A recent post listed which Pixar films to watch before a Disney Parks vacation. To continue the series, here are the classic Disney animated films to watch before heading to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. It includes a priority scale of which ones to watch from 1 – 5 with 1 being low priority and 5 being of high priority. The films are ranked separately for Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:
Disneyland = 5
Walt Disney World = 5
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a must watch before a Disney trip if you are unfamiliar with the characters or the story. It was the very first feature animated film and is still very special to Disney.
At Disneyland, there is the Snow White’s Scary Adventures dark ride and Snow White is a popular princess to meet. The Evil Queen can also be found lurking around Fantasyland. The characters are in shows such as Fantasmic! and the dwarfs’ cottage is part of Storybook Land Canal Boats.
At Walt Disney World, the popular Seven Dwarfs Mine Train family roller coaster is in the Magic Kingdom. The characters can are in shows and parades such as Fantasmic! Snow White is a meet and greet character in both the Magic Kingdom and in Epcot in the Germany pavilion. The seven dwarfs and the Evil Queen tend to only show up for special events.
Pinocchio:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 3
There is the Pinocchio’s Daring Journey dark ride at Disneyland. Monstro the whale is a large part of Storybook Land Canal Boats and Pinocchio’s village is also part of the attraction.
At Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom, there is Pinocchio Village Haus, a quick service dining location.
Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4
Fantasia is a great film but is quite long. If you do not have time to watch it in its entirety, I would recommend at least watching the Sorcerer’s Apprentice segment. Mickey dressed in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice outfit is quite popular. There is a lot of merchandise with Sorcerer Mickey and he also appears in Fantasmic! Sorcerer Mickey is part of the Mickey and the Magic Map show at Disneyland and he is a meet and greet character at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Dumbo:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a classic attraction at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Casey Jr. Circus Train is another Dumbo themed attraction at Disneyland at and at Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom there is the Casey Jr. Spalsh ‘N’ Soak water play area.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4 (if going during Halloween) or 1 (if going the rest of the year)
This film is a little different because it features two different stories. The first story, The Wind in the Willows, is represented at Disneyland by the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction. Toad Hall is also part of Storybook Land Canal Boats.
The second story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is represented at Walt Disney World where there is a Sleepy Hollow quick service in the Magic Kingdom. The Headless Horseman also makes an appearance at the Halloween parties at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Cinderella:
Disneyland = 3
Walt Disney World = 5
Cinderella’s castle is part of the Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland. The Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique is also in Disneyland. Cinderella is a popular meet and greet character.
Cinderella is heavily represented at Walt Disney World. Cinderella Castle is the icon of Magic Kingdom and inside is Cinderella’s Royal Table, a signature dining character meal. Cinderella’s fountain can be found behind the castle and nearby is Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella are all characters at Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian Resort. There are two Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique locations at Walt Disney World, one in the Magic Kingdom and one at Disney Springs.
Alice in Wonderland:
Disneyland = 5
Walt Disney World = 4
There are two Alice in Wonderland themed attractions at Disneyland, the Alice in Wonderland dark ride and the Mad Tea Party. There are two Mad Hatter shops, one in Fantasyland and one on Main Street, U.S.A. The entrance to Wonderland through the White Rabbit’s hole is a part of Storybook Land Canal Boats. Alice and the Mad Hatter tend to stroll around Fantasyland.
The Mad Tea Party is also an attraction at Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom. Alice and the Mad Hatter host a Wonderland tea party at the Grand Floridian and there is a Mad Hatter themed pool area at the resort. Alice is a meet and greet character in Epcot in the U.K. pavilion and random Wonderland characters are sometimes meeting guests near the Mad Tea Party.
Peter Pan:
Disneyland = 5
Walt Disney World = 5
Peter Pan’s Flight is an extremely popular dark ride at Disneyland. The London park that Peter and the Darling children fly over is part of Storybook Land Canal Boats. Pixie Hollow is a part of Fantasyland where guests can meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. Peter Pan, Wendy, and Captain Hook can also be found around Disneyland.
Peter Pan’s Flight is also at Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom (and just as popular). Guests can meet Tinker Bell at the Town Square Theatre on Main Street, U.S.A. and there is a Peter Pan float in the Festival of Fantasyland Parade.
Sleeping Beauty:
Disneyland = 5
Walt Disney World = 4
The icon castle at Disneyland is Sleeping Beauty Castle. Inside is a walkthrough attraction of the story. Maleficent is a main part of Fantasmic! and Aurora is a meet and greet character in Fantasyland.
