10 Greatest Disney "I Want" Songs, Ranked

The "I Want" song is a type of song often seen in musicals. It boils down to the moment where the protagonists explain the goal they aspire to achieve by the end of the story, and thus tend to be very emotionally charged and wistful in tone. Sometimes, side-characters can get the "I Want" song, but the result and the song's role in the story are the same.

Many of cinema's most famous "I Want" songs come from Disney, which has a long history of pumping out animated musicals that change the face of popular culture. Their best examples demonstrate how malleable an "I Want" song can be, as each one manages to feel distinct and like it cannot be removed from its respective film, thus keeping audiences invested despite, at its core, each one being about the same basic idea. This list will rank the all-time best "I Want" songs in Disney's catalog, proving that the House of Mouse has perfected the formula to a tee.

10 "I've Got a Dream" - 'Tangled' (2010)

Tangled began its life as a 2D movie, but morphed into a 3D one through its lengthy and costly production. The shift turned out to work for the better, as the movie became a box-office success, with praise especially given to the animation and music. While "When Will My Life Begin" is the more traditional "I Want" song from the movie, there's another one sung midway through by the patrons of the Snuggly Duckling, as they share their respective hopes and dreams.

"I've Got a Dream" is such a fun song that contrasts the rough and rugged cut-throats with their rather sweet and innocent desires, be it finding love, interior design, or collecting ceramic unicorns. It fits beautifully into the movie's core message about following your dreams, and it's hard not to get swept up in the moment as more and more of the patrons open up. It also manages to slip in some genuinely funny moments, such as Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) being forced at swordpoint to join in.

9 "Go the Distance" - 'Hercules' (1997)

Hercules was originally created as an obligation for directors John Musker and Ron Clements before they could direct their dream project, Treasure Planet. Still, they put their all into the movie, presenting a unique take on Greek mythology that blended the classic stories with parallels to professional athletes, bright colors, and Gospel music. It also has a pretty effective use of the Hero's Journey, as established during the song "Go the Distance," sung by a young Hercules (Roger Bart).

The song starts strong with some powerful horns that set the tone for an epic journey, which the rest of the song lives up to. After starting slowly and wistfully as Hercules sings about finding where he belongs, the song becomes more energetic and hopeful once he sets off on his journey. It works to sell the idea that, to achieve the universal desire for acceptance, we have to go on an individual journey, and no matter how difficult they may seem, the outcome is always worth it in the end.

8 "How Far I'll Go" - 'Moana' (2016)

Moana proved to be one of Disney's biggest successes of the 2010s, spawning a sequel released in 2024 and an upcoming live-action remake. Much of the praise was aimed at Lin-Manuel Miranda's music, which featured a good mix of songs that were fun and grand, from character introductions like "You're Welcome" to the likes of "Where You Are," which established the tone and details of the world. The big winner was "How Far I'll Go," which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) sings the song while at war with herself, and admits that she is unable to resist the call to adventure despite her desire to do right by her people and her duties as future chief. This message helps give it a strong identity compared to other "I Want" songs, which don't often have the characters acknowledging some parts of their current life that they enjoy. Cravalho nails this dualism by making Moana sound hesitant and confused for most of the song, then settling into a confident declaration during the chorus.

7 "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" - 'Cinderella' (1950)

Cinderella was Disney's biggest gamble since their first masterpiece, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and its success was either going to make or break the company after nearly a full decade of releasing lackluster package films. It paid off in spades, returning to Disney's roots of stunning animation, fantastic adaptation of fairy tales, and gorgeous music. One of the best examples is the first song sung by Cinderella (Ilene Woods) as she wakes up and talks to her animal friends.

"A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" mixes things up compared to other "I Want" songs by being more like an explanation of why the songs are important to begin with. By being reminded of our dreams, they are kept alive in our hearts and can help navigate us through dark periods. It's also the perfect way to introduce Cinderella's character, demonstrating her endless optimism and kind heart.

6 "Almost There" - 'The Princess and the Frog' (2009)

When John Lasseter was put in charge of Disney's creative team following Disney's acquisition of Pixar, he wanted to try and bring back 2D animation, which had fallen out of style in the 2000s. Two 2D movies—The Princess and the Frog and Winnie the Pooh—were released between 2009 and 2011, but both underperformed, which killed his ambitions. However, they have gathered their fans over the years, especially The Princess and the Frog, partially because of Randy Newman's music, which can be best seen in Tiana's (Anika Noni Rose) "I Want" song.

"Almost There" is a unique example of an "I Want" song because it sings about what it feels like to get to the point where the goal is in sight, rather than longing for that goal when it seems far off. It also matches Tiana's character at the beginning of the film, where she is so fixated on her goal that she ignores the things she needs in her present. As for the music, it is lively and upbeat, featuring some beautiful trumpets that evoke 1920s Jazz, which further matches Tiana's personality and the optimistic attitude of the song.

