I’m trying so hard not to fart right now… (Picture: Disney)

It’s Valentine’s Day and, if I were a true romantic, I’d be focusing on all the times Disney movies made our hearts swell with magic carpet rides and princes whisking our heroines into the sunset on horseback.

That’s not real life though is it?

But Disney aren’t completely out of touch with how romance, love and relationships actually work.

Here are 20 times when Disney pretty much nailed real life love matters.


1. Men pretend to be something they’re not to impress the ladies (Aladdin)

(Picture: Moviestore Collection/REX)

Al needed the Genie’s powers to transform him into the Prince he is not.



How many times has that bloke on Tinder claimed to be a high performing lawyer when actually he just sweeps the court cafeteria?

2. Being woken by a kiss is the best chance of passion (Sleeping Beauty)

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of cheeky morning passion?

It was the wake up snog that finally put the life back into Sleeping Beauty.

3. Ladies love a rogue (Robin Hood)

She may have been well to do herself, but Maid Marion was simply gushing every time Robin Hood was firing off arrows and crossing swords with a Prince.

Admit it, ladies, the edge of danger is THE ultimate turn on.

4. Impressing the in laws will always be daunting (Pocahontas)

All of us guys have felt John Smith’s terror when meeting a disapproving dad for the first time. *GULP*

5. Men do not take hints (The Little Mermaid)

Ariel couldn’t have made it clearer that she was into Prince Eric.

The whole of the ocean even sang a song ordering him to kiss her and the penny didn’t drop.

Yep, subtlety is a thing lost on us guys, sadly.

6. Hiding a member of the opposite sex in the wardrobe (Tangled)

Oh no, my mum’s home, HIDE! Yep, been there.

Granted, it was all quite innocent for Rapunzel, but it didn’t half bring back teenage memories.

7. If you take your girl out on the town, expect to carry her shoes home (Cinderella)

It doesn’t mater how much your bae assures you her lovely, high shoes feel fine, you WILL have to take them back home for her whilst she hobbles and moans.

Just ask Prince Charming.

8) Relationships always have a dominant force (Bambi)

Thumper meeting his female rabbit in mating season meant his foot stomping days were numbered.

Talk about being under the Thump. (sorry)

9. It just takes ONE sultry look (The Jungle Book)

Right at the end of The Jungle Book, a rather clumsy girl gave Mowgli just one flirty glance and he was putty in her hands, picking up her dropped pot and following her aimlessly.

Sounds about right.

10. Arguments will be regular and unwinnable (Beauty and the Beast)

‘Why does she have to be so difficult!?’ exclaimed the Beast as he tried to coax Belle out of her room for dinner.



His incredulous face to his servants as he failed to win the argument is one we have all pulled at some point in a relationship.

11. Passenger seat drivers (Frozen)

Whether it’s in the car or in a sledge/snow cart, the partner in the passenger seat always knows better, right Anna?

How Kristoff kept his cool is beyond me.

12. Nothing beats animal attraction (Tarzan)

We’re all cavemen and women at heart.

It didn’t matter that Tarzan grunted to communicate, had never encountered shampoo and probably had the worst B.O. known to man, sometimes you just need that grubby, animal magnetism driven passion.

13. Hard to get = more attractive (Hercules)

Meg couldn’t have been less impressed with show off Herc (boy, do I know that one!?) so why does this stand offish attitude make you fall in love with them even harder?

Who knows, but it does.

Luckily, Hercules managed to impress in the end thanks, in part, to his saving her from the clutches of The Lord Of The Underworld (aka James Woods).

14. The posh ones like a bit of rough (The Rescuers)

Money bags Bianca could have had her pick but she chose janitor Bernard as her partner in adventures and, later, love.

A classic tale of when the posh bird slums it.

15. When the kids come along, romance is over (101 Dalmations)

Everything was so good for Pongo and Perdita.

Walks in the park and romance were all the rage.

Then the sprogs came along.


A life of noise, demands for food and a little bit of kidnap ensued.

Damn you kids, can we not just have ONE weekend for us?

16. Horseplay and play fighting IS flirting (The Lion King)

All those proclamations of ‘eww like I’d fancy her!’ are signs that you really are meant to be.

Simba and Nala pinned each other down as kids.

After doing the same thing as adults, it was the start of something beautiful.

17. Someone has to be house trained (Snow White)

Snow White lived with seven men (oh, you tart!) and still had to do all the cleaning and cooking herself.

Sound familiar, anyone?

18. Age gaps don’t work (Peter Pan)

Peter refused to grow up which meant that any chance with Wendy was lost in a sprinkle of fairy dust.

Nothing worse than dating someone who is your inferior in the maturity stakes is there?

19. A way to someone’s heart is through their stomach (Lady and the Tramp)

The ultimate aphrodisiac is food and a decent meal will bring even the most frosty couples together.

And all it takes is a shared plate of spaghetti and meatballs.

20. Love is beautiful (Up!)

The marriage montage from this wonderful Disney flick proved in a handful of scenes that it isn’t the dragon fighting and waking from death with kisses that makes a loving gesture.

It’s the everyday moments spent together day in and day out. Awww.