Maleficent is also part of Fantasmic! at Walt Disney World in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Aurora is a meet and greet character at Epcot in the France pavilion. Many of the characters from the film are part of the Festival of Fantasy Parade.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a dark ride in Critter Country at Disneyland. Next door is the Pooh Corner shop and nearby, many characters from the Hundred Acre Wood meet and greet guests.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is also a dark ride in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. In Fantasyland there is also the Hundred Acre Goods shop. There is a Winnie the Pooh and friends character dining at the Crystal Palace on Main Street, U.S.A.
The Little Mermaid:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 5
The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is a dark ride at Disney California Adventure. Ariel is a popular meet and greet character in Fantasyland at Disneyland. Characters from The Little Mermaid appear in Fantasmic! and Mickey and the Magical Map.
The Little Mermaid is quite popular in Walt Disney World The same dark ride as at DCA is in the Magic Kingdom but is called Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, though here the show building is Prince Eric’s palace and it is amazing! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios there is a show called Voyage of The Little Mermaid. The characters are also a part of Fantasmic! At Disney’s Art of Animation Resort there is an entire The Little Mermaid themed section. The characters are also a part of Fantasmic! and the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Ariel and Eric are part of the Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage Adventure breakfast Disney’s BoardWalk.
Beauty and the Beast:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 5
At Disneyland, there is the Red Rose Tavern quick service in Fantasyland. Also in Fantasyland, Beauty and the Beast is one of the shows at Storytelling at the Royal Theatre. Nearby is Maurice’s Treats snack cart. The Beast’s Library is part of the Animation Building in Disney California Adventure.
There is an entire Beauty and the Beast themed area in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. It includes the Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction, Be Our Guest restaurant, and the village area with Gaston’s Tavern. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there is a show called Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.
Aladdin:
Disneyland = 3
Walt Disney World = 4
Aladdin and Jasmine are part of Fantasmic! at Disneyland. The city of Agrabah, the Sultan’s palace, and the Cave of Wonders are part of Storybook Land Canal Boats.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is a spinner ride at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. There is also the Agrabah Bazaar shop nearby.
The Lion King:
Disneyland = 2
Walt Disney World = 4
The Lion King has very little representation at Disneyland.
At Walt Disney World, Festival of the Lion King is a popular show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a conversation dedicated area of the Park. Rafiki is also a meet and greet character there. At Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, The Lion King is one of themed areas. There are also many touches of The Lion King throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Tangled:
Disneyland = 3
Walt Disney World = 4
Tangled is one of the stories told at Storytelling at the Royal Theatre. Characters also appear in Fantasmic! and Mickey and the Magic Map. Rapunzel and Flynn Rider are also meet and greet characters.
There is a beautiful Tangled area in Fantasyland that features…restrooms. Incredibly well-themed restrooms none the less, so make sure to check them out. Characters appear in the Festival of Fantasy Parade and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider are part of the Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage Adventure breakfast at Disney’s BoardWalk.
Frozen:
Disneyland = 4
Walt Disney World = 4
Frozen – Live at the Hyperion is a theatrical show in Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure. Guest can meet Anna, Elsa, and Olaf in Hollywood Land as well. Frozen is one of the stories told at Storytelling at the Royal Theatre (though currently out of rotation). Arendelle and Elsa’s ice castle are part of Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland.
Frozen Ever After is a boat ride in the Norway pavilion at Epcot. Guests can also meet Anna and Elsa there. For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is a show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests can meet Olaf at DHS as well as shop at Frozen Fractal Gifts. Frozen Games at Blizzard Beach is a summer time event at the water park. Characters are part of the Festival of Fantasy Parade at the Magic Kingdom.
Note: The majority of these characters are part of the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Walt Disney World. I only listed those that have designated floats.
If you only have time for a few movies before your trip, I would recommend watching Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty before going to Disneyland and Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast before going to Walt Disney World.
Enjoy your trip!
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While not animated classics, our family made a point to watch Swiss Family Robinson and Pirates of the Caribbean before our first trip to WDW. Swiss Family Robinson has proven to be a family favorite of ours! Maybe you can do a list of live action movies for a future post.
That is definitely going to be part of the series!
Ooh, all great choices. I agree completely with the Disney World choices. And this will be helpful when we visit Disneyland for the first time.
Yes! This is such a great post! I agree!
Yes! I agree. Especially some of the older films like Dumbo and Peter Pan so that the kids really feel the magic!
Great post! Glad we know these films well. We have watched Avatar ahead of our first trip to Animal Kingdom in a couple of weeks.
You wrote another informative post about what movies can help make a Disney vacation even more enjoyable when watched in advance.