The Best Disney+ Shows & Movies for Parents

by Karly WoodMay 5, 2020

When it comes to Disney+, everyone was excited to feast their eyes on the entire catalogue of classic titles––especially kids. But there are oodles of movies, documentaries and shows that are just as entertaining on the streaming platform for parents, too! From dramatic original shows to behind the scene insights and throwback films, keep reading to see some of our fave adult-friendly content on Disney+.

Drama

The Mandalorian

Disney's The Mandalorian is all anyone could talk about when the platform launched in November. The show that introduced "Baby Yoda" is rife with classic Star Wars planets, garb and characters, not to mention an amazing musical score. You can watch the entire first season, with the second to debut later this year.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & 2

While we're the first to agree that almost any Marvel film will fit the bill when it comes a binge session, we particularly love the Guardians of the Galaxy duo. The retro 80's soundtrack makes it perfect for Gen Xers, and with a cast that includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Vin Diesel, you can't go wrong.

10 Things I Hate About You

The classic teen romance turned drama film is one for the ages. The 1999 hit takes all of us parents back to a simpler time, with a budding Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles before they made it big.

Documentaries

The Imagineering Story

The six hour original Disney+ docuseries takes guests on a complete behind-the-scenes adventure through the creation of Disney Parks. With original photos and film of Walt himself, tons of interviews with Disney Imagineers and an entertaining historical timeline, the Imagineering Story will quickly become a fave.

One Day at Disney

Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney+ have collaborated on One Day at Disney, a 52-week documentary series that highlights the men and women behind the magic. The series kicks off with a feature film showing 10 influential people in the Disney industry, followed by 52 shorts, ranging from four to seven minutes long on diverse cast members.

Free Solo

The Academy Award winning documentary Free Solo follows free solo climber Alex Honnold and his attempt to climb El Capitan. The heart-stopping film will keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch a man without fear tackle his dream.

Throwbacks

The Parent Trap (1961)

The OG Parent Trap features a young Hayley Mills and will undoubtedly bring up childhood memories as you watch. The classic tale follows two girls who find out they're identical twin sisters at the age of 13 at summer camp, with lots of wackiness to ensue.

The Flight of the Navigator

See you later, Navigator! The 1986 indie sci-fi classic follows 12-year old David Freeman who falls down a ravine and wakes up eight years later and abducted by aliens. David's spaceship is one we all dreamed of flying as a kid!

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Wayne Szalinski has really done it this time! When the inventor accidentally shrinks his own kids, the journey begins to find and restore them to normal size. The late 80's classic had us all craving for a few oatmeal creme cookies by the end!

Splash

Tom Hanks + mermaids? Yes, please! The 1984 fantasy rom com follows Hank's character with a mermaid who's come to shore and his attempts at keeping her out of the local scientist's evil clutches.

Comedy/Cartoons

The Simpsons

If you're looking for a binge-watch sesh, then settle in for 30 seasons of the Simpsons! The history-making series that started in 1989 will make you laugh just as hard as it did when you were a kid, and you just might finally get some of those adult-themed jokes.

Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?

The 1988 blockbuster that parents weren't quite sure was appropriate for kids (thank you, Jessica Rabbit) is prime viewing on Disney+. The three time Academy Award winning film depicts cartoons living alongside humans, and brings Toontown to real life.

Musicals

Newsies

It's a fine life! Fans of a young Christian Bale can relive their glory days with Disney's cult classic, Newsies. The unforgettable musical is full of dance-worthy songs and tons of stars before they were famous.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Disney+ unless otherwise noted

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Original Cast Members from “The Goonies”Are Reuniting for a Virtual Special

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 27, 2020

The Goonies are getting back together. Josh Gad announced on his social media accounts that he would be hosting a special Goonies reunion on his series, Reunited Apart. The cult classic is celebrating its 35th anniversary.

