Disney+ has become our go-to for family movie nights and tv shows to watch together. It offers a huge variety of options for families with kids of all ages. Today I am sharing our list of Disney+ movies and shows your family will love.
We are a Disney family and I grew up watching the Disney channel. We were always watching the live action movies from the 60s all through the 80s, and they bring back such fun memories that I usually had to scour the library to find to share with my kids.
This has all changed with the new Disney+. Disney+ is Disney’s all new streaming service that has old and new TV and movie options for families to enjoy. Disney+ can be purchased on its own, as a bundle with Hulu, or if you are a Verizon customer they have options to sign up for a year free.
We set it up the day it started and love the options for our family. From some of my favorite shows I grew up watching to some new favorites, Disney+ is bringing the magic of Disney to our home.
Winter has settled in here in Rochester, NY and it is the perfect time to cozy up and enjoy the stellar entertainment options Disney+ offers. I have spent the last few weeks checking out the offerings, all in the name of research, and have come up with our list of what you and your family should be watching on Disney+ this year.
Disney+ Movies and TV Shows for Families
Return to Oz
This movie was a favorite of mine growing up and I can’t wait to share it with the kids. Follow Dorothy, played by Fairuza Balk, as she returns to Oz to save her friends and restore the Emerald city. The movie definitely has some creepy elements, but it falls more along the lines of movies from the 80s like Labyrinth. I would suggest this one for school aged kids.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Disney+ has brought back a few of my favorite cartoons growing up to share with an entirely new generation. Gummi Bears, Talespin, Ducktales, Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck are some of our favorites.
Hearing the Gummi Bears song brings me back to Saturday mornings. The excitement to watch your Saturday morning cartoons is something kids today will never understand. Now we can at least recreate the feeling and create our own Saturday morning watch list.
- Gummi Bears
- Talespin
- Ducktales
- Rescue Rangers
- Darkwing Duck
- Ducktales: The Movie
Phineas and Ferb
We fell in love with Phineas and Ferb about five years ago and watched all the seasons and movies as a family. The clever writing and creative songs made this a fun cartoon for kids and adults. It is our favorite and I love that we can rewatch some of our favorite episodes and seasons on Disney+.
DuckTales (New)
I mentioned the original DuckTales earlier but Disney+ also has the new DuckTales that has been reimagined and is so well written. Disney+ also has the DuckTales movie from the early 90s and the shorts from the current season.
X-Men Series (Cartoon)
The X-Men series was quickly added to our watch list by my husband. He remembered it from the early 90s and really enjoyed the story arc of the series.
Classic Movies from the Vault
If you have followed the classic Disney movies you know they would be sold and then go into the mysterious vault where you couldn’t buy them again. Disney+ has changed all that! You can now watch the classics all the way back to the beginning.
A few of my favorites are Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver and Company, Meet the Robinsons, Moana, and Mulan. You can start from the beginning and watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. There are over 100 animated movies to choose from.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Pinocchio
- Sleeping Beauty
- Fantasia
- Cinderella
- Lady and the Tramp
- Beauty and the Beast
- Zootopia
- Bambi
- Lilo & Stitch
- Peter Pan
- Wreck-It-Ralph
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Oliver & Company
- The Rescuers
- Tangled
- The Sword in the Stone
- Jungle Book
- Hercules
- The Princess and the Frog
- Moana
- The Little Mermaid
- The Lion King
- Big Hero 6
- Mulan
- 101 Dalmatians
- Alice in Wonderland
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tinker Bell
Pixar Movies
Pixar Movies are also among the animated options and it looks like most are available on Disney+. A few of our favorites are Brave, Inside Out, Monsters Inc, Coco, and Up. In my opinion you can’t really go wrong with a Pixar animated movie and they have some of the best storytelling out there.
- Toy Story
- Toy Story 2
- Toy Story 3
- Toy Story 4
- A Bug’s Life
- Monsters Inc.
