Movies to watch before visiting

[JIMINYCR]

I'm not picky. Before a trip I dont just watch movies that are park/ ride related. I have an extensive Disney movie library so I grab any Disney movie and start it up. But I do prefer the old Disney classics and the older Disney shorts. They dont make anything great like they used to. Follow me Boys, Johnny Tremaine, The Great Locomotive chase, The Island at the top of the World,... Now those were films that families could watch together.

 

[Red Sox]

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.... oh wait..

 

[PhilharMagician]

Song of the South is one we always watch before going. Love Splash Mountain.

We also watch a lot of the History Channel specials that we have on the DVR

 

[JennSmith]

I'm not picky. Before a trip I dont just watch movies that are park/ ride related. I have an extensive Disney movie library so I grab any Disney movie and start it up. But I do prefer the old Disney classics and the older Disney shorts. They dont make anything great like they used to. Follow me Boys, Johnny Tremaine, The Great Locomotive chase, The Island at the top of the World,... Now those were films that families could watch together.

Silly Symphonies?

 

[ShoalFox]

If you want to see Song of the South legally, it would be pretty expensive. Both the LaserDisc and VHS versions are commanding outrageously high prices on eBay.

 

[PhilharMagician]

If you want to see Song of the South legally, it would be pretty expensive. Both the LaserDisc and VHS versions are commanding outrageously high prices on eBay.

I thought there was talk that Disney was again going to release it the states?

It really is a wonderful movie. This country is too uptight!

 

[ShoalFox]

I thought there was talk that Disney was again going to release it the states?

It really is a wonderful movie. This country is too uptight!

Really? Where did you hear that? Iger said he would never allow it to be released while he was CEO.

 

[OliveMcFly]

I mean you could say The Muppet movies as well. Get a bootleg of Song of the South too. Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Perhaps Tom & Huck in preparation for Tom Sawyer's Island...

Particularly The Muppets go to Walt Disney World. It's on YouTube if I remember correctly.

 

[popcenturylover]

Swiss Family Robinson- Swiss Family Tree House
The adventures of Tom Sawyer- Tom Sawyer Island

 

[WelshBatman]

Particularly The Muppets go to Walt Disney World. It's on YouTube if I remember correctly.

Yeah but it's a pain to watch on youtube... yet it's Jim Henson's last Muppet performance so if you're a Muppet fan it's required watching.

But there's an idea... go on youtube and find all the old promos. Order the vacation planning DVD. Get yourself all psyched up for the trip and then play the waiting game while wishing you hadn't gotten all psyched up... heh... Nah it can be great fun.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I also recommend:
The Lion King
Muppets
Big Hero Six

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Song of the South - Splash Mountain

 

[Alexis]

I would say watch all the classics, especially if you're visiting the Magic Kingdom. Usually characters, attractions, merchandise you'll see are based upon some of these flicks.
Movies such as, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Dumbo, etc.Maybe even Frozen, since it's gotten so huge. OH, and probably Tangled.
I recommend those, just so you're familiar with some of the main and classic characters at the park.

 

[Magenta Panther]

People seem to be throwing out generic Disney movies. Perhaps I misunderstood, I was thinking about movies pertaining to attractions in the parks. Are we talking about just any Disney movie or ones that have some relevance to the parks?

Well, if the OP is thinking of going to Animal Kingdom, then watching "The Lion King" and "The Jungle Book" might be good choices.

In preparation for the Magic Kingdom, then viewings of "Peter Pan" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" would be appropriate, as would one of the Pirates movies in relation to Adventureland.

For DHS, hmmm...harder choices there...perhaps "Fantasia" (because of its relation to Fantasmic), and "Mary Poppins" (mostly just because it's awesome and it's in the Great Movie Ride).

For Epcot...well, "Finding Nemo", I guess. Can't think of anything else at the moment.

 

[crazgurl]

Loving all the replies!! Keep em coming guys!!!!

On my end, I came up with Indiana Jones, Herby (since he was once part of lights motors action if Im not mistaken), cars, star wars, pirates of the carribean....

LOVE the suggestion of song of the south, Ive never seen it and I guess it would make splash mountain make more sense!!

Any opinions on the new tomorrrowland movie? Im really wondering if they arent planning to revamp that section of the park if the movie is a hit.

 

[WelshBatman]

Yeah... Tomorrowland wasn't a hit... but they do reference Carousel of Progress and It's a Small World in the movie...

In all fairness it's a pretty decent movie and it will be on DVD/Blu-ray sometime this year so check it out.

Song of the South won't make Splash Mountain make any more sense but it does show where the characters, songs, and settings come from but it won't explain the ride any better. Not to mention finding a bootleg is expensive and tougher to do nowadays.

 

[mouse_luv]

Loving all the replies!! Keep em coming guys!!!!

On my end, I came up with Indiana Jones, Herby (since he was once part of lights motors action if Im not mistaken), cars, star wars, pirates of the carribean....

LOVE the suggestion of song of the south, Ive never seen it and I guess it would make splash mountain make more sense!!

Any opinions on the new tomorrrowland movie? Im really wondering if they arent planning to revamp that section of the park if the movie is a hit.

That works. You can certainly watch Herbie, but he was replaced with Lightning McQueen in Lights Motors Action so maybe watch Cars 1 and 2 too!

 

[a2grafix]

The Apple Dumpling Gang
The Incredible Mr. Limpett
The S-h-a-g-g-y DA
Pete's Dragon

 

[a2grafix]

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.... oh wait..

Still could come in handy if they visit Trader Sam's Grog Grotto and order a "Submarine" drink.

 

[Matt_Black]

Here's what I would recommend...

1. The Princess movies. As all princesses are represented in the parks with at least a meet & greet, you'd want to familiarize yourself.
2. Any ORIGINAL Star Wars film. Skip the prequels.
3. Raiders of the Lost Ark
4. Fantasyland films- Peter Pan, Dumbo, and Alice in Wonderland
5. Pirates of the Caribbean (the original. You can watch the others, they're not bad, but the first is the best one)
6. Most of Pixar. You can probably skip Wall-E and Ratatouille, as those aren't really represented.
   
7. The Lion King
8. Mary Poppins
9. Fantasia
10. Lilo & Stitch
11. These aren't heavily represented in the parks, though there are quite a few references- 101 Dalmatians, Lady & the Tramp, The Jungle Book
    
12. Frozen
13. Anything with the Muppets, though I think the Muppet Movie or The Great Muppet Caper would be the best choices.
14. If you're going for Halloween or Christmas, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Also, in that vein, The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad
    
15. The Three Caballeros
16. Pollyanna. Not represented in the parks per se, but of the Disney films, I think that best captures the spirit of Main Street U.S.A.
17. The Rocketeer. Much like above, this film thematically gets you in the mood for Hollywood & Sunset Blvds over at DHS.
18. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Ditto.
19. Any of the Pooh films.

There you go. A fairly comprehensive (and admittedly bloated) list of films to get you in the mood for a trip to Disney.