“There is one movie that defines my childhood. One movie that defines my personality. One movie that defines me,” shared Gad on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

There is one movie that defines my childhood. One movie that defines my personality. One movie that defines me. Enjoy this Preview! And tomorrow, please join me at 9 AM PT/12:00 PT EST in support of #TheCenterForDisasterPhilanthropy as I reunite the ENTIRE CAST of #TheGoonies along with some VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE GUESTS for a new series called #ReunitedApart - available exclusively on my new YouTube Page. LINK IN BIO. #ReunitedApart #Goonies #gooniesneversaydie☠️

A post shared by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on Apr 26, 2020 at 5:10pm PDT

Gad revealed that original cast members Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Ke Huy Quan, Martha Plimpton and Jeff Cohen will be included in the virtual special along with “many special surprises.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Josh Gad via YouTube

Look for One-Eyed Willy’s Hidden Treasure in Monopoly: The Goonies

by Jennifer SwartvagherFebruary 24, 2020

Goonies never say die! Assemble a gang of friends to help find One-Eyed Willy’s hidden treasure. USAOPOLY has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, to release a mashup of Monopoly and the 1985 cult classic movie, The Goonies.

Fans of the movie will be able to buy, sell and trade iconic properties throughout Goon Docks and the small town of Astoria, Oregon. Players will vie for control of One-Eyed Willie’s Cabin, the Pirate Ship Cavern, Sloth’s Room, the Pit of Spikes and 18 other memorable locations as they try to own it all and bankrupt their opponents.

Players will be able to choose one of six collectible movers such as a Gold Doubloon, the Statue of David or Skull & Cross Bones to navigate the game board. MONOPOLY: The Goonies is now available throughout North America in specialty stores and online. The game will retail for $39.99.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: USAOPOLY

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Freeform’s 31 Days of Halloween Will Feature 27 Airings of “Hocus Pocus” & All of These Favorites

by Shahrzad WarkentinAugust 14, 2019

Clear your schedule and pop some popcorn because Freeform’s 31 Days of Halloween is just around the corner. This year it’s jam jam-packed the Sanderson sisters!

While Freeform has yet to publish their full line up for the month-long celebration, we do know that Hocus Pocus will air a whopping 27 times throughout October. That means that nearly every day of the week you can enjoy the tricks and treats of this cult classic.

Oh look. WE’RE THREE MONTHS AWAY, WITCHES. pic.twitter.com/eZFA41RF1i

— Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween (@31Nights) July 31, 2019

Joining the Sanderson sisters are the Ghostbusters. The film celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and Freeform will be airing an anniversary special of the film followed by Ghostbusters 2. In addition to these fan favorites, you’ll also find The Nightmare Before Christmas, Maleficent, Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic, Hotel Transylvania and The Witches of Eastwick among other films in the line-up.

All of the spooky fun begins on Oct. 1 on Freeform so stay tuned for the full schedule coming soon.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: IMDB

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Find Out What Roald Dahl Classic Is Hitting Theaters Next Year

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 7, 2019

Roald Dahl fans get excited! The classic book and cult hit movie The Witches is hitting theaters next year.

You might remember the ‘90s version of The Witches starring Anjelica Huston, most notably for that gasp-inducing scene when Houston tears off her human disguise to reveal the ugly witch underneath. The movie was based on the Roald Dahl classic of the same name and now the story is getting a new big screen adaptation.

Anne Hathaway to star in Robert Zemeckis' "The Witches" (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/bdSuMtD9Wn pic.twitter.com/NCAfAPbddi

— Variety (@Variety) January 16, 2019

The film, which stars Anne Hathaway filling Huston’s big pointy shoes as the Grand High Witch, begins filming next week and officially has a release date. The film is now set to roll out in theaters on Oct. 16, 2020.

Director Robert Zemeckis who has lent his talents to some of the best films of all time (Back to the Future anyone?) also wrote the script which is said to stick more closely to the book than the first film adaptation.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Red Carpet Report via Flickr

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These New Crocs Have Built-In Fanny Packs (In Case You Don’t Have Pockets, Right?)

by Shahrzad WarkentinMay 3, 2019

The ‘80s called and said “remember how awesome your fanny pack was, why not put them on your shoes?” Or something like that. A new line of Crocs with fanny packs has just been released and now you can wear your shoes and carry stuff too.

