Disney World is one of the most popular vacation spots in the US, and for lots of good reasons!
Walt Disney World is full of fun, magic, and excitement. The food is amazing, the theming is impeccable, and the rides range from slow and playful to fast and thrilling.
If you’re headed to Disney World for the first time — or the first time in a while — there is a lot of planning to do. What to pack, what to carry into the parks, whether to drive or fly, how much to budget for each day, which parks to go to, and so much more.
One of the fun ways to prepare for a Disney World vacation is to watch a bunch of Disney movies before the trip. Here are the top movies to watch in the weeks leading up to your magical vacation at Walt Disney World.
Star Wars Movies
Hollywood Studios is full of Star Wars rides and attractions.
You can immerse yourself in the world of Star Wars by visiting Galaxy’s Edge, where characters like Chewbacca, Rey, and Kylo Ren are spotted walking around and talking to people. Rides from the Star Wars galaxy include Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, Smuggler’s Run, and Rise of the Resistance.
If you’re not very familiar with Star Wars, I would recommend watching the newer movies, as much of the theming at Hollywood Studios is centered on The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker.
Toy Story
The Toy Story movies are another fun franchise to re-visit before you go to Hollywood Studios.
From the delicious snacks at Woody’s Lunchbox (hello, totchos!) to the super fun Slinky Dog Dash, you can’t go wrong by re-watching the original Toy Story movie. Watching the later movies can be a bonus, but a refresher of the characters in the first movie will go a long way.
Avatar
You don’t have to be a big fan of Avatar to enjoy the world of Pandora at Animal Kingdom.
The two Avatar-themed rides are a lot of fun: Na’avi River Journey and Avatar: Flight of Passage. Flight of Passage is one of the most popular rides at any of the four theme parks, as you really feel like you’re flying on the back of an ikran/banshee.
The theming of Pandora is absolutely stunning, and watching the movie before you go there can help you feel even more immersed in the experience.
Guardians of the Galaxy, vol. 1 & vol. 2
One of the newest rides at Disney World is the thrilling dark coaster called Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Like other franchise-based rides, Cosmic Rewind takes you on an adventure with the cast of the MCU films. The music for the roller coaster changes between several songs on a setlist, so your experience may vary from one day to the next! Technically, you don’t need to know anything about Guardians of the Galaxy to enjoy this very thrilling, exciting ride, but understanding the characters and their world will make the immersive experience in the line a lot more fun.
TRON
A brand-new and exciting ride at the Magic Kingdom is TRON: Lightcycle Run. This roller coaster takes you on an adventure on the lightcycles that were imagined for the movie.
Tron was first released in 1982, and the sequel was released in 2010. Reportedly, the ride features an exciting Easter egg for Tron: Legacy.
As Many Princess Movies As You Can!
Is there anything more iconic than a Disney princess?
Prepare for princess meet-and-greets by watching movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Brave, The Princess and the Frog, and Cinderella.
Re-visit your childhood and watch the princess movies you grew up with, no matter the decade of your childhood. Re-watching some of the princess movies before you go on your trip will definitely help you to get in the Disney World spirit! Plus, it will make the fireworks shows at both Magic Kingdom and Epcot even more fun and nostalgic.
