So our family hemmed and hawed last week over Disney+. We are what you would refer to as movie and television mavens. But we’re picky. Insanely picky. We don’t like anything that has an underlying agenda. We don’t like anything that’s just junk, and we’re more likely to enjoy an old classic en masse than use our limited screen time with something new and risky.

Now, right out of the gate, (I can hear the voices clamoring) if you are anti-Disney, for whatever reason? I respect your right to abstain. But, I hope you will consider that with any streaming service, indeed, with any media, even many of our beloved classical literature options, (Ref. Fanny Hill, published 1748) you will find things that are not wholesome. Indeed, even Pygmalion and Dr. Doolittle had humanistic worldviews.

While we may be considered prudish by many when it comes our family culture, and hoydens by others, the fact is, in our family, we use media in all forms as teachable moments. Times to instill a right and wrong and to have open conversations about religion, and politics, and worldviews in general. A time to communicate who we are and how to process the culture of this world.

In a word? We teach discernment.

So, that out of the way 🙂 Let us get down to brass tacks:

I love love love love love the old Disney stuff. That’s anything that Walt directly oversaw from the 1920’s until the 1960’s. There’s a ton of great stuff there in Disney+. We see the original Zorro, several of the beloved Disney Vault classics, things like the Three Caballeros, Davy Crockett, The Micky Mouse Club etc. Love it.

There’s a good mix of duds and nostalgic stuff from the 1960s-1970s. Things like The Love Bug, Herbie, etc. Then the 1980s stuff is pretty give and take.

There’s a rich collection of Disney Channel Movies that are well worth watching. Notable nostalgic films include: Babes in Toyland, The Flight of the Navigator, etc.

The nineties stuff got me fast. We’re talking Talespin, Rescue Rangers, The Adventures of Gummy Bears, Bonkers, Darkwing Duck. My inner kid is rejoicing.

Not to mention, if you are into Star Wars, Marvel, and Sports Movies? You’ll get your fill.

Interesting things I didn’t expect include some adult-geared rom-coms: 10 Things I Hate About You, Never Been Kissed, While You Were Sleeping,

Now, let’s take a moment and be thankful for the nature documentaries, shall we? I’m a huge fan of The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan, as well as The Amazing Dr. Pol. There are several documentaries as well, they have a section labeled for National Geo.

So all in all? We’ve been Netflix-free (and not missing it!) for about 2 years. We usually enjoy Prime, some YouTube Channels, and Hulu- but none of them with the kids being allowed to watch unsupervised. Disney+, as with anything, will be a tool that can be enjoyed for good or evil.

We are already considering ditching our Hulu account. There’s only one thing we watch on there anymore and last year’s 99 cent deal is going away this month.

I think, given the amount of quality over crap, in terms of screen time, you’ll find Disney to be a mixed bag, but far more reliable than Hulu or Netflix, or even Prime when it comes down to wholesome over horrid options.

N