Over the holiday weekend, I had some time to myself and decided to re-live the past.

I decided to go back and dust off those Disney childhood classics like “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” In my viewings of these Disney masterpieces I realized a few things

that I have never noticed before.

I recognized, especially during “Aladdin,” that I could enjoy these movies on a different level now

that I am older and hopefully a little wiser. I can now appreciate the artistic ability behind Disney animation. I found the style Disney artists used to portray evil characters interesting, as they were able to show emotion so well, and convey a better understanding of the stories.

I know that Disney movie plots are not difficult to follow, but still there is a difference in how you remember the story as a child, and now how you view it now you’re an adult. It takes on a new meaning.

Some of the humor even escapes us as children, like the humor between Genie and Carpet in “Aladdin,” or the quick jokes between Timon and Pumbaa in “The Lion King.”

Certain scenes also have their underlying messages that as a child were never picked up. Like in

“The Lion King” when Scar tells the hyenas his plan to kill Mufasa, the hyenas march by Scar much like those who marched by Hitler during the Nazi regime.

I think the biggest aspect you miss out on when you’re a kid are the songs of early Disney movies.

Songs from movies like “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” and “Beauty and the Beast” are movies that I gained a bigger appreciation for, due to the songs and music in the movie, and the importance they hold in the telling of the story. I always enjoyed the songs as a kid because they were entertaining and fun, but now that I am older, I can step back and see that these songs said and did so much more.

If you are bored on a Sunday night like I was, dust off your favorite childhood movie and give

it a spin in the VCR. Step back and enjoy the simple humor and the stunning animation of classic Disney movies.