Top 20 Disney Moments That Made Us Happy Cry

“Lilo & Stitch” (2002)
Alien Stitch crash-lands on Kauaʻi, and neither he nor young Lilo know what to make of each other. But the crazy little extra-terrestrial creature forms a bond with Lilo and her older sister, Nani, who runs their household now that their parents have passed away. There are a lot of heavy themes in “Lilo & Stitch,” but it’s ultimately about a found family. When it comes time to return to space and leave them behind, he expresses just what Lilo and Nani represent to him, making us well up. This unit might be small and non-traditional, but so is Stitch.

“Cars” (2006)
Caught in a three-way heat between the veteran Strip “The King” Weathers and the nasty young upstart Chick Hicks, the famed Lightning McQueen is poised to win the race of his career. Chick sabotages King, sending him into a tailspin that effectively takes him out of the game. Lightning is about to take the whole thing, but his time in Radiator Springs has taught him what’s really important. He gives up his chance to win the prized Piston Cup and pushes the King over the finish line. It’s a really rough moment that turns into a great, poignant lesson in humility and compassion.

“Soul” (2020)
In 2020, Disney/Pixar got existential. “Soul” follows Joe Gardner, a pianist determined to become a big-time musician who falls into a coma after an accident. This experience leaves his soul lost between worlds. Joe fights to get back to his life, but first, he must help 22, a soul who needs to find her “spark.” What they finally come to realize is that the whole purpose of life is just that – being alive. Armed with the new knowledge, they leave the Great Beyond and commit to living on earth. It’s pretty intense stuff for a kids movie, but as always, Pixar manages to make it not only accessible, but beautiful to watch.

“Frozen” (2013)
When Princess Anna is brutally betrayed by Prince Hans, this mega-hit takes a turn for the dark. Olaf, the daffy snowman, arrives just in time to help her over to a toasty fire. They both know he’ll melt if he stays with her too long, but “Frozen” proves time and again that it’s not a standard Disney fairy tale. It has a pretty novel take on the healing power of love for the studio who practically invented the happily ever after. He may be a little goofy, but Olaf is right. True love may be the answer they need, but it doesn’t have to be romantic.

“Inside Out 2” (2024)
One of the most gut-wrenching parts of the sequel sees Riley, now a teenager, dealing with mental health issues. Her panic attack during a hockey tryout is shockingly real. Convinced she’s blown her chances at making the team, her personified emotions are working overtime to keep her from shorting out completely with anxiety. But Riley finds a way to center herself as her new Sense of Self forms. Calling Joy to the console, she recovers and thrives. It’s a fitting climax to the story, but it’s also a moving – and helpful – guide to young viewers who may find themselves in a similar situation.

“Turning Red” (2022)
Adolescence is awkward enough. A generational curse where you turn into a giant red panda makes it even harder. That’s Mei’s dilemma in “Turning Red.” She’s already at odds with her mother Ming, and this complicates everything. The Pixar hit uses the curse as an allegory for puberty and menstruation, but the themes go deeper as the story progresses. The generations of women have to heal old wounds to conquer this beast. During a ritual with the others in her family, Mei encounters her mother’s inner child in the spiritual plane. She realizes that her mom had the same tension with Mei’s grandmother, and suddenly, it’s a hard-hitting allegory for generational trauma. Her helping Ming, and everyone growing, has us in tears.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
Quasimodo has spent his whole life trapped in the Notre Dame bell tower by the demented Judge Frollo. He dreams of being accepted by a society that shuns him due to his appearance. After saving Esmeralda from being burned at the stake, she and Phoebus coax him out of the shadows to finally be received by the people of Paris. For a moment, the crowd’s silence is tense. Then, a young girl embraces Quasimodo on the steps of the cathedral, and the music swells. The cheers resound for the city’s new hero, although it might be hard to hear them over your own sobs.

“Moana” (2016)
In this seafaring adventure story, the daughter of a village chief finds that she’s been chosen to restore the powers of a mythical goddess, and save her island from a blight. Her treacherous journey among the gods and demigods ends in triumph, and she sets sail for her home island. With the forces of the ocean on her side, Moana returns. It’s a monumental moment, worthy of the legends she’s encountered. Her parents’ emotions are palpable as they hold her again, and it’s hard to not feel all fuzzy inside as everyone turns out to welcome her home.

“Coco” (2017)
With all its moments of intergenerational contact and ancestors in the great beyond, “Coco” is sure to wring the tears out of you. But one of its most profound and beautiful moments is near the end. Miguel returns from his trip to the afterlife, having met his disgraced great-great-grandfather Héctor. He sings Héctor’s song to his elderly and unwell great-grandmother, Coco. For the first time, she becomes animated enough to reminisce about her dad, ensuring that his spirit will not be forgotten in the afterlife. Watching the family come together and finally remember the man they (wrongly) thought abandoned them is unforgettably gorgeous.

“Up” (2009)
Carl is a recent widower who never went on the big, South American adventure he and his wife dreamed of. Having flown his whole house to the continent with just a bunch of balloons, he’s come face to face with his idol, an adventurer who turns out to be a crooked criminal. Downtrodden and taking refuge in memories of his wife, he finds a message she left him that allows him to move on for good. They may not have ever gone on the adventure they thought, but their life together was one worth remembering. It makes her passing in the movie’s famous opening montage sting a little less. It’s all enough to turn on the waterworks for us.

