For many people, it is time for their holiday break. For those who live in California, it is almost time for a wet holiday break as rain is expected to fall across the state during the holiday break. Other parts of the country will see other types of inclement weather. With the weather, breaks, children being out of school, and the holidays all coming at once, it is a great time to log into Disney+ and watch some holiday favorites. This is even better as Disney continues to add more titles, past and present, from its different studios and brands. Below are Daps Magic’s top 5 holiday favorite movies that are currently on Disney+ for families to watch during the holiday break (or anyone else who feels like watching these too!).
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Mickey’s Christmas Carol is a classic holiday program. This is a magical retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge, Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, and a host of other Disney characters rounding out the cast. This is a must-watch for Disney fans who love A Christmas Carol. It is under half an hour long, so it is easy to find time to watch. This is a show that is sure to make you smile and feel good when watching it. It has some really fun moments that use a variety of Disney characters in some really fun ways. Don’t miss it!
For added fun, check out this post about Willie the Giant (Ghost of Christmas Present) that was written by the current caretaker of his voice!
The Santa Clause
In The Santa Clause, Scott Calvin inadvertently scares Santa Claus off the roof on Christmas Eve. After he doesn’t survive the fall, Scott puts on the suit and soon finds himself taking on the role of the jolly old elf. While he isn’t thrilled with this, his son, who had been staying with him on Christmas Eve, is overjoyed! While Scott attempts to chalk it all up to a bad dream, the magic of Christmas proves otherwise. This creates some hilarious moments between Scott and his co-workers, his ex-wife and her husband, and even some perfect strangers. This is a feel-good and funny film that is simply enjoyable to watch together as a family. The follow-up movies and Disney+ series are also fun, but it is hard to beat the original.
Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street is a fantastic holiday film. It starts on Thanksgiving and ends with Christmas. As the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is getting started, a kind old man has to take the place of the parade’s inebriated Santa Claus. This leads to a position in the role for the old man, who happens to be named Kris Kringle, at Macy’s. As the man shows that kindness is more important than the store’s best business practices, the store discovers that his approach builds incredible customer loyalty. His straightforward and kind approach is also threatening to some, which lands him in court, where the question is asked: Is Kris Kringle really Santa Claus? This is a question not only asked in the court, but by those around him. This is a completely heartwarming film that is a Christmas classic. It also has a stellar cast with a very young Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, and Edmund Gwenn.
It is worth noting that there is also another version of this film on Disney+. It is also charming. I personally prefer this version from 1947, though.
Home Alone
After a rough night with family (and extended family), 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) wishes he didn’t have a family. In the morning, he wakes up to discover that they have disappeared. While his family flies off to Paris, not realizing Kevin isn’t with them, Kevin discovers what the implications of his wish coming true are, including some burglars who have sights set on his house. This leads to a battle between Kevin and these burglars as he fights to protect his house. There are some absolutely beautiful moments in this film, which is accompanied by one of the best Christmas music scores of all time, written by John Williams. Home Alone is a great movie for the whole family to watch that is full of heart, humor, and Christmas spirit.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol is another take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In fact, it is one of the best adaptations of this story! This version of the story sees Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Gonzo as Charles Dickens (the narrator), and Rizzo… as Rizzo… who helps narrate the film with Dickens. This is one of the best Muppet movies and also one of the best holiday films as well. It has humor. It has great music. It has moments of heart. It is also a very faithful adaptation of the original story. This is another movie that is fun for the whole family and is a must-watch during the holiday season!
There are many other holiday films to be found on Disney+, including new titles like A Very Jonas Christmas Movie and Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol. What are your favorite films to watch during the holidays on Disney+? What would you add to this list? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