- Monsters University
- Finding Nemo
- Finding Dory
- Brave
- Cars
- Cars 2
- Cars 3
- Inside Out
- The Incredibles
- Ratatouille
- WALL-E
- The Good Dinosaur
Muppet Movies
If you are a Muppet fan you can find the original movies and new movies to share as a family. Disney+ also has episodes of the new Muppet Babies series. Fingers crossed they bring the original Muppet Babies to Disney+ but I do really enjoy the re-imagined Muppet Babies!
- Muppet Babies Series
- The Muppets
- The Muppets: Most Wanted
- The Great Muppet Caper
- The Muppet Movie: Original
- The Muppet Christmas Carol
- Muppet’s Treasure Island
- the muppets (New Series)
Escape from Witch Mountain(Original)
I may be a bit biased on this movie because I loved it when I was in second grade. It was the perfect mix of magic and mystery, and was my favorite. I know they have made a remake that is not currently on Disney+ but I say watch the original 1975 version and let your kids enjoy how far the special effects in movies has truly come.
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
All three of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids my movies are available on Disney+. I look forward to sharing the original with the kids and reminiscing about Disney’s MGM Studios Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground.
- Honey, I Shruck the Kids
- Honey, I Blew Up the Kids
- Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves
Silly Symphony
Silly Symphony is a collection of Disney animated shorts filled with music. The best way to search for these is to look through Disney Through the Decades. Some started as early as the 1920s. I remember watching The Three Little Pigs and The Tortoise and the Hare.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a big deal when it first aired in 1988. It not only featured Disney characters but other characters like Bugs Bunny and Betty Boop. I have been waiting for this to be available to watch as a family and I’m excited to finally have the opportunity to share it with the kids.
Mickey Mouse Classic Shorts From the Beginning
You can start watching the Mickey Mouse cartoons with Steamboat Willie. This was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon and it was also done by Walt Disney. As someone who loves seeing the creative side of things, it is incredible to see the growth of the animation and imagineer department. This leads me to our next pick.
The Imagineering Story
We started watching this as a family but it can be a little slow at times for the kids. It tells the story of when Walt first started this idea of Disneyland and the journey to where they are today. This series is for the Disney fan who wants to learn more about the “How” of Disney. It is inspiring to see the triumphs and failures, and how Disney has become what we now know it as.
Pixar Shorts
Pixar Shorts were usually saved for the start of the latest Pixar movie. Now we can watch our favorite ones in the comfort of our own home. Lava is my absolute favorite telling a story of love and loneliness. Float is a new one that we also really enjoyed.
- Lava
- Presto
- La Luna
- Boundin’
- Lifted
- Piper
- Sanjay’s Super Team
- Jack-Jack Attack
- luxo jr.
- Lou
- Knick-Knack
- Party Central
- the Blue Umbrella
- Partly Cloudy
- George & AJ
- Dug’s Special Mission
- for the birds
- Mike’s New Car
- Burn-E
- Day & Night
- Bao
- Geri’s Game
- Tin Toy
- Red’s Dream
- Riley’s First Date
- Auntie Edna
- The Legend of Mor’Du
- The Adventures of Andre and Wally B
- Your Friend the Rat
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is an original series geared towards the Star Wars fan. It has a great story line and adorable baby Yoda and is best for kids school aged and up. If they have watched the Star Wars movies they may be okay with it but I suggest watching an episode to see if it is good for your kids.
Diary of a Future President
Diary of a Future President follow Elena as she navigates middle school on her path to being president of the United States of America. We are three episodes in and I am really enjoying this show. It talks about some mature topics and is suitable for middle school and older kids. I love the authentic portrayal of young girls and how it opens the door for conversations with my daughter.
High School Musical: The Musical Series
High School Musical is a classic Disney Channel original movie but the new series High School Musical: The Musical Series takes a spin at remaking this classic. It is set in the high school where High School Musical was filmed and they are putting on a school musical of High School Musical. Sounds a bit complicated but it works. I recommend this for tweens or older kids.
