21 Disney Movies to Watch Before Going to Disney World

By Vlad Zakh · July 19, 2026

United States Family feel good for the whole family theme park trip family night

Many of Disney World’s biggest attractions come straight from films, so watching a handful before you go makes the rides and shows land better. Avatar is behind Pandora: The World of Avatar and Flight of Passage, The Lion King inspires Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo underpins The Big Blue… and Beyond!, and Zootopia has a newer 4D show at Animal Kingdom. Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Star Wars: A New Hope, Moana, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ratatouille and Frozen round out the list.

Zootopia (2016)

01

Zootopia (2016)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 98% Metacritic 78

A rookie rabbit cop and a con-artist fox uncover a conspiracy threatening their whole city.

Directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore · 1h 49m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar50 wins & 75 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Finding Nemo (2003)

02

Finding Nemo (2003)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 99% Metacritic 90

A worried clownfish crosses the ocean to rescue his son from a fish tank in a dentist's office.

Directed by Andrew Stanton · 1h 40m · Rated G

Won 1 Oscar49 wins & 63 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

03

Avatar (2009)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A paraplegic marine embedded among an alien race on a distant moon has to choose between his mission and his new home.

Directed by James Cameron · 2h 42m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Lion King (1994)

04

The Lion King (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 92% Metacritic 88

A young lion prince flees his kingdom after his father's murder, only to return years later to reclaim it.

Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff · 1h 29m · Rated G

Won 2 Oscars43 wins & 35 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

05

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 95% Metacritic 95

A bookish young woman is held captive by a cursed prince who is slowly learning to love again.

Directed by Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise · 1h 24m · Rated G

Won 2 Oscars34 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Toy Story (1995)

06

Toy Story (1995)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 100% Metacritic 96

A cowboy doll's world is turned upside down when a flashy new spaceman toy arrives.

Directed by John Lasseter · 1h 21m · Rated G

Nominated for 3 Oscars29 wins & 24 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

07

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 93% Metacritic 90

Han Solo's roguish charm, played by Harrison Ford, helped define the entire Star Wars saga.

Directed by George Lucas · 2h 01m · Rated PG

Won 6 Oscars70 wins & 31 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Moana (2016)

08

Moana (2016)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 96% Metacritic 81

A wayfinder crosses the ocean to save her island and restore a goddess's stolen heart.

Directed by John Musker & Ron Clements · 1h 47m · Rated PG

Nominated for 2 Oscars22 wins & 90 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

09

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

TMDB ★ 8.0

Proved Marvel could turn an obscure property into a global hit on charm alone.

Directed by James Gunn · 2h 01m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ratatouille (2007)

10

Ratatouille (2007)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 96% Metacritic 96

A rat with a gift for cooking dreams of becoming a chef in a prestigious Parisian restaurant.

Directed by Brad Bird · 1h 51m · Rated G

Won 1 Oscar69 wins & 42 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Frozen (2013)

11

Frozen (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 89% Metacritic 75

A princess's uncontrollable ice powers freeze her kingdom, and only her sister can undo it.

Directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee · 1h 42m · Rated PG

Won 2 Oscars83 wins & 60 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dumbo (1941)

12

Dumbo (1941)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 95% Metacritic 96

A baby elephant mocked for his oversized ears discovers they let him fly.

Directed by Ben Sharpsteen & Bill Roberts · 1h 04m · Rated G

Won 1 Oscar6 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

13

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 82% Metacritic 68

A curious girl falls down a rabbit hole into a nonsensical, ever-shifting wonderland.

Directed by Clyde Geronimi & Wilfred Jackson · 1h 15m · Rated G

Nominated for 1 Oscar2 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, FlixFling · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Jungle Cruise (2021)

14

Jungle Cruise (2021)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 62% Metacritic 50

A riverboat captain and a determined researcher search the Amazon for a mythical healing tree.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra · 2h 07m · Rated PG-13

6 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

15

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 86% Metacritic 73

A hardworking waitress's kiss turns her into a frog instead of breaking the curse she hoped to lift.

Directed by Ron Clements & John Musker · 1h 38m · Rated G

Nominated for 3 Oscars10 wins & 42 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

16

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 79% Metacritic 63

A blacksmith teams up with an eccentric pirate to rescue a kidnapped governor's daughter.

Directed by Gore Verbinski · 2h 23m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 5 Oscars38 wins & 104 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

17

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 100%

A gentle bear and his friends wander through the Hundred Acre Wood chasing honey and adventure.

Directed by John Lounsbery & Wolfgang Reitherman · 1h 14m · Rated G

1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Aladdin (1992)

18

Aladdin (1992)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 96% Metacritic 86

A street thief's friendship with a wish-granting genie upends a princess's arranged engagement.

Directed by John Musker & Ron Clements · 1h 31m · Rated G

Won 2 Oscars36 wins & 22 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Little Mermaid (1989)

19

The Little Mermaid (1989)

TMDB ★ 7.6

Ariel's story powers Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid and the Ariel's Grotto meet-and-greet at Disney parks.

Directed by John Musker & Ron Clements · 1h 23m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Peter Pan (1953)

20

Peter Pan (1953)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 79% Metacritic 76

Three children fly off to Neverland with a boy who refuses to ever grow up.

Directed by Clyde Geronimi & Wilfred Jackson · 1h 17m · Rated G

2 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.