Most of us are feeling a little extra stressed these days, so it’s more important than ever to take time for some self-care. One of our all-time favorite ways to unwind is by watching a Disney movie!

Given the unprecedented situation the world is facing, watching the news can get overwhelming. And while it’s important to stay informed, we all need a bit of a break sometimes! Luckily, with Disney+, it’s easier than ever to flip on a feel-good movie for some much-needed relaxation. Here are 11 awesome Disney movies to watch if you need a break from the news!

The Little Mermaid

Let’s start off with a favorite of many Disney fans — The Little Mermaid! There are several reasons this movie is a great stress-reliever. First, the music is among the best of any Disney film! With jams like “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea,” how could we not sing along?? Plus, thanks to Scuttle, Sebastian, and Flounder, there are plenty of funny moments that keep us laughing no matter how many times we’ve seen them before!

The Little Mermaid always leaves us feeling like “we got no troubles, life is the bubbles!”

Toy Story

The first-ever Pixar film, Toy Story stands the test of time! Following Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang through their antics seems to make the real world fade away. And despite the fact that the main characters are toys, they still manage to be relatable (and hilarious)! Don’t we all feel a little bit like Buzz in the Mrs. Nesbitt scene right now??

Toy Story is endlessly quotable and feels surprisingly high-stakes, considering the protagonists are, well, toys!

The Emperor’s New Groove

Here’s an underrated gem! We didn’t think The Emperor’s New Groove got the love and attention it deserved when it was released back in 2000, and after rewatching this movie on Disney+, we stand by that statement! Yes, Kuzco and Pacha are entertainingly mismatched, but we think the star of this show is Kronk. We need to know, were his spinach puffs okay??

This movie has enough comic relief to fill all of Kuzcotopia, and we could definitely use the laughs right now. BOOM, BABY!

Mary Poppins

Being serenaded by Julie Andrews is certainly a soothing experience! But Mary Poppins offers more than just a solid soundtrack. The Banks children are transformed for the better thanks to their new nanny. Watching them grow is both inspiring and heartwarming. And if that wasn’t enough, let’s add in some escapism in the form of dancing penguins!

Bert was right all along, it really IS a jolly holiday with Mary!

Peter Pan

Speaking of escapism, how about a trip to Neverland?? In Peter Pan, the Darling children follow the second star to the right, and straight on until morning and find themselves living out the adventures of their dreams! This movie has plenty of fantasy elements, and it graced us with the iconic Tinkerbell. It also encourages us to “think of the happiest things, it’s the same as having wings.” Which is a message we could all use right now!

Watching Peter Pan makes us feel like we’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust!

Tangled

This movie is one of our feel-good favorites! Tangled has the perfect ingredients — a strong princess, catchy music, hilarious sidekicks, and a villain we love to hate! Rapunzel holds her own, and as much as we love Flynn Rider (or should we say, Eugene Fitzherbert), it’s so satisfying to see her chase her dreams on her own terms. Plus, “When Will My Life Begin” is a social distancing anthem!

As if Rapunzel’s story wasn’t fantastic enough on its own, she also introduced us to a new use for our frying pans — who knew??

Up

This movie definitely gets off to a tough start. We’ve never made it through the first ten minutes of Up without ugly-crying! But even though the first act is a tear-jerker, this story totally takes us on an escape! Between Carl, Russell, Dug, and Kevin, we have so many heroes to root for! The adventure to Paradise Falls is an awesome journey.

Who else wants to be a Wilderness Explorer??

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for us! Despite watching Pirates of the Caribbean countless times, it still totally captivates us from beginning to end. This movie can get our mind off of anything! It introduced us to Jack Sparrow, the worst pirate we’ve ever heard of. And while we love the excitement, visual effects, and drama of this story for what it is, the movie holds an extra-special place in our hearts since it’s based on the ride in Disneyland and Magic Kingdom!

We would gladly join Captain Jack Sparrow’s crew for an adventure!

Aladdin

While we enjoyed the live-action remake, the animated classic Aladdin is still our go-to! Nothing beats the comedic relief that Robin Williams brought with his portrayal of the Genie! “A Whole New World” is perfect for some living room karaoke, plus it takes us on a pretend trip while we’re currently hunkered down at home. Maybe we should start calling our living room the Cave of Wonders?

Is “it’s not every day you see a horse with two rear-ends” the ultimate Disney burn??

Monsters, Inc.

Let’s take a trip to Monstropolis! Mike and Sulley make Monsters, Inc. a fun, buddy comedy, and watching them terrorized by a toddles leaves us in stitches! The detail in the animation makes us feel like we really stumbled through our closet and right on to the scare floor. This movie is great from start to finish, and the final scene leaves us with the warm-and-fuzzies.

We hope to see a full stage production of “Put That Thing Back Where It Came From, Or So Help Me” one day!

Moana

Another movie with an amazing soundtrack, Moana gets us singing at the top of our lungs! The beautiful animation makes us feel like we’re right alongside Moana on her journey, and we’re rooting for this powerful princess the whole time! Moana’s story is about strength and perseverance which inspires us to push through even in the hardest of times. And that’s all without even mentioning the also entertaining Maui, Hei Hei, and Pua!

It’s times like these that we really appreciate having so many great movies at our fingertips thanks to Disney+! So, the next time you feel yourself needing an escape from the news, try watching one of these films for a pick-me-up. And if that happens to turn into an impromptu karaoke session, dance break, or scene reenactment, all the better!

For more inspiration, check out these Disney movie marathon ideas!

What’s your go-to Disney movie when you need a break from the news? Let us know in the comments!