Alright, here’s what I’d throw into the ring for a Disney marathon playlist, especially if you feel like classics vs new stuff is overwhelming you: go for a vibe balance. Lotta shouts for The Lion King and Aladdin (hard to beat Robin Williams, absolutely agree there). But seriously, any lineup that skips over Mulan (Eddie Murphy dragon banter + Joan of Arc vibes, c’mon!) is missing out. Also, Moana has the best “I’m finding my path” journey since Simba hit the savannah—plus the ocean is basically a bonus character.
If you want something seriously underrated, toss in The Great Mouse Detective—Victorian mouse world, plus Vincent Price hamming it up as an evil rat. And for chill interludes, nobody mentioned The Princess and the Frog enough: killer jazz soundtrack, villain you actually remember, and food scenes that make you pause for snacks. Pro tip: stagger the heavy hitters (emotional rollercoasters like Coco or Up) between goofier movies like Emperor’s New Groove (honestly, how many memes can one movie deliver?) so you don’t end up having sobbed your mascara off by hour three.
Wishlist for future marathons: a “shuffle Disney villain entrances” mode, because let’s be real, that’s the main event. Your move, Disney+.