Walt Disney World is an ever-changing and evolving resort, but there are a number of things that you should brush up on before your vacation. One of my favorite planning tips to share is a simple one…but one that many folks forget about until they’re having to explain things in the moment.
Let’s talk about what should be on your streaming calendar before your trip.
Disney Movies you Should Watch Before a Vacation
THE LION KING
From Festival of the Lion King to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and random fun throughout the resort, watching The Lion King (and maybe even Lion King 1.5!) could be helpful for everyone in the family.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Makes sense to watch a little bit of Pirates if you’re going to be hitting Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom. BUT, and here’s a big but, you should double check the refurbishment calendar to make sure that the attraction isn’t undergoing it’s annual maintenance.
TOY STORY
There’s a full land dedicated to Toy Story at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but on top of that…there’s a ton more!
- Toy Story Mania
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
- Meeting Buzz in Tomorrowland.
- AND MORE!
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Did you know that Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train is one of the most popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom? Well why not do your research and share the story and the characters to your family before waiting in that long long line!
Oh, and Snow White is also in parades and shows, in addition to Fantasmic!
UP!
I love UP! Actually, I love the movie…I don’t really love what they did with the franchise in the parks. That being said, it’s all over Disney’s Animal Kingdom and incredibly accessible for folks of all ages. Up! A Great Bird Adventure, Wilderness Explorers and they’ve also got character interactions on Discovery Island.
STAR WARS
Star Wars = Disney
From Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge to Star Tours and so much more…take a night and get your lightsaber on!
- Jedi Training Academy
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Rise of the Resistance
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
LITTLE MERMAID
Besides the fact that this is a classic movie and you should 100% re-watch it…because it’s awesome…Ariel is everywhere at Disney World!
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
There was a distinct lack of Belle & the Beast before New Fantasyland opened. Then we got Be Our Guest, Gaston’s Tavern, Enchanted Tales with Belle and the new Beauty & The Beast sing-along show coming to EPCOT!
AVATAR
Pandora: The World of Avatar is such an awesome immersive land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that it’s worth watching Avatar to get prepared for the fun. Flight of Passage is still one of my favorite attractions at Disney World!
Further Reading: Movies that Deserve an Attraction at Disney World
I hope that this was helpful in planning your vacation to Walt Disney World! There’s always more to plan, but this topic was all about getting re-introduced to franchises that you’ll see all over the place in Florida. 🙂
