14 Movies to Watch Before Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? As you get ready for your vacation, why not get into the Disney spirit by watching some movies? It’s a fun way to build excitement and prepare for all the amazing rides, character meets and shows waiting for you at the parks.

I've put together a list of 15 great Disney movies to watch before your next Walt Disney World trip. These films will help you and your family connect with the characters, attractions, and themes you'll encounter during your visit. From classic animated movies to modern live-action adventures, there's something for everyone on this list.

Note, I confess I cheated a little bit. Some of these involve a series of movies, making the list a little longer than 15. More movies, more fun.

Toy Story 2 Movie Poster

1) Toy Story

Toy Story is a must-watch before visiting Walt Disney World, particularly through Toy Story 2. At Disney World, you can meet Woody and Buzz in person. But you can also meet Jessie and dine at Woody’s Lunchbox or Rodeo Roundup Barbeque. They often hang out in Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. The Toy Story Mania ride is super fun too. I always try to beat my kids scores on this 4D shooting game. Slinky Dog Dash is, arguably, the best introduction to thrill rides for kids at Disney.

Watching Toy Story 1 and 2 before your trip will make these experiences even more special. You'll pick up on little details and references throughout the land. The theming throughout Toy Story Land, including the rides and dining is heavily focused on Toy Story 1 and 2. While I’d recommend all 4 films (because they are awesome), getting through 1 and 2 before the trip is at the top of my list. Plus, it's just a great movie to get you excited for your vacation. The friendship between Woody and Buzz reminds me of the magic of Disney.

2) Star Wars

Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of the best themed lands in all of Walt Disney World. It’s a huge part of any trip to the park and if you don’t have some basic knowledge of Star Wars, you’ll be missing out on all it has to offer. It's a must-watch before visiting Disney World. The movies bring the Galaxy's Edge area to life.

I recommend starting with the original trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. These introduce key characters and stories. For a deeper dive, check out the prequel trilogy too. The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith show how it all began.

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge

But to really understand the time period and elements of Galaxy’s Edge, you need to watch The Force Awakens. You’ll be introduced to most of the Star Wars characters you can see in Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios. The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker continue and finish the saga.

If you have time, watch The Mandalorian series. It adds fun context to the land's setting and characters. The Mandalorian is also one of the best character meet and greets at Walt Disney World.

Watching these will make your Galaxy's Edge visit extra special. You'll spot familiar ships, droids, and aliens. The rides and shows will mean so much more. May the Force be with you on your Disney trip!

3) Frozen

Frozen is iconic and it’s presence is all over the parks on a Walt Disney World trip. You'll want to ride Frozen Ever After at Epcot. It's a fun boat ride through Arendelle that brings the movie to life. The animatronics are stunning and it’s a fun dark ride.

Frozen Ever After Attraction Poster

Don't miss meeting Anna and Elsa at the Royal Sommerhus. It's a great chance to see these beloved characters up close and you meet both characters from one line. There's even a Frozen sing-along show at Hollywood Studios. The show is a bit different each time and features some adult comedy in an air-conditioned room, which parents love.

Watching Frozen before your trip will make all these experiences a hit and helps get the family excited.

4) Cinderella

The iconic Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is based on this film and that’s reason enough to watch it. Seeing it in person after watching the movie is truly special and helps give nostalgia and a bit of history to the parks.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom lets kids transform into princesses and seeing Cinderella beforehand gives a little bit of a needed backstory for the fairy godmother and the transformation process. It's even more fun for them if they've watched Cinderella recently.

5) Tangled

Tangled is a fun movie that really doesn’t get as much attention and respect in the parks as it should (and for that reason it should probably be lower on the list, but we like it too much). It's a fun retelling of the classic Rapunzel story. The music is catchy, and the characters are fun.

The Tangled-themed restroom area in Fantasyland is super cute too. It has lanterns hanging from the trees, and Rapunzel’s Tower just like in the movie. It's a great spot for pictures. You can catch Rapunzel in the Festival of Fantasy parade. She rides by on a float with Flynn and she’s in a few of the stage shows at Magic Kingdom as well.

Rapunzel is also a featured princess in the character meet and greet at Princess Fairytale Hall.

6) Princess and the Frog

Princess and the Frog has flown up the list with the newest attraction at Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It’s a must-watch before visiting Walt Disney World. The story follows Tiana, a hardworking waitress with big dreams. She gets turned into a frog and goes on a magical adventure. I think it's awesome how Disney created their first Black princess with this film.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is harder to appreciate if you’ve never seen the film, and it’s a great ride, so be sure to watch it!

I also love meeting Tiana in person at character meets. She's usually found in Princess Fairytale Hall or at character meals, including 1900 Park Fare.

Tron Lightcycle Run Attraction Poster

7) Tron

Tron is probably the most underrated movie on this list, and I’d specifically recommend the new one (2010’s Tron Legacy). The original is good too, but the Tron Legacy can stand alone and fill you in enough to really enjoy it.

