This last post in my Movies to Watch Before a Disney Parks Vacation features movies that are represented at the different Walt Disney World resorts. These could be films that have resorts completely themed around them or even just films that give off vibes of a certain resort. You watch the movie and just feel like you need to stay there. Do any Disney movies do that for you?
All-Star Movies Resort:
Since All-Star Movies is all about movies, pretty much any Disney film will suffice. However, there are a few films that are specifically represented throughout the resort and the different buildings of the resort are even divided up into sections based on these films. They are Fantasia, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Toy Story, The Mighty Ducks, and The Love Bug.
All-Star Music Resort:
All-Star Music has a pool area themed to The Three Caballeros so that would be a great film to watch before staying at this resort. Another section of the resort is dedicated to Broadway music and since Beauty and the Beast was produced to feel like a Broadway show, this would be an excellent choice to watch. There is even a large Beauty and the Beast on Broadway poster on one of the buildings.
All-Star Sports Resort:
Similar to All-Star Movies, any sports film by Disney will get guests excited to stay at All-Star Spots. There is a staged tennis court where icons of Donald Duck and his nephews are playing so some of the older Donald Duck cartoons featuring sports would be fun to watch. There are two cartoons that feature both sports and his nephews and they are Donald’s Golf Game (1938) and The Hockey Champ (1939). There is also a large football area so another great pick would be Remember the Titans.
Animal Kingdom Lodge:
After staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I just had to watch The Lion King when I got home! This is the perfect Disney film for this resort.
Art of Animation Resort:
The films to watch before staying at Art of Animation are the ones that make up the four different sections of the resort: The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars.
Beach Club Resort & Yacht Club Resort:
I struggled to find something for Beach & Yacht Club, even just for one resort or the other. The best I could find was Bee at the Beach, a 1950 Donald Duck cartoon. I think it is Donald’s vintage bathing suit that reminded me about the resorts. He is even wearing it in the picture behind the trundle beds in the DVC studios. Does anyone have a film that reminds them of Beach Club or Yacht Club that I am not thinking of?
BoardWalk Inn:
BoardWalk Inn was tough as well but I thought Dumbo was a good one to tie in with the circus/carnival theme. Dumbo himself is sleeping in the picture behind the trundle beds in the DVC studios.
Caribbean Beach Resort:
Caribbean Beach Resort was an obvious one, Pirates of the Caribbean! My favourite is The Curse of the Black Pearl but any of the Pirates films would be fine. The scene in Saint Martin in Dead Men Tell Know Tales really reminds me of the resort.
Contemporary Resort:
The Contemporary is such its own thing that I really wasn’t sure what to put. There is a Fantasia shop in the middle of the A-frame themed to the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Some of the new Mickey Mouse shorts might be a good option as well with Chef Mickey’s being such a main part of the resort.
Coronado Springs Resort:
The Three Caballeros would be a great film to watch before staying at Coronado Springs. This resort has a number of different themes under the Southwestern umbrella, which is actually quite similar to The Three Caballeros as it is a package film.
Fort Wilderness Resort:
The Davy Crockett films would be perfect to watch being staying at either the campgrounds or the cabins of Fort Wilderness. As I mentioned last week, I prefer Davey Crockett and the River Pirates, but guests could even just watch one of the TV episodes instead of the feature films made from them.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
There are two films that come to mind when I think of the Grand Floridian and they are very different from each other. The first one is Mary Poppins. The film is based in the same era as the Grand Floridian and has the same Victorian/Edwardian look and feel. The other film is Cinderella. There are beautiful touches from Cinderella throughout the resort and Cinderella and Prince Charming even dance to live music in the grand lobby. That is the epitome of Disney magic! Both films actually have representation at 1900 Park Fare where Mary Poppins hosts a character dining for breakfast and Cinderella hosts one for dinner.
Old Key West Resort:
I really could not think of a single movie that fit the theme of Old Key West, much less a Disney film. Universal’s 1996 Flipper maybe? I know, that’s cheating. If you have a Disney film that reminds you of this resort, please let me know!
Polynesian Village Resort:
The Polynesian has two films that fit the resort perfectly, Lilo and Stitch, and Moana. Not only do those films desperately make guests want to stay at the Poly, they also make guests want to visit Aulani in Hawaii!
Pop Century Resort:
Pop Century has a few different films that represent the different decades that make up the resort’s sections. Three films with major icons at Pop Century are Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Port Orleans Resort – Riverside & Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter:
Beautiful Princess Tiana rules the Port Orleans resorts so the perfect film to watch before staying at either resort is The Princess and the Frog. Once I even just considered booking here and I had to pop The Princess and the Frog in the Blu-ray player immediately!
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
There are two sections of Saratoga Springs Resort. The main section is themed around the sport of horseracing that is important to the community of Saratoga Springs, New York. There is not a Disney movie about this but there is a film that was filmed in the real Saratoga Springs about horseracing and that was Seabiscuit in 2003. Though not actually a Disney film, it does have some Disney connections as it was produced by Spyglass Entertainment that has a strong history with the Walt Disney Studios. The second section of Saratoga Springs is where the Treehouses are and the perfect Disney treehouse film is Swiss Family Robinson.
Wilderness Lodge:
There are a few films that come to mind when I think of the Wilderness Lodge. One that captures the Northern wilderness is Brother Bear. Even though it is not considered one of Disney’s best films, it is still a good one to watch before staying at the Wilderness Lodge. The classic Chip ‘n’ Dale cartoons are great ones to watch. Some of my favourites are All in a Nutshell (1949), Trailer Horn (1950), and Donald Applecore (1952). Any of the classic Humphrey the Bear cartoons are also excellent options.
So there is my mostly completed list. If you have any ideas for Beach Club, Yacht Club, Contemporary, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs please leave a comment down below!
Which films do you like to watch before staying at a specific resort at Walt Disney World?
Check out the other posts in this series:
Pixar
Classic Disney Animation
Live Action
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