Dumbo

This movie is just a classic that has lots of charm.  It's got the precious relationship between a mother and her child, some funny bits, some weird parts, and it is ultimately the story of the underdog triumphing.  It also takes place in the circus, so if you're one of those people that hates clowns, some parts might be a little creepy - even if they are animated!  I do not like Dumbo forced into clown make-up. :(

The strangest part is definitely when Dumbo accidentally drinks alcohol - which seems to have the effect of a hallucinogenic drug.  The whole pink elephants scene is really trippy - both for Dumbo and for those of us watching!  I'm not sure what purpose it serves in the film and I probably could have done without it, but it's certainly become one of the most iconic scenes in Disney animation history.

I love that it's a happy ending, and it works nicely.  Even though Dumbo and his mother go through a lot, everything turns out all right in the end.  They are reunited, and Dumbo is famous for being able to fly.  Speaking of which, I bet this movie is a lot more suspenseful and exciting if you didn't know that Dumbo learns how to fly. However, I feel like that's the big tagline of this movie and even if you hadn't seen it before you probably already knew that piece of information.  And if you didn't, well... sorry I just ruined it for you!

The Music
There are a few classics in terms of music, and a few more forgettable pieces.  The big ones that everyone remembers are "Pink Elephants on Parade" and "When I See an Elephant Fly."  In my personal opinion, the best number is definitely "When I See an Elephant Fly."  There are a few others, such as "Look out for Mr. Stork," which fit in well with the time period but don't have too much lasting value.

The Villain
There's no main villain here, but a few smaller characters that contribute to the problem.  The other elephants are just mean, making fun of Dumbo because he's different.  They are probably the worst, though the clowns and the circus owner are a bit cruel in their own ways.  And the crows also make fun of Dumbo, but no one is particularly villainous.

The WDW Connection
The Dumbo ride is one of the most popular and well known children's rides in all of Disney World.  In addition, it's recently got a makeover as part of the new Fantasyland expansion.  They added a second set of flying elephants, as well as a Big Top and an interactive queue area.  The Casey Jr. train gets some love as well with a splash area created for children.

Becky's rating:  7.5 out of 10
Jason's rating:  8 out of 10