
Disney Movie Nights – they are just traditional. They usually involve pj’s, favorite snacks, blankets & stuffed friends. But, in changing times, there is a new concept of movie night…themed movie nights. I love this concept for so many reasons. It is more than just watching a movie. You can include themed activities, food, & decorations. Our whole family becomes involved. From planning, to decorating, to clean-up, it is a true example of teamwork & a great bonding experience.
Who doesn’t love the story of Sleeping Beauty? It’s always been a favorite of mine, there’s a beautiful princess, and a brave prince. I adore Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and Disney’s most popular villain-Maleficent. Let’s enjoy Aurora’s fairytale once more before Maleficent opens in theaters on May 30th.
Decorations
- You don’t have to choose between honoring Briar Rose or Aurora with your table setting – combine them. Use a gray tablecloth with a pink runner. You can use black plates with pink napkins and placemats. The Paper Roses you make from the Activities section can adorn each place setting.
- Search the house for any woodland animal figurines and place them strategically around the room. You can even use animal toys the kids don’t play with, they look really great painted with silver spray paint made for plastics. If you happen to have a Raven in your Halloween decoration box that would be a great nod to Maleficent.
- As always, bring out the Sleeping Beauty dolls and plush, and of course wear you Aurora costume to the festivities.
- Be sure to showcase the family coat of arms the kids make from the Activities section. These would make great refrigerator art or you can frame them in shadow boxes.
Activities
- Paper Roses from IdunnGoddess are fun and easy to make, and you can use them as table décor as well.
- I love the beautiful Sleeping Beauty book in the opening of the movie. Look through your craft supplies and have the kids embellish one of their story books. They will take pride in their new (old) book they decorated and will (hopefully) make them want to read it more often.
- Have your kids create a Coat of Arms for your family. There are several great blank templates at Karen’s Whimsy to choose from. Provide crayon, markers, glitter, sticker, rhinestones, ect. and let their imagination run wild. Remind them that the coat of arms should show represent the entire family. It’s fun to see how the ideas vary from child to child. They can also double as great decorations for your Disney Family Movie Adventure Night.
Food
Sleeping Beauty is believed to be set in France so this is a great time to introduce your kids to some new tastes.
- Start with French Onion Soup. Kids will love the melted cheese on top!
- Croque Monsieur would make a great entrée for the kids! Simply put it’s a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, but you can top it with an egg or tomatoes if the kids are adventurous eaters.
- The French love their bread (yum!) so be sure to include some French baguettes and croissants with butter and jam and maybe some warm Brie.
- You can finish the meal with some crepes with berries and whipped cream. These sweet, thin pancakes are easier to make than you think, try this recipe from Martha Stewart.
Have a great time with this movie & let us know what you did to make your Adventure special! Have a movie suggestion for us? Leave a comment Be sure to post any photos on our DDL FB Group & link up below if you have a blog post about this.
If you’ve seen me on the web you already know there’s nothing I love more than planning Disney parties, but I love everything Disney from the history to the theme parks to the movies. I also have a true passion for planning Disney vacations as a travel professional for WDW Guru Travel. I can sometimes be sarcastic, but always helpful, and a mostly entertaining Disney Fanatic!! A true Alabama girl, born and raised, I live with my husband, Mike, and son, Dakota on a 150 acre farm in Troy that’s been in my husband’s family since before the Civil War. My daughter, Ashley, lives in Clarksville, TN with her husband, Eric, and their kids Lexi & Tripp. If you we ever get to meet in person, you will find a genuine Southern accent, the overuse of affectionate terms like “Honey”, “Sugar”, and “Darlin” and an uncontrollable need to dote over everybody.