The Crocs, which are the result of a collab with cult Japanese clothing line Beams, feature a tiny nylon, zip-top fanny pack attached to the ankle strap of classic-style Crocs. The ankle strap can also be flipped over so that the pouches sit on top of your shoes.

The pouches are designed to hold small items, like keys or cash, so they won’t do much good for stashing those wipes and diapers, but if you’re going for a quick stroll and need your hands free for the kids, they could come in handy.

The fanny-pack Crocs are available in two colors, Ultraviolet and Tropical Teal, on the Beams site for or 5940 yen, or about $53 per pair.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Beams

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Rothy’s Just Dropped Your Kids’ New Favorite Sneaker

by Gabby CullenMarch 17, 2019

Your daughter loves her pairs of Rothy’s loafers about as much as you love your flats. Well, now your son can get in on the action with the brand-new kids’ sneaker line—which has sizes and prints for both boys and girls! Made with the same sustainable practices as the adult shoe, keep reading to discover your kids’ new favorite slip-on shoe.

The Details

Rothy’s launched a girls’ loafer line in 2018, and they’ve already achieved the same cult-favorite status of their adult counterpart, so the next step for Rothy’s was to introduce a slip-on shoe that every kid can wear. Tested out by active, busy kids, the sneakers are washable and offered in 10 different colors and prints inspired by the bright colors of the 1970s. Like all Rothy’s shoes, the sneaker has an athletic outsole, and the stretchy knit is made out of recycled water bottles.

“As a team, we loved seeing the response to our Girls’ Loafer last year. For many, the product fostered mother-daughter conversations about sustainability and recycling,” said Rothy’s Creative Director Erin Lowenberg. “When our customers started asking for a girls’ version of our sneaker we thought, why not include the whole family? The Kids’ Sneaker is a playful and gender-neutral shoe for little ones to learn about sustainability and play with happy feet—and they’re machine washable to boot!”

What’s the secret behind Rothy’s?

Rothy’s is a three-year-old company founded by Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Roth Martin, looking to re-imagine the stylish classics. They didn’t want career women to have to choose between style and comfort, so instead, they created an incredibly durable, machine-washable, flexible shoe that moves with the foot. The shoe was a hit and continues to wow.

And, they care about the process. Each shoe allows for less than 5% waste, rather than the typical 35% of materials that end up on a production floor. Rothy’s uses recycled water bottles to create their popular fabrics, and to date, they’ve repurposed over 25 million water bottles. And, each shoe is 100% recyclable: materials include recycled foam, vegan and other non-toxic adhesives and each shoe has a carbon-free rubber sole. Talk about being light on your feet.

Where to Buy Them

The brand-new sneaker line from Rothy’s is offered in sizes 10-4. Available at rothys.com, $55 a pair. If you happen to be in San Francisco, stop by the brick and mortar store located at 2448 Fillmore St. in San Francisco, CA

—Gabby Cullen

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Is “The Sandlot” Getting a TV Reboot—or Not? Here’s What We Know

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 6, 2019

Fans of the 1993 cult classic film will definitely be stoked to hear about The Sandlot reboot—but is it really happening? The future for this ragtag crew is still unclear.

Recently featured as a guest on The Rain Delay podcast, writer-director David Mickey Evans announced that a television series based on The Sandlot was in the works, to debut on an unnamed streaming service platform. This project is different than the prequel Sandlot movie that is already in the works at 20th Century Fox.

https://giphy.com/gifs/90s-the-sandlot-killing-me-smalls-ToMjGpwmhaH6uVd72Ny

“I just sold a Sandlot television show. We’re about to get an order for the first two seasons,” Evans said. “I already got all the original cast members back. It takes place in 1984, when they’re all like 33 years old and they all have children of their own, and that’s all I can tell you.”