Disney Channel Original Movies
Think Camp Rock, Teen Beach Movie, Zombies, and the Descendants. They go back to the 1990s through today of your favorite Disney Channel original movies. Below are a few of our favorites!
- Descendants
- Descendants 2
- Descendants 3
- Camp Rock
- Camp Rock 2
- High School Musical
- High School Musical 2
- High School Musical 3
- Zombies
- Teen Beach Movie
- Teen Beach Movie 2
Encore
Encore is a reality show that brings back graduates to perform their school musical. I love seeing how much the musical meant to their stories. The “kids” are now adults and they are back together for a one night performance of their original show.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
We finally started watching this over the weekend and it is an interesting premise. Basically Jeff Goldblum takes you on a curious journey to learn more about ordinary things. The first episode was about sneakers and I can’t wait to see the others. It is a basic premise but a really interesting story.
Marvel
Disney+ includes most of the Marvel movies like Thor, Ant Man, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel. It also has Marvel Hero Project that puts a spotlight on kids doing extraordinary things. Marvel Rising series and the Spider-man cartoon series are also part of the Marvel options on Disney+.
- Marvel Hero Project
- Marvel Rising
- Avengers Endgame
- Avengers
- Thor Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Captain America Civil War
- Captain Marvel
- Doctor Strange
- Ant Man
- Ant Man & Wasp
Star Wars
If you are a fan of Star Wars you will find the movies, series, and even the LEGO Star Wars movies. I mention The Mandalorian as the new original series, but fans of Star Wars will have the option to share their love of the franchise with their kids. There are so many Star Wars choices but our favorites are below.
- LEGO Star Wars
- Phineas and Ferb Star Wars Episode
- Star Wars Clone Wars
- Original Star Wars Movies
Holiday Movies
Some of our favorite holiday family movies are on Disney+ making it a lot easier to watch this season. There are familiar favorites like Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol. There is also a brand new holiday movie, Noelle, that I am going to add to our holiday family movie nights. You can also watch the Disney Parks being decorated for the holidays in the special, Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic.
- Noelle
- Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic
- Mickey’s Christmas Carol
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Santa Clause
Frozen
You can plan an entire day watching all your Frozen favorites. Frozen and Frozen 2 are all on Disney+. I love all the music from the Frozen movies and we always enjoy watching the movies together. If you want to go a step further you can download these Frozen 2 activity sheets to do as a family.
- Frozen
- Frozen 2
- Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
- LEGO Frozen Northern Lights
Onward
Onward was released early April on Disney+, and we are so excited to watch this movie at home together. We had an early screening of the movie in February and I loved watching the story unfold of the relationship between the brothers in the film. Check out these Onward activities.
Disney Nature
Disney Nature brings you beautifully filmed documentaries featuring animals in their natural habitats. I enjoyed Born in China, although there are some sad moments. The newest films are Elephants and Dolphins. Disney Nature has films all families can love.
- Born in China
- Penguins
- Elephant
- Dolphin Reef
Stargirl
Stargirl is the latest original movie on Disney+ and it is perfect for older elementary kids. It has an indie movie feel but the message of being yourself and doing what is right makes this a great choice for family movie night.
Live Action Disney Movies
Disney has remade their animated classics to live action movies. A lot of these are on Disney+. Here are a few good ones.
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Lion King
- Lady and the Tramp
- Dumbo
More Favorites from Disney+
- Turner and Hootch
- Hocus Pocus
- Holes
- Disney Junior Series
- The Sound of Music
- Cool Runnings
- Miracle
- The Parent Trap
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- A Wrinkle in Time
- Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
I am sure as Disney+ adds more original content and more favorites from my past this list will continue to grow. This list is our current favorite Disney+ entertainment offerings and I can’t wait to see what they share next.
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