5 "Reflection" - 'Mulan' (1998)

Mulan was one of the first major animated films to focus on Chinese culture, and while not perfect, it remains a beloved classic. One reason for its enduring acclaim is Fa Mulan (Ming-Na Wen), one of Disney's most relatable 1990s protagonists, thanks to her problem-solving skills that allow her to succeed in unorthodox ways, and her struggle with self-acceptance. The latter is demonstrated masterfully through the song "Reflection," sung after Mulan returned from a disastrous appointment with the local Matchmaker (Miriam Margolyes).

"Reflection" is tragically short compared to some of the movie's other musical numbers, but it more than leaves its impact. The lyrics are sharp and to the point, showcasing that Mulan is torn between two worlds where she cannot be both her true self and bring honor to her family name. Tony winner Lea Salonga provides Mulan's singing voice, and she goes all out in capturing the turbulent emotions running through this young woman's head.

4 "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" - 'The Lion King' (1994)

The Lion King began life as a B project meant to tide audiences over until Disney's predicted magnum opus, Pocahontas, would release a year later and win the Academy Award for Best Picture. However, The Lion King quickly won audiences and critics with its impressive production quality, story and character writing, and stellar music. Songs ranged from the epic introductory "Circle of Life" that set the tone for the movie, to the more lighthearted "I Just Can't Wait to be King," where Prince Simba (Johnathan Taylor Thomas) sings about how he envisions his kingship will look when he inherits the throne from his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones).

The song plays into the power fantasy of absolute control that every little kid has thought of at one moment or another. This unique tone adds to the enjoyment of the lyrics, as Simba's idea of a king, while flawed, comes from a place of childhood innocence, as opposed to the motivations of his uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), who knows the duties of being king but only cares about prestige. The rest of the song is great too: Zazu's (Rowan Atkinson) rebuttals and Nala (Niketa Calame) backing up Simba lead to some funny back and forth, and the music is a unique mix of flutes and percussion that swells about as much as Simba's youthful ego.

3 "Out There" - 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1997)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is among Disney's darkest movies, and that's saying something considering how much of Victor Hugo's novel they omitted. It also contains arguably the best music from legendary composer Alan Menken, thanks to how grand and epic he makes the score with the use of a Latin choir and church bells. While "Hellfire" and "The Bells of Notre Dame" are likely the first songs from the movie to spring to mind, "Out There" also manages to carve a strong identity for itself.

The song begins with Judge Claude Frollo (Tony Jay) drilling into the head of Quasimodo (Tom Hulce) about how wicked and evil the world is outside the bell tower, reinforcing how the hunchback should remain fearful and dependent on his cruel master. However, once Frollo leaves, Quasi shifts from timid into a hopeful dreamer, and the song morphs into a powerful declaration of a simple goal that seems impossibly far away. This approach is further strengthened by swelling music that grows as Quasi becomes more confident, and Hulce's beautiful singing voice.

2 "Belle" - 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991)

The fact that Beauty and the Beast exists is a miracle; the film was scrapped and rebuilt midway through production, and lyricist Howard Ashman, who always offered strong creative input, died before its release. Still, the team locked in and produced one of Disney's biggest success stories, the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. Two of its best aspects—Ashman and Menken's songs and the protagonist, Belle (Paige O'Hara)—reveal themselves simultaneously in the opening number, which sees Belle walk through her provincial French town.

"Belle" is a beautiful example of weaving music into storytelling. The song establishes Belle as a character and that she doesn't fit in with the rest of the town, which is her main source of conflict. It initially starts wistful as Belle wonders what else life has to offer, but once the song reprises after she rejects a marriage proposal from Gaston (Richard White), that's when we get the proper declaration of Belle's desire for adventure.

1 "Part of Your World" - 'The Little Mermaid' (1989)

Most people consider Disney's stretch of films from 1989 to 1999, called the Disney Renaissance, to be their most influential on popular culture. The one that started this era was The Little Mermaid, adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name, which also includes the most famous "I Want" song in any animated movie — perhaps in all cinema. Funny enough, this scene was almost cut by then-studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg, who feared it bored children during a test screening, but the production team fought for its inclusion, and the rest is history.

The idea of "Part of Your World" being absent from the film is heretical because, like "Belle," it weaves story and character progression with music. Ariel (Jodi Benson) sings about how her fascination with human culture stems not just from how mysterious they are, but because it's a new world of untold possibilities beyond what her underwater world is capable of. Jodi Benson's talent is on full display as well; Ariel sounds so eager and excited as she goes over her love of the surface world, only to end in a drained whisper