Name some movies you watched as a kid. Chances are, at least one of them was an animated Disney film. Now, especially as I am about to become an adult, many of my own childhood memories involve Disney. I’ve watched Moana more times than I can count, still have a blanket of Elsa from Frozen, and vividly remember visiting Disneyland with my family as a young child. Disney animation has built its name on nostalgia, but what specifically about Disney sparks that feeling?
Disney movies were a way for me to learn and grow as a young child. Movies like Beauty and the Beast, Moana, and Mulan taught me that women can be smart, strong, and fierce. I saw myself in Belle, who loves reading books, and Mulan, who never quite fit into feminine standards but instead wanted to prove her strength amongst men. But part of what I believe makes Disney movies so nostalgic is that it teaches children to believe in happy endings. Almost every Disney animated movie I watched growing up taught me that yes, a happily ever after does exist (the exception being Big Hero 6, which never fails to make me sob).
Many Disney movies are also musicals, which helps ingrain the movies in children’s memories. Though I’ve watched the Harry Potter movies countless times, I can’t name the lines that the characters say. However, while watching Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Moana, I can sing along with almost every lyric. As a first grader, I sang Frozen’s “Let It Go” in my elementary school’s talent show. More than a decade later, I still remember the lyrics. The same applies to many others. If you were to ask someone to sing “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King or “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, chances are they would be able to sing parts of the songs, even if it’s been years since they last saw the movie.
Disney also plays on nostalgia with its impeccable sequel timing. Although Disney has been losing traction in recent years, with its movies lacking the number of viewers that some of its earlier, classic films received, movies that bring former Disney watchers back to the theaters have been immensely popular. For example, Inside Out 2, which came out in 2024, nine years after its predecessor, was a box office success, earning its place as the highest-grossing movie of 2024. The first animation came out in 2015, mainly targeted towards a young audience. Nine years later, its young viewers were no longer children, now teens or young adults. The sequel’s themes played perfectly into this, discussing themes of anxiety and social pressure. Additionally, Moana 2, which came out in November, brought back its viewers for a long-awaited, albeit slightly disappointing, sequel.
Another part of my love for Disney comes from Disneyland and its neighbor, California Adventure Park. As I mentioned, I grew up as a Disney kid. To my family, Disneyland was a way to celebrate important milestones. The park, popularly known as “the happiest place on Earth,” appeals to the nostalgia of people at every age. Disneyland truly is a magical place. From the rides taking you back to your childhood to the music, food, and characters, it celebrates happiness and invites its visitors to be children again.
The parks also regularly update to stay relevant to current Disney fans. In 2023, Pixar Pier was renamed San Fransokyo, after Big Hero 6. Rides are either added or re-themed, like the new Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and the Incredicoaster, formerly known as California Screamin’. Splash Mountain has also been rethemed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, as the former theme was based on Disney’s Song of the South, much of which plays on racist stereotypes.
Overall, part of what makes Disney so widely loved is the fact that it welcomes its audience to go back to their childhood. It asks people to believe in happy endings, love stories, and strong characters while providing catchy soundtracks and a place to experience the magic of childhood. Disney has created a world like no other, where adults and kids alike can remove themselves from their daily hardships and find a place of joy.
