Disney: Entertainment for Children and Adults

Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Jungle Book, Aladdin, the Lion King, Frozen – Disney has been responsible for this endless parade of cinematic masterpieces. The Anaheim, California-based company is still one of the world's biggest children's cartoon studios, and also offers a massive selection of toys, TV shows, and games for their fans to enjoy.

A World of Amusement With Disney Movies, Toys and More

The Disney story started in 1901, when Walt Disney was born. Beginning in the late 1920s, Disney created some of the most famous cartoon characters in history – with the best-known of all being Mickey Mouse, whose popularity spread all over the world.

In the 1930s, the studio moved away from shorter cartoons, focusing on creating feature length animated films – something that no American company had done before. The result was a string of classics, stretching from Snow White in 1934, to Peter Pan in 1953. They also started making conventional movies, with a child-friendly twist, including favourites like Mary Poppins.

The 1950s also saw Disney branching out into the world of amusement parks, opening Walt Disneyland in 1955, then Walt Disney World in the late 1960s. The company had become a global entertainment provider, with fans on every continent, and they have continued to create popular films.

The 70s and 80s saw some problems for Disney, as cinema audiences dipped, but the company returned in the 90s with classics like Aladdin and the Little Mermaid, as well as a string of Pixar films, including Toy Story.

Computer games, toys, new movies, EuroDisney, Disney Stores – expansion continued, and today the company remains a market-leading entertainment giant.

What Kinds of Products Do Disney Sell?

These days, you can buy a huge range of Disney products. Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the HotUKDeals Disney listings:

• Movies– DVDs, Blu-rays and cinema tickets for new Disney releases and classics (see more on movies below).

• Clothing – Stock up on Disney branded t-shirts, coats, jackets, dresses, skirts, as well as costumes of your favourite Disney characters.

• Toys – Includes figurines, board games, jigsaw puzzles, soft toys, vehicles and sets.

• Homeware – Disney also sells plenty of table cloths, curtains, bedding and towels – ideal for furnishing a child's bedroom or playroom.

• Collectibles – Every single Disney film and TV show has its own collectible merchandise, including items like snow globes, buttons, pins, clocks and even animation cells from some of the iconic films.

• Computer games – Disney products high-quality children's games for PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation and smartphones.

• DisneyLife – Disney also has an own online membership platform where you can enjoy the "Unlimited Disney Magic". It contains in one single subscription the biggest collection of digital Disney movies which you can download and watch on up to 10 compatible devices. Furthermore, you can stream Live TV shows from Disney Junior, Disney and the Disney Channel and get 10% discount at the Disney Store.

• Download the DisneyLife app for Android

• Download the DisneyLife app for iOS

How to Buy Disney Movies and TV Shows

The core of Disney's business continues to be movies and TV. Here's a quick guide to some of the most popular products to be found on the Disney HotUKDeals listings:

• Beauty and the Beast – Choose from the incredibly popular 1991 animated version, or the 2017 version starring Emma Watson.

• Cinderella – The timeless story of a common girl who has the opportunity to meet a prince, and the efforts of her wicked sisters to thwart her romantic chances. The animated version came out in 1950, while a live action version was released in 2015.

• The BFG – Roald Dahl's immensely popular children's book was turned into a hit movie in 2016, and is available on DVD and Blu-ray.

• Zootopia – A rip-roaring crime caper set in a world solely populated by animal characters, Zootopia was a smash hit in 2016.

• Finding Nemo and Finding Dory – Set underseas in a land populated by fish, the Finding Nemo movies are always popular with young children.

• Inside Out – A brilliant animated film dealing with the emotions experienced by a young girl, Inside Out was a critical and box office hit and can be purchased on DVD and Blu-ray.

• Cars – Another huge hit, Cars was a Pixar creation (like Toy Story) and told the story of a community of charismatic cars living in the American desert. A sequel followed soon after, and a third film is arriving in 2017.

• The Pirates of the Caribbean – An ever-popular swashbuckling series starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, Pirates of the Caribbean has gone through four instalments and is due for another adventure in 2017.

• Toy Story – The entire Toy Story saga is a Disney franchise, so if you want to relive the world of Buzz Lightyear and Woody, snap up a box set.

• Frozen – One of the most successful children's movie ever released, Frozen has spawned a massive selection of merchandise and music, along with an appealing Blu-ray package.

That's just a small sampling of the films produced by Disney. You could add many more family favourites, including The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, Fantasia, Snow White, Dumbo, Pinocchio, 101 Dalmations, Lady and the Tramp, and Up.

There's also a packed schedule of releases in 2017, from Cars 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales to a sequel for the Incredibles and Wreck It Ralph 2. So check the listings when new releases arrive, and you may well discover big cinema discounts.

However, Disney isn't just about movies. They also run the Disney Channel and produce plenty of television content. For example, on the Disney Channel you can watch popular shows like Hannah Montana, Girl Meets World, Mickey Mouse, and Harriet the Spy, as well as original movies and repeats of popular shows from the past.