“The Princess and the Frog” (2009)
It’s hard not to get attached to this sparky little Cajun firefly as he guides Tiana and Naveen through the bayou; his know-how and sense of humor make him instantly loveable. Plus, his romance with Evangeline the star just melts your heart, especially since it’s clearly not meant to be. That’s why it’s absolutely heartbreaking when the Shadow Man kills Ray. However, just when all seems lost, everyone looks to the sky to see him join his belle Evangeline. What’s even more touching is it looks as if the two stars are holding hands. What were once tears of sadness turn to tears of joy as we realize the impossible love of Ray and Evangeline is actually meant to be.

“Finding Dory” (2016)
Her name is Dory and she suffers from short-term memory loss. This is the mantra Dory repeats to herself, even after she loses – and forgets – her parents. So when she suddenly remembers she has a family, the film becomes an emotional rollercoaster as she tracks one memory after another to find them. When she follows the seemingly random line of shells to her parents, you can’t help but feel joy when she finally discovers them. It gets even more emotional when Dory learns that they waited all those years in the same spot, hoping one day their “kelpcake” would find them. They’re so proud of her when she does, it’s hard to stop the tears.

“Mulan” (1998)
She left home and joined the army to bring honor to us all. Born into a society that values sons over daughters, Mulan struggles to show that she can be just as valuable without conforming to the domestic roles she clearly isn’t good at. That’s why she gets down to business to defeat the Huns and then lays her spoils of war at her father’s feet. By doing all of that, Mulan hopes to show she could be someone her family can be proud of. The tears finally well up when Fa Zhou tosses the items aside, without even looking at them, and embraces his daughter, telling her he was always proud of her.

“Inside Out” (2015)
For one reason or another, we’ve all buried what we’re really feeling deep down inside us. And that’s exactly why this scene strikes a cord with so many of us. It’s the moment where Riley comes home after trying to run away. She breaks down in tears and tells her parents that she doesn’t like San Francisco as she’d led them to believe, but really misses home. To Riley’s surprise, though, her parents let her know that she’s not alone in her homesickness; they also miss the home where she made so many of her childhood memories. In that moment, Riley learns that it’s okay to be sad, and Sadness and Joy finally learn to work together.

“The Little Mermaid” (1989)
We have to assume that most dads would at least lose their tempers if their daughter wanted to change species to be with a guy. So is Triton blowing up Eric’s statue and yelling at Ariel for loving him really that much of an overreaction? However, when Eric saves Ariel from Ursula, Triton realizes that this fish eater might not be such a bad guy. To show his daughter how much he loves her, Triton gives Ariel her legs back so she can be part of that world. It’s a sweet father-daughter moment where dad realizes that his little girl is growing up and ready to leave the cove. Really, all he wants is for her to be happy.

“Aladdin” (1992)
It turns out that Genie ain’t never had a friend like Aladdin. Genie is all ready to turn Aladdin back into a prince. That’s why Aladdin’s third wish catches him completely off guard, even though Aladdin promised Genie his freedom when they met. It’s a gift that’s worth more than the world to Genie, but one he’s unlikely to receive – or so he thought. Genie’s excitement and disbelief at his newfound freedom are enough to warm even the coldest of hearts. The fact that Aladdin gives up his chance at true love and royalty to end his friend’s eternal servitude makes it even more touching. Aladdin’s final wish gives Genie a whole new world and a whole new life.

“WALL-E” (2008)
EVE and Wall-E are two robots that will make you believe in humanity again. Wall-E’s so persistently positive that he even wears EVE down and basically teaches a fellow robot to love. When he gets electrocuted and crushed, you can’t help but pray she’ll make it to Earth in time to save him. But when Wall-E reboots, he doesn’t remember EVE or anything else beyond his job. It’s tear jerking to watch as she and the cockroach try to jog his memory with no success. When EVE’s just about to give up, Wall-E suddenly remembers, holds hands with EVE, and calls her name. Cue the happy tears.

“Tangled” (2010)
It would seem that mother doesn’t always know best, especially when that mother isn’t actually your mother. Honestly, it’s pretty upsetting to see Rapunzel’s abusive relationship with Mother Gothel, especially since Rapunzel’s loving parents have spent 18 years looking for their child by releasing the lanterns, desperately hoping she’s still alive. It’s devastating to see the king and queen’s faces as they’re about to release the lanterns because it’s clear the loss of their baby still affects them as deeply as it did so many years ago. So when mother, father, and daughter are reunited, you can’t help but smile that Rapunzel’s found the family she deserves and her parents have finally got their daughter back.

“The Lion King” (1994)
It’s a song that moves us all. It’s so iconic; everyone belts out the first words, even if they have no clue what they’re saying. “Circle of Life” is a perfect soundtrack for the scene where a newborn Simba takes his place in the circle of life. The musical buildup is intense, and the visuals are equally impressive, showing us the members of the Pride Lands coming together to celebrate this momentous birth. And when that title card pops onto the screen, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come. It’s only fitting that the song comes back at the end of the film, when Simba and Nala welcome a bundle of joy of their own.

“Toy Story 3” (2010)
Bring on the nostalgia. This third installment of the “Toy Story” franchise definitely hits you right in the childhood. Whether it’s Woody and the gang being accidentally given away, or Lotso’s story, or the incinerator, this movie certainly has its ups and downs. But when Andy gives his toys to Bonnie, it’s hard to tell if you should cry or smile. On the one hand, it’s great that the toys have a new home where they’ll be treated well. On the other hand, they’re leaving Andy after having spent his entire childhood with him. If you weren’t crying earlier in the movie, then Woody’s “so long, partner” will certainly send you over the edge, as Andy and his toys part ways.

Did these Disney moments give you all the feels? Let us know in the comments.