[Review] “The Disney Family Sing-Along”: The Magic is Still Real

As the pandemic rages on, keeping many of us under lockdown well beyond the time we expected, there is an influx of new normals. Increased delivery orders, overflowing amazon carts, and celebrity singing videos. Admittedly, I have rolled my eyes pretty hard at most of them. It is probably unfair to judge celebrities too harshly. They are just as bored as the rest of us and these videos are their creative outlet. Granted, their lockdown experience is vastly more comfortable than ours so it’s easy to tire of them singing on the internet. Which is why it’s so surprising that “The Disney Family Sing-Along” is so perfect.

In a time when joy and magic seem lost, “The Disney Family Sing-Along” is overflowing with both.

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest and packed with high profile celebrities and some incredible broadway stars, both parts take us through some of the most famous Disney classics. For those of us at home, we simply follow the bouncing Mickey ball and let the child like wonder consume us. As Disney has continued to dominate the box office with the likes of Marvel Studios and “Star Wars,” we tend to forget the music that has made the House of Mouse a staple of many childhoods.

There are too many appearances and celebrities to name here, so I will attempt to categorize the performances overall. The first category is easily the most enjoyable; celebrities that have the most fun with their songs. Whether it’s Juilianne and Derek Hough turning their living room into a dance hall with “Be Our Guest” and “Step-N-Time,” or Donny Osmond reprising his role for “Lets Get Down to Business” with his grandkids- these are the moments that truly embrace what these Disney songs mean to us. It’s hard not to feel happy, something I think many of us could use right now.

The second category are the celebrities that seem to take their assignments more seriously. Although they are still performed beautifully, it’s hard to sing along with Ben Platt and Idina Menzel absolutely crushing “A Whole New World.” It’s these kinds of performances that are much more of a viewing experience than a sing along. It kind of defeats the purpose of having the family sing along with familiar faces, but it’s still an experience worth having.

“The Disney Family Sing-Along” is a truly magical event, one that I actually hope continues. I never thought I would want more celebrities singing Disney songs, but it was a delightful break from the outpouring of sad news and I think we could all use that right now. Whether you have kids or not, this event can spark joy in everyone. That is the true magic of Disney, the ability to unite everyone to embrace the Bear Necessities and forget about the worry and the strife for an hour.

So don your favorite Disney shirt, throw on your mouse ears, fire up the popcorn and sing your heart out. A little Hakuna Matata in your living room can’t hurt. It may not be for the rest of your days, but a worry free hour is worth it.

Parts 1 and 2 are available now on ABC.com, the ABC app, and Disney+.