Last night, while on our annual Las Vegas vacation, we escaped the desert heat and ducked into a cool theater to see the new Lilo & Stitch live-action movie. It was just the four of us: Mike, me, our 9-year-old daughter Zuzu, and Taylor—who is now 24 but was just a baby when the original movie was released.
This story has always held a special place in my heart. I vividly remember planning our very first trip to Disney World back in 2001 when Taylor was just a toddler. Back then, making dining reservations meant calling a real person and waiting on hold—sometimes for what felt like forever. The hold music? Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, from Lilo & Stitch.
The original cartoon movie hadn’t even been officially released yet so, that song was new to me at the time, and after hearing it on repeat during those long waits, I grew to love it. Now, more than 20 years later, that same song instantly transports me back to that magical trip—my first Disney adventure with my own little family.
There’s something so special about taking your babies to Disney when they’re small enough to sit in a stroller and time seems to move a little more slowly. I adored those quiet moments—rocking them during the slower, dark rides or watching their wide-eyed wonder as they met characters (even if they were a little scared). I go to Disney for the magical vibes and am perfectly fine sitting with the baby while others go on the rides. In fact, those moments are usually the ones I remember with fondness.
Quick tip from a seasoned Disney mom: when posing babies with characters, always keep the character in the child’s line of sight. It helps ease their nerves and makes for a much happier photo!
So yes, for me, Lilo & Stitch is more than just a movie. It’s woven into the fabric of one of my favorite parenting memories.
As for the new film? It’s absolutely adorable—and surprisingly emotional. I found myself tearing up more than once. I watched Zuzu giggle out loud and completely fall in love with Stitch. Even Taylor choked up a couple of times. It was sweet to watch both my girls, now at such different stages of life, enjoy the same story together.
Set against the backdrop of Hawaii, the movie is full of sunshine, surf, and those easygoing vacation vibes that feel especially dreamy for us Midwesterners. Seeing it while on vacation ourselves just made it that much more special.
If you’re looking for a feel-good, family-friendly movie that truly spans generations, I can’t recommend this one enough. And yes—that song made me want to plan another Disney trip immediately. Like, yesterday.