As a child of the ’90s, I’m a HUGE Disney fan. All things Disney…give them to me. I can kill a Disney trivia quiz, name every movie and character, and the ONLY music I play in my 4th grade classroom at school is Disney. If I decide to spend a small fortune for a family outing to the movie theater, you better believe we’re spending it on a Disney film. I’ve loved every Disney movie remake that’s hit the market in the last few years…it’s like I’m living my childhood all over again. And of course, we’ve even made our family pilgrimage to the Happiest Place on Earth. Truly, it is the happiest place on earth. I would go back in a heartbeat.
I say all this to let you know that that little mouse evokes a lot of emotions in me.
Happiness, excitement, and joy were the emotions I most commonly felt as a child. As I’ve aged and become a parent though, my emotions have changed pretty drastically when it comes to Disney and Disney movies. Don’t get me wrong; I still get “all the feels” from Mickey, but more often than not, I find myself crying anytime I watch a happy ending unfold. Is it just me or are Disney movies more emotional than most adult themed movies? Since I’ve hit the over 30 mark, I’m just a puddle anytime I sit down to watch one.
Most of the time, I’m watching these Disney movies with my boys. Even though it’s just a movie, it’s so different watching them with your own children. The innocence of a child changes you. Watching their sweet little faces light up at all the right moments makes me weak in the knees. Seeing them understand the happiness and the sadness portrayed on the big screen tugs at my heartstrings. Their sweet little giggles during the funny parts are the best. Having them hold my hand and sing along to the songs makes me realize how quickly they’ll grow up and how badly I want time to slow down. That’s enough to make anyone weep.
I’m a softy for a good love story and Disney knows how to knock those out of the park.
The first 15 minutes of Up absolutely wreck me. There’s almost no dialogue, but the actions of those characters rival those of any great romantic movie. When Flynn Ryder and Repunzel watch the lanterns in Tangled, I cry like a baby every time. Belle falling in love with the Beast — forget it. Jasmine and Aladdin will go down in history as one of the greatest love stories of all time in my opinion. Love is such a beautiful, tricky thing, and these children’s movies emulate it such a pure, sweet form that you can’t help but root for and fall in love with the characters. When that happens, you’re emotionally invested and the tears just flow.
The friendships that are depicted in Disney movies are a rival for the ages.
Baymax may be a robot, but the relationship he has with Hiro is love in the purest form. I cry in multiple parts of Big Hiro Six. Wreck-it-Ralph and Venelope have each other’s backs no matter what. Sebastian doesn’t agree with Ariel and the life she wants to lead, but he supports her anyhow. Olaf may be a simple, silly snowman, but he’s ready to risk his life and melt for his friends. And, of course, we can’t leave out the greatest friendship of all time: Woody and Buzz. They have one obstacle after another thrown at them, and no matter what, they face them together. Let’s just say the ending of Toy Story Four almost killed me. I was literally using my shirt to wipe the tears away in that dark theater. Life is hard and friendships are harder, especially as adults, so to see these characters get it right is moving.
You can’t ignore all the tragedy tied up in Disney movies. How many of these sweet characters have lost a parent or are orphans? It’s hard for me to think of a Disney movie where there’s a “normal” family involved. Kids seem to skim over that little piece of information as they watch the story unfold, but as adults, you can’t ignore that. The loss of a parent or family member is absolutely tragic. It’s life altering and something that forever changes you. Disney really knows how to break your heart when it comes to the casualties of their movie characters. The death scene between Simba and Mufasa will absolutely rip your heart out. The way Marlin fights to protect Nemo after he’s lost his wife and other children is tear-jerking. Let’s not even talk about Bambi. Even the toughest men I know tear up at that.
And last, but not least, who doesn’t love a happy ending? No matter what problems these characters face, they always live “happily ever after.” Their archenemy gets what they deserve, and they ride off into the sunset with the ones they love the most. As adults, we know that happy endings are hard to come by, so getting lost for two hours in one can make you emotional. Mickey Mouse and Disney movies tend to awaken the child within, and that’s truly a beautiful thing.