Before you get too excited though, Patrick Renna—one of the original film’s stars who played Hamilton “Ham” Porter—tweeted his surprise over the news.

I feel like an NBA player who just found out he was traded… on Twitter. News to me! pic.twitter.com/bloBQLYSiT

— Patrick Renna (@PatrickRenna) March 2, 2019

If he was unaware that a show is the works starring the original cast, then is it really happening? Legends never die, so we can only hope.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: The Sandlot via Facebook

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Why Do We Love Trader Joe’s So Much? It’s All a Clever Mind Game

by Karly WoodFebruary 22, 2019

It turns out, there’s an actual real reason why people love shopping at Trader Joe’s and it’s not just because of those Hawaiian shirts. In a recent interview with Business Insider, psychologist Barry Schwartz discussed the grocer’s uncanny ability to draw in customers in an almost cult-like following.

We’ve long touted the greatness that is Trader Joe’s here at Red Tricycle, so it comes as no surprise that there have been actual, semi-scientific discussions about just what draws people to its doors in droves. Here’s what we found out.

photo: Phillip Pessar via Flickr

For starters, Trader Joe’s has always been about quality over quantity. Its coordinated branding includes simple and fun labeling, not to mention tasty ingredients that go a long way with customers.

While its stores may not carry hundreds of each type of product, the ones they do carry are tried and true. This plays heavily into not only controlling supply costs but also giving customers just enough variety to feel like they have options, but not so many that they can’t make a decision. Needless to say, it’s a solid business model that is ultimately focused on providing the best customer service.

Photo: Daveynin via Flickr.

Trader Joe’s also has the market cornered when it comes to the frozen food aisle. While most of the country’s grocery stores utilize standing freezers with open-and-shut doors that leave the frozen food aisle chilly and uninviting, Trader Joe’s prefers “coffin cases” that are low to the ground and easily accessible.

All those differences make for a warmer shopping experience, not to mention customers who rather enjoy shopping for freezer goods alongside the adjacent non-frozen treats. Instead of the “get in and get out” mentality, patrons can explore products without a blast of cold air in their face.

And about that packaging? It turns out the whimsical hand drawings and catchy descriptions do more than just make the products look good––they also give that human element we all want in life. They make us feel like we need that bag of birthday cake popcorn—even though we just came in for a bag of organic apples.

Checkmate, Trader Joe’s.

––Karly Wood

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9 Classic Cartoons You Can Stream Online

by Gabby CullenApril 18, 2016

During the glory days (in our opinion) of animation, you had to wait until Saturday morning to get your fill of cartoon fun. Now, tech-savvy kids have access to what seems like an unlimited number of shows, and—luckily for you—the cult-favorites are available too. From wascally wabbits to Thundercats, Ho!, here are nine classic cartoon series perfect for streaming with your little people.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

If you were a kid in the early '80s and watched the short-lived but super-popular series, then you were probably the proud owner of the entire Mattel line: He-Man, Skeletor, Man-at-Arms, Battle Cat, The Sorceress, Beast Man, Orko and more. As a parent, you can now appreciate the positive messaging that shines in every episode, while the kid inside will happily re-live all 66 episodes of good versus evil on the planet Eternia. Don’t forget to don your imaginary power sword and declare “By the power of Greyskull!”

Ages 7 & up.

Available on Hulu.com, free with subscription.

photo: redondoself via flickr

What’s your favorite classic cartoon? Share with us in a Comment below!

— Gabby Cullen

ML Interest Tag: cult

The Best Disney+ Shows & Movies for Parents

Drama

The Mandalorian

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & 2

10 Things I Hate About You

Documentaries

The Imagineering Story

One Day at Disney

Free Solo

Throwbacks

The Parent Trap (1961)

The Flight of the Navigator

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Splash

Comedy/Cartoons

The Simpsons

Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?

Musicals

Newsies

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