Believe it or not, one of the most common questions I get is what movies should I watch before my trip?
And I get it! Its a fun way to build excitement while you wait for your vacation. Plus, its a good way to make sure your kids know all of the characters and references. Let’s face it- Fun and Fancy Free is not exactly a household name anymore.
Ah but there are soooo many movies. So to get you excited about Magic Kingdom, I have broken my lists into lands! If you can’t wait for the whole list-and by whole lists I mean all the parks, get your free Disney World Movie list here.
But let’s start with…
Fantasyland
- Snow White
While you can’t usually meet her in Magic Kingdom (you can find her in Germany in Epcot) but you will see her in the Festival of Fantasy Parade and of course, 7 Dwarfs Mine Train.
- Cinderella
Um – do I need to explain? Her castle is the park’s icon, you can eat in her restaurant, her prince has a carousel and you can meet her in Princess Fairytale hall.
‘But one of the best Cinderella references in Fantasyland is seeing her evil stepsisters. Anastasia and Drizzella are some of the best characters you can meet. They are funny and super interactive. They wander Fantasyland a lot but often be found by the Cinderella fountain.’But one of the best Cinderella references in Fantasyland is seeing her evil stepsisters. Anastasia and Drizzella are some of the best characters you can meet. They are funny and super interactive. They wander Fantasyland a lot but often be found by the Cinderella fountain. - Peter Pan
You can meet the boy who never grows up in Fantasyland plus he has one of the most popular rides. - Sleeping Beauty
Like Snow White, you can’t meet Princess Aurora in Magic Kingdom unless you eat at Cinderella’s Royal Table, but if you plan on watching the Festival of Fantasy Parade, you will want to know the characters! - The Sword in the Stone
This is a silly thing my kids love to do. Who am I kidding? I love to do it too! Every kid wants to be the lucky one to pull it out – just like Arthur. - Alice in Wonderland
Alice herself is not in Magic Kingdom but you can experience the Mad Hatter’s tea party here. - Tangled
You can meet Rapunzel at Fairytale Hall but the best part is, she has her own bathroom and it’s magical. Yes, a bathroom is magical. This whole area is a wonderful place to rest. There is a seating area outside the bathrooms that has outlets to charge your phone and your kids can stay entertained by hunting for the 10 hidden Pascal’s in the area. - The Little Mermaid
There is a Little Mermaid ride and you can meet mermaid Ariel in her Grotto. Prince Eric has a market with some light snacks and there is a fun King Triton statue you can pose with. - Beauty and the Beast
One of my favorite quick service locations is Gaston’s Tavern for their cinnamon rolls (don’t forget to ask for extra icing!). My kids love LeFou’s Brew but it’s definitely shareable! And Be Our Guests is one of the most popular restaurants.
But I think the Enchanted Tales with Belle is the best Beauty and the Beast attraction in Fantasyland. - The Princess and the Frog
Right now you can meet Tiana in Princess Hall but soon you will be able to ride her very own ride in a nearby land and will likely move locations. - Fun and Fancy Free
OK so you probably don’t need to watch the full thing to appreciate Fantasyland, but it is fun and worth a watch! Fun and Fancy Free is divided into two short movies: The first is the story of “Bongo,” a circus bear who escapes to the wild. The second was one of my favorite as a kid – the retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, with Mickey as Jack and Willie the Giant as the Giant.
And if you walk around the gift shop, Sir Mickey’s, you can find Willie hiding on the ceiling, the actual beanstalk, and Mickey Jack. - Winnie the Pooh
There is a whole ride dedicated to this honey-loving bear and his friends. And you can meet Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. - Melody Time
If you are hanging out in Storybook Circus you may hear some songs as well as see a few quotes that seem random. But they are not. They are from “Melody Time,” a movie from 1948 that’s all about music. It has different animated stories, each with their own unique style. You’ll find cool segments like “Pecos Bill” and “Johnny Appleseed” that tell fun tales through catchy tunes. - The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
This one may hurt. Once upon a time, there was an awesome ride called Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. It did close to make way for Winnie the Pooh, but we should all pay homage to Mr. Toad. Winnie the Pooh does – you can see Mr. Toad pass the deed to a character from the hundred-acre wood during the ride.
And go outside of Fantasyland a bit, you can also find Mr. Toad in the pet cemetery in Haunted Mansion. - Dumbo
When I first made this list I somehow forgot Dumbo – which just seems crazy! Not only is there a whole ride, but an entire Dumbo themed play area, Big Top Souvenirs and Casey Jr. Soak Station so you can cool off.
Tomorrowland
Up next we have Tomorrowland!
- Meet the Robinsons
Possibly of my fave Disney movie! While you won’t find anything Louis and friends here, the movie just feels Tomorrowland-ish! - Tomorrowland
Ok so whereas Meet the Robinsons is indirectly Tomorrowland themes, this George Clooney film is made after the land. I am going to be honest and say I really don’t remember much about this movie! I remember it getting bad reviews but watched it anyway but I don’t remember what I thought! So maybe its not a must watch! - Monsters Inc. & Monsters University
One of my kids favorite attractions is Monsters Laugh Floor. They love the silly jokes and it seems my husband always gets picked for something. - Toy Story & Lightyear
Well if you want to become a galactic hero on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin , you should probably see all the movies!
Sometimes you can also catch Buzz hanging outside the ride, by Star Command so keep an eye out. This location does change so promises that he will be there! - Tron
Confession, I have never seen this. I also will likely not ride TRON Lightcycle / Run but I have heard Tron is a great movie so I may need to add to my own list! (np
Frontierland
- Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn/Tom & Huck
Well Tom Sawyer has his very own island so you should watch some of the movies! You can run around the island exploring just like Tom and Huck. You even take a raft to ge there! - Princess and the Frog
Well its not open yet, unless you live under a rock, you likely know Tiana is getting her very own ride soon! While I definitely miss Splash Mountain, I am excited to see this new ride.
Liberty Square
Haunted Mansion (both versions) and Muppets Haunted Mansion
There is only one ride in Liberty Square, but it is a good one! Learn some of the back stories and get to know some of the characters before you ride Haunted Mansion.
AdventureLand
- All of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
These movies may be scary for younger kids but they are a lot of fun for older kids and adults. - Jungle Book
There isn’t anything specific to Jungle Book but you can definitely feel so themes to the movie in this land! - Aladdin
Not only can you meet Aladdin and Jasmine in this area, but you can ride his magic carpets! - Tarzan
Same as Jungle Book, you just get lots of Tarzan vibes! - Jungle Cruise
A super fun movie for a super fun ride! Although this one I may recommend watching after you ride the ride first. - Swiss Family Robinson
You can explore the Swiss Family Robinson’s tree house so wouldn’t it be fun to see the movie first. I am going to guess your kids haven’t seen it yet!
Want this list as a printable checklist? Click here for the complete checklist of movies to watch before visiting Disney World!