Pooh)
Snow White (Snow White's Scary Adventure)
Peter Pan (Peter Pan's Flight)
Pinocchio (Pinocchio's Daring Journey)
Mr. Toad (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Storybook Canal)
Alice in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland, Mad Tea Party, Storybook Canal)
Sword In the Stone (Sword in the stone is outside of King Arthur's Carousel)
Tangled (show in Fantasy Faire, meet and greets)
Beauty and the Beast (show in Fantasy Faire, meet and greets)
Aladdin (meet and greets in Adventure Land)
Pirates of the Caribbean (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Toon Town)
Roger Rabbit (Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin)
Chip-n-Dale's Rescue Rangers (Gadget's Go-Go Coaster, meet and greets for Chip-n-Dale)
Star Wars (Hyperspace Mountain, Star Tours)
Toy Story saga (Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story Midway Mania, Pixar Play Parade)
Finding Nemo (Nemo Submarines, Pixar Play Parade)
Twilight Zone (just for the gist of the theming/show)
Cars saga (Carsland)
Bug's Life (Bug's Land)
Little Mermaid (Ariel's Undersea Adventure, King Triton's Carousel)
Pixar movies (Pixar's Play Parades)
Up (Redwood Creek Challenge area has Dug)

I feel like I'm missing a few, but I can't figure out where. Of course, there are other characters roaming about, but this is a fair starting point. My DD and DGSs also have enjoyed the Disney Sing-along Songs edition for Disneyland. We bought our copy at Walmart a few years ago for about $7. It was made in 1990, but things still look "close enough" to relive fond memories, or daydream about upcoming trips.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I think kids will have a blast either way. My kids have seen some Disney Movies but I find most (all?) older movies not appropriate for young children.

 

[lalasmama]

I think kids will have a blast either way. My kids have seen some Disney Movies but I find most (all?) older movies not appropriate for young children.

Despite the above list I was able to make, I completely agree... My DD went when she was turning 8, and had only seen a handful of Disney movies, and still loved it!

 

[kristabelle13]

I really recommend Cars. I hadn't seen it and still REALLY appreciated the decor but after watching the movies after that first trip, my next trips, I had a much deeper appreciation!

 

[4Mickeys]

The Haunted Mansion - The Haunted Mansion movie with Eddie Murphy.
Princess & The Frog - New Orleans Square and Tianna meet & greet.
Dumbo - Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Casey Jones Train

 

[westie55]

And don't forget Sleeping Beauty! It is her castle after all

 

[SMD]

I don't think you need to see Mary Poppins to go to Jolly Holiday. There are a couple of items in a case or hanging that you'd really have to look for to make any connection. The penguin paddles that the CMs sometimes hold up to show they're available for the next person in line is about the most overt thing you'll see. I wouldn't skip it just because they haven't seen the movie and won't understand the paddles.

 

[clori]

I know it isn't current but for preschoolers I like Sing a long songs Disneyland fun DVD (even though we went to Disney World then). I also showed the kids some youtube videos of a few Disney rides.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I really recommend Cars. I hadn't seen iSprings till REALLY appreciated the decor but after watching the movies after that first trip, my next trips, I had a much deeper appreciation!

My kids also really like Cars. We haven't been to Cars Land yet, but I saw a video of Radiator Springs, and it looks pretty amazing seeing the little town come to life like that.

My kids also watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (TV show) which is how they discovered the original crew (the Mice, the Ducks, Goofy, Pluto).

 

[MuddyriverMC]

Awesome recommendations, thank you so much everyone!

I know they'll have a great time, no matter what, I was just wanting to have that extra special magic. Especially with the amount of time we have until we leave, and them asking daily how many days are left. ( Next time, I'm not telling them until the night before. )

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

My youngest was 3 on our first trip. He had, for a couple of months before our trip, been obsessed with the Cars movies. He would have watched one movie or the other all day, every day if we had let him. When we started walking down Route 66 at DCA you could see on his face when he realized we were "in" Radiator Springs. He was so excited.

It was fun all around when any of my kids recognized something Disney from movies or tv, though they loved even the things that were completely new to them as well.

 

[agamble]

I thought it funny that Frozen was not listed in the movies to see...

 

[lalasmama]

I thought it funny that Frozen was not listed in the movies to see...

Yeah, I just realized I missed it Clearly, I my heart is frozen about Frozen.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Awesome recommendations, thank you so much everyone!

I know they'll have a great time, no matter what, I was just wanting to have that extra special magic. Especially with the amount of time we have until we leave, and them asking daily how many days are left. ( Next time, I'm not telling them until the night before. )

It might be really LONG right now but I made a paper chain attached to a giant colorful "going to Disneyland" sign and my son loved tearing off the ring everyday. I also measured him with it so it was- 2 Jacks until we go, 1/2 a Jack left, etc.

 

[BradChristian]

I know it isn't current but for preschoolers I like Sing a long songs Disneyland fun DVD (even though we went to Disney World then). I also showed the kids some youtube videos of a few Disney rides.

Yes! Amazing that a video released in 1990 is still so relevant! My son is two, but he was totally captivated by it! I recall watching it on VHS in preperation for WDW... Really exciting to get to go in a week and experience so much of that!

 

[darph nader]

youtube videos.

 

[LizzyS]

Depending on age...
Mary Poppins (Mary and Bert on Main Street often)
Old school Mickey Mouse cartoons like Steamboat Willie (can't remember the name of the little cinema on Main Street that shows these)
Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye)
Tarzan (Tarzan's Treehouse)
Nightmare Before Christmas (Haunted Mansion)
Song of the South (Splash Mountain)
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh (Winnie The Pooh)
Snow White (Snow White's Scary Adventure)
Peter Pan (Peter Pan's Flight)
Pinocchio (Pinocchio's Daring Journey)
Mr. Toad (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Storybook Canal)
Alice in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland, Mad Tea Party, Storybook Canal)
Sword In the Stone (Sword in the stone is outside of King Arthur's Carousel)
Tangled (show in Fantasy Faire, meet and greets)
Beauty and the Beast (show in Fantasy Faire, meet and greets)
Aladdin (meet and greets in Adventure Land)
Pirates of the Caribbean (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Toon Town)
Roger Rabbit (Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin)
Chip-n-Dale's Rescue Rangers (Gadget's Go-Go Coaster, meet and greets for Chip-n-Dale)
Star Wars (Hyperspace Mountain, Star Tours)
Toy Story saga (Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story Midway Mania, Pixar Play Parade)
Finding Nemo (Nemo Submarines, Pixar Play Parade)
Twilight Zone (just for the gist of the theming/show)
Cars saga (Carsland)
Bug's Life (Bug's Land)
Little Mermaid (Ariel's Undersea Adventure, King Triton's Carousel)
Pixar movies (Pixar's Play Parades)
Up (Redwood Creek Challenge area has Dug)

I feel like I'm missing a few, but I can't figure out where. Of course, there are other characters roaming about, but this is a fair starting point. My DD and DGSs also have enjoyed the Disney Sing-along Songs edition for Disneyland. We bought our copy at Walmart a few years ago for about $7. It was made in 1990, but things still look "close enough" to relive fond memories, or daydream about upcoming trips.

For the record, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is based on "The Wind in the Willows" and was packaged as "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad", a double-feature. The stand alone Mr. Toad movie is "The Wind in the Willows". A lot of people don't get what Mr. Toad is from, but that's a beloved movie from my childhood, though it was quite old at the time, lol.

 

[lalasmama]

For the record, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is based on "The Wind in the Willows" and was packaged as "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad", a double-feature. The stand alone Mr. Toad movie is "The Wind in the Willows". A lot of people don't get what Mr. Toad is from, but that's a beloved movie from my childhood, though it was quite old at the time, lol.

Thanks for correcting me! I was so busy writing that I didn't realize I didn't actually write the name of the movies!