Why watch it? Because Tron Lightcycle Run is an EPIC attraction at Walt Disney World. It's a high-speed roller coaster where you get to zoom around on a lightcycle, just like in the film. To be fully immersed and understand the ride, the film is a must. You’d still enjoy it without the film background, but as someone who rode it before I saw the film, I appreciate it a lot more now.

8) Peter Pan

Peter Pan is a classic before a Disney World trip. It gets me excited for the magical adventure ahead. At Magic Kingdom, Peter Pan’s flight is a traditional slow-moving dark ride that’s perfect for little ones and it really won’t make much sense if you (or your kids) haven’t seen the movie.

Peter Pan is also involved throughout Magic Kingdom in parades and shows. Meeting Peter Pan in Fantasyland is always a highlight.

But probably the most important reason, is understanding the story, or at least familiarizing yourself and your kids with Tinker Bell sets up a big part of the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, Happily Ever After. I won’t spoil the surprise, but have a little faith… and pixie dust.

9) The Lion King

The Lion King is a must-watch before your Disney World trip, especially if you plan to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I love this classic animated film for its stunning visuals and unforgettable songs. It tells the story of Simba, a young lion prince who faces tragedy and grows up to become king.

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, you'll find several Lion King-themed experiences. The Festival of the Lion King show is amazing. It features colorful costumes, acrobats, and live singers performing songs from the movie and it’s really a can’t miss show.

Watching The Lion King beforehand will make these attractions even more special. There are also character meet and greets, like Rafiki, and a key portion of Happily Ever After and Fantasmic! that pay homage to this great movie.

10) Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is a bit of a hidden gem when it comes to the parks. At Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest Restaurant is one of the best themed restaurants at Disney World. It’s just like stepping into the Beast's enchanted castle. The ballroom is stunning, just like in the movie.

Gaston's Tavern is another fun spot (and has the best cinnamon roll you’ll ever try). In Fantasyland, Enchanted Tales with Belle is an often overlooked experience that is really great for families. Kids can act out scenes from the movie with Belle herself and there are great photo opportunities.

The Beauty and the Beast stage show at Hollywood Studios is fun and brings the songs and movie to life. Watching the film before your trip will make these experiences even more special. You'll spot all kinds of details from the movie throughout the parks.

11) The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is a classic Disney movie with a slow dark ride in Magic Kingdom that is perfect for little kids who are first starting out on Disney attractions.

At Disney World, you can find Ariel in several places, including Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid ride in Magic Kingdom, you can also meet Ariel herself at her grotto in Magic Kingdom and she’s also in the parade. For fans of the live-action film, you can meet live-action Ariel in Hollywood Studios, with a stage show coming soon.

12) Moana

Moana Movie Poster

Moana is a must-watch regardless of going to Disney. You just need to see it, if you haven’t already! At Disney World, you'll find Moana-themed experiences that are even more fun after seeing the film. There's a neat Moana meet-and-greet in both EPCOT and Animal Kingdom and a Journey of Water walk-through attraction that is a blast for kids at EPCOT.

The Moana-inspired rooms at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort are also super cool. They feature artwork and decor straight from the movie.

13) Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy is arguably the best roller coaster in the United States and certainly the best one at Walt Disney World. This one comes in a bit lower on the list simply because you can understand and enjoy the ride without seeing any of the movies.

The movie introduces us to a lovable group of misfits who become unlikely heroes. You'll meet Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. Their chemistry and humor make the film a blast to watch. At Disney World, you can ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot.

The movie's soundtrack is awesome too and the way the music from the movie is incorporated into the ride experience is fun.

14) Snow White

Snow White holds a special place in Disney history as the first full-length animated feature film. At Walt Disney World, you can experience the magic of Snow White in person. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride in Magic Kingdom is a must-do attraction inspired by the movie. This is one of the first “big kid” attractions for kids at Magic Kingdom and it’s worth watching the movie to make sure they get the full experience of the ride.

Why These Movies Matter

Watching Disney movies before a Walt Disney World trip adds excitement and deepens the experience. When I watch them before a trip, I get pumped up for the adventure ahead. But in reality, we aren’t watching them for me. We’re watching them for the kids to enhance their experience and the collective experience of our family.

When we’ve all watched the movie together, we can all experience the parks in new ways. This is especially the case if you’ve never seen some of them. It changes the way you and your family interact with characters and the magic, in a fun way.

Disney movies are the foundation for many park areas. Toy Story gets me excited for Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios and without watching Star Wars, you really can’t appreciate all Galaxy’s Edge has to offer.

Tips for a Magical Movie Marathon

A Disney movie marathon can be so much fun before your trip! I've found it really helps build excitement and get everyone in the vacation spirit. Here are some ideas to make your movie nights more fun.

I like to spread out our Disney movies over a few weeks before the trip. This way, we don’t get overwhelmed trying to cram them all in at once. I make a simple calendar and pick 1-2 movies per week.

I try to match films with the parks we’ll visit. I also mix old favorites with newer releases. This keeps things fresh for the grown-ups while introducing kids to classics.