If you'd like to sign up for the Disney Channel, you can access it via Sky's subscription services (or NOW TV), or Virgin Media. Alternatively, you can use IPTV to watch it with TalkTalk, BT YouView or PlusNet.

Beauty and the Beast: Official Trailer

Merchandise from Your Favourite Disney Franchise

For kids, shopping with Disney isn't really about watching the movies so much as identifying with the characters and brands they love. For every Disney franchise, you'll find a huge range of merchandise. Just take a few franchises, for example:

• Cars – Look out for the DVDs and Blu-rays, as well as toy vehicles, remote controlled cars, crayon sets, activity books, towels, pyjamas, drinks bottles, notebooks, pens, and even swimming trunks.

• Frozen – Keep your eyes peeled to snap up bargains for Kristof, Anna and Elsa dolls and costumes, collectible plates, shoes, bikinis, pyjamas, figurines, trolley cases, playsets, hooded sweatshirts, dolls, towels and sunglasses – among many other products.

As you can see, each movie or TV show has its own range of merchandise. You can purchase all of them in person at Disney Stores (search for your local outlet on their website), or shop online via the Disney Store website. Whichever option you go for, avoid paying face value for gifts by taking advantage of the vouchers and discount codes at HotUKDeals. Disney's products are great fun for kids, but they can be a little expensive (particularly when kids become obsessed with a particular character).

Help Your Children Dress Up as their Favourite Disney Characters

Sometimes, kids aren't happy until they look just like their favourite Disney characters. Whether your children want to look like a Disney princess or a character from Toy Story, Disney's online store offers a massive range of costumes.

Costumes on offer include Marvel characters like Doctor Strange, Spiderman and the Guardians of the Galaxy. There are familiar figures from Disney's animated films like Mowgli, Elsa, Cinderella, Belle and Aladdin. And there are other characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Winnie the Pooh (and even characters from the Star Wars universe).

If your daughter really wants to take the royal route, check out the Disney Princess section at the company's store. It's a great place to find dresses, shoes, tiaras, cosmetics and accessories like tea sets – everything they will need to recreate scenes in the films they love.

Disney Games Selection

Disney have also cottoned onto the rise of computer gaming, creating a thriving range of Xbox, PS4, PC, Mac and Smartphone titles. Some of the most impressive and popular include:

• Fantasia: Music Evolved – A live action music title for Xbox One and Xbox 360 systems, which recreates the stunning universe of Fantasia, asking players to move their bodies in certain rhythms to unlock further content.

• Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure – A multi-system extravaganza, My Fairytale Adventure allows players to take the role of an authentic Disney princess in a role-playing game environment.

• Duck Tales: Remastered – Released in 2013 for Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, Windows and smartphones, this was an excellent new version of Duck Tales, one of the finest titles on the SNES and Megadrive in the early 1990s.

• Disney Infinity 3.0 – Infinity could be Disney's flagship video game. Categorised as a sandbox title, like Minecraft, Infinity 3.0 is based around the Star Wars franchise, allowing players to take control of the series most popular characters across a range of missions. Infinity 2.0 featured Marvel characters, while the first Infinity featured a collection of Pixar and Disney characters. All of the Infinity games are available for Windows PCs, while the latest comes in a PS4 and Xbox One version. They also all work with PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, and you should be able to pick up all three in combination deals.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Official Trailer

Join the Adventure at Disney's Theme Parks

Disney doesn't just sell things, it also sells experiences. If you want to join your favourite characters and experience adrenaline-pumping rides, you might want to plan a visit to Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida or Walt Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

If you'd like to purchase tickets, you have a couple of options, but turning up on the day without a ticket isn't one of them. Instead, book via agencies like Travel Republic, or check our listings for the individual Disney theme parks and you'll find plenty of deals from travel merchants like Thomson.

The Best Disney Deals

Whether you need to purchase a Toy Story box set or you want to find the cheapest place to buy a Frozen DVD, the first place to look for Disney discounts is always HotUKDeals.

You'll find a never-ending stream of offers on DVDs, games, cinema tickets, merchandise, costumes and travel, including all of the biggest savings from the Disney Store along with other UK merchants like Argos, Tesco, Thomson, Home Bargains, Smyths, Sainsbury's and HMV.

With so many different retailers represented, our listings offer you the ideal opportunity to shop around to find the best price.

If you are looking for DVDs or games, it might also be a good idea to shop around Black Friday and Cyber Monday (in November), when Disney gets their festive sales push under way. And look out for film offers when new releases are announced. Disney often discounts previous episodes as a way to promote their cinema releases.

In any case, keep your eyes on the stream of Disney offers at HotUKDeals and you can purchase children's gifts at the lowest possible price.

Huge Disney Discounts at HotUKDeals

Disney is responsible for some of the most popular children's movies ever: from Dumbo to Toy Story and from Frozen to Snow White. If your kids adore Disney's creations, you can find huge savings on DVDs, cinema tickets, merchandise and even trips to theme parks abroad on the Disney HotUKDeals listings.