Caledonian Travel’s Top Ten Disney Films - Part One

Here at Caledonian Travel HQ, the team are really excited for the Disneyland Paris breaks that we have on sale – especially when customers who’ve travelled to Paris with us before to see Mickey, Donald, Goofy and their beloved friends are already booking their places again for this year.

The conversation got going in the office about all the fab things about Disney, which led us to that all-important question: What is your favourite Disney film ever? All the classics, some of the modern, and a lot of the Pixar movies were banded about, and (in no particular order) kept popping up, and here’s part one of Caledonian Travel’s Top Ten Disney Films. Does your favourite movie make the list..?

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

This 1971 classic fused animation with film and had its world premiere at the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square, London rather than over in the States.

The tale is about Charlie, Carrie, and Paul, three children who are evacuated from London during the war to Eglentine Price’s house out in the country. Little did they (or anyone) know, Miss Price was new to witchcraft and was able to cast spells… some of them better than others! Changing Charlie into a toad backfires when he turns into a rabbit, but the famous travelling spell enables Paul to adjust the knob on the double bed upstairs and be transported to wherever he wanted to go.

However, Miss Price’s endeavours to find the missing half of the ‘Substitutiary Locomotion’ spell meant that these travels didn’t always go as smoothly as they hoped. Starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson.

Hercules

The original Disney animated feature film Hercules hit cinema screens in 1997 and was Disney’s 35th animated feature. Hercules, born to the god Zeus and goddess Hera, is kidnapped as a baby by Hades, god of the underworld, who plans to overthrow Zeus. Hades weakens Hercules by turning him mortal with a potion but fails to remove his godly strength completely.

Raised on Earth by adoptive parents, Hercules struggles to fit in, yearning to discover his true origins, but learns he can become a true hero and return to Olympus by proving himself worthy. He trains with Philoctetes, a satyr and renowned hero trainer, and learns the skills necessary to become a hero before travelling to Thebes, quickly becoming a celebrated hero. But his desire for fame and glory initially overshadows true heroism.

He meets Megara, who is forced to work for Hades, and develops a romantic interest in her. Hades sends various monsters to stop Hercules, but does our hero learn that true heroism isn't about fame but about self-sacrifice? Does he risk his life to save Megara and prove his worthiness to regain his godhood?

If you haven't seen the film yet, check it out - it's a must-see!

Monsters Inc

Sully and Mike are two monster employees at a scaring company known as Monsters Inc., where they generate energy by harvesting children's screams. The duo is on the verge of breaking the all-time scare record when their lives take an unexpected turn.

One evening, while Mike is out with his girlfriend, Celia, Sully stumbles upon an active door on the scare floor while searching for Mike’s paperwork. To his horror, something else has come through - a human child, loose in the monster city! With no other choice, Sully enlists Mike’s help to return the child before anyone finds out, knowing that even the smallest human presence is considered a catastrophic threat.

As they attempt to keep their new visitor a secret, the two uncover a shocking conspiracy within Monsters Inc. itself, forcing them to question everything they know about their world - and what truly makes a monster.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is a classic Disney animation. It tells the story of a selfish prince who is cursed to become a monster by an enchantress disguised as a beggar after he refuses to accept her rose in exchange for shelter from a storm.

To break this curse, the Prince must fall in love and earn that person’s love before the last rose petal drops, otherwise he’ll remain a beast forever.

It’s a beautiful story and was Disney’s third attempt at adapting the fairytale after Walt Disney himself couldn’t quite get it right in the 1930s and 1950s. But, in 1991, the film was finally released to great acclaim and became the first Disney animation to be adapted into a Broadway musical.

Pinocchio

When we were younger, we all believed that if we told a lie, our noses would grow..! That’s Walt Disney’s fault (and Geppetto’s!) for adapting Carlo Collodi’s novel Pinocchio for our entertainment back in 1940.

Even though it was all he ever wanted, Pinocchio was no ordinary boy. He was a boy made of wood, brought to life by a blue fairy who tells him that he can be a real boy if he can prove himself to be brave, truthful, and unselfish.

Starring Jiminy Cricket as Pinocchio’s conscience to keep him on the straight and narrow, his job proves very difficult as Pinocchio keeps landing himself in deep trouble. But does Pinocchio and Geppetto’s wish for him to turn into a real boy come true? Well, Disney films are renowned for their happy endings, so…

So there we have the first installment of our favourite Disney movies. Do any of them match yours? Part two will be coming soon, so keep checking back to read part two, or follow us on Facebook to be reminded when that's live!

And if you’re a Disney fan, why not check out our breaks to Disneyland Paris – departing from a range of pick-up points, they're memorable fun for all the family, groups of friends and couples!

Or, why not check out our top-ten Disney films - part two!