When it comes to purchasing a gift for a child, many people are not aware of what size that child wears or if they will like a toy selected for them. Another factor is price. When many children are involved, it can be quite expensive to have to purchase multiple presents. The solution is to give a holiday G-rated DVD that all members of the family can enjoy. To make it easy, I have included three suggested titles that are great holiday movies from Disney, and a short summary on each one.
In Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, Mickey, Minnie and their good friends Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto star in this delightful movie about the Magic of Christmastime. The first selection, Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Donald’s nephews, wish that Christmas was not just one day but every day. When this begins to happen over and over again, the boys regret making their wish. Hoping to change their wish, the nephews cause mischief and havoc on Christmas Day. Eventually, the true meaning of Christmas is discovered by them. They decide that Christmas is a time to be treasured to last all year and hearts that we touch and the care that we share. Christmas is a special, magical day to be celebrated only one day a year.
In the second cartoon, A Very Goofy Christmas, Goofy and his son Max are writing a letter to Santa and hoping that it gets to Santa on time. Mr. Pete, their next door neighbor, tries to break the Christmas spirit by telling Max there is no such person as Santa Claus. Goofy tells Max “that you just gotta believe in Christmas Magic!” In the end, Max learns the true meaning of Christmas that if we care for each other, our dreams will come true.
In the final selection, Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi, Mickey and Minnie work very hard to find each other a perfect gift for Christmas. With very little money and too many bills, each tries to solve this age old problem at Christmas time. Minnie wants to get a case to hold Mickey’s treasured golden harmonica. Mickey wants to get Minnie a gold necklace for her heirloom watch. In the end, each gives up their most cherished possession to buy a perfect present which is truly a gift from the heart.
The next DVD suggested is titled, Walt Disney’s Classic Cartoon Favorites – Volume 9 Classic Holiday Stories, and contains three selections including The Small One, Pluto’s Christmas Tree, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol. In The Small One, a boy is faced with the dilemma to sell one of the family’s donkeys. The donkey is old and small and he cannot pull his share of the work load. The boy’s father tells his son to sell the donkey in town for one piece of silver. The boy is sad in having to sell his favorite donkey but knows his father is right. There is just not enough food at home to feed all the animals. When the boy reaches town and tries to sell the small donkey, he encounters only mean and cruel people who wish to harm the donkey. Eventually, a man approaches the boy who is looking for a small, gentle donkey to carry his wife to Bethlehem. He promises the boy he will take good care of the donkey and gives the boy one piece of silver. The boy is happy that the little donkey has a new and loving family.
Next, the Disney classic cartoon feature Pluto’s Christmas Tree, Mickey and Pluto are out in the woods in search of the perfect Christmas tree to cut down and bring home. Unknown to them, two unwanted guests have come home inside of their perfect tree. Chip and Dale cause quite a stir unscrewing Christmas tree lights and driving poor Pluto crazy in trying to catch these pests. In the end, Chip and Dale join Mickey and Pluto in sharing the holiday spirit of Christmas joy.
The final selection Mickey’s Christmas Carol, is an adaptation of the beloved story A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens. Mickey plays the role of the long suffering Bob Cratchet who is working for the tyrant Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck). Scrooge is greedy, miserly and selfish and will not change his ways even when the ghost of his long dead partner, Jacob Marley (Goofy) warns him of his ways. Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve and learns the true spirit of generosity, kindness and good will towards men. Scrooge shows Mickey, Minnie and their children that he can change and make things better for their family.
While the above choices make excellent, timeless gifts, the newest DVD is titled, Walt Disney’s Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas and contains chapter selections such as: Belles on Ice, Christmas Impossible, Christmas Maximus, Donald’s Gift, and Mickey’s Dog – Gone Christmas. This is Disney’s new computer animated cartoon movie and features Mickey, Minnie and their pals along with Santa celebrating the joy of Christmas. This original Disney movie is vibrant with bright colors not seen in previous holiday classics.
In Belles on Ice, Minnie and Daisy are competing in an ice skating contest. Each one tries to out do the other in skating. Their jumps and acrobatic routines get out of hand causing hurt feelings and embarrassment. In the end, Minnie and Daisy discover that being friends is more important than winning a contest.
Next is the selection Christmas Impossible, Scrooge warns Huey, Dewey and Louie if they don’t quit being so selfish they won’t end up on Santa’s good list. Not wanting to be left off the list and not get any toys at Christmas, Huey, Dewey and Louie go to the North Pole to find Santa’s good list and write their names on it. Trouble and chaos happen in Santa’s Toy Shop with the three mischief makers selfishly looking for the list. In the end, the boys learn about Christmas Magic to think of others and not yourselves.
Another selection, Christmas Memories, a grown up Max, Goofy’s son, wants to make a good impression of his girlfriend Mona when he brings her home to meet his dad. Max is embarrassed about his dad Goofy and the silly traditions that he has for Christmas. Max does not like his dad making a fuss over him in front of Mona. But in the end, Max and Goofy see heart to heart and share the wonderful joy of the season along with Mona.
Later in Donald’s Gift, Donald doesn’t like Christmas and everywhere he goes it reminds him of the season. From the decorations to the shopping to the festivities, Donald gives Daisy a hard time being mean and cranky. In the end, Donald softens his heart and learns to enjoy the season with his family.
In the final selection Mickey’s Dog Gone Christmas, Mickey is overly decorating the inside of his house for the Christmas party that evening. Pluto tries to help by putting the star on top of the Christmas tree. Pluto accidentally knocks the tree down and causes a disaster with the lights and decorations. Mickey is mad and tells Pluto to get out and go outside to his dog house. Pluto runs away to the North Pole and plays with Santa’s reindeers. Mickey discovers his dog is missing and looks for him everywhere. Mickey goes to a department store and finds a Santa there. Mickey tells Santa how wrong he was for making Pluto run away. His only wish for Christmas is to have his beloved dog back home. Santa delivers Pluto from the North Pole to Mickey’s loving arms. Mickey learns that boughs and holly mean nothing without what’s close to your heart, Pluto his dog and companion.
No matter which movie you chose, or perhaps even purchase all three, children are sure to enjoy the Disney holiday classics that we have all grown up with, and parents will be happy that their child received a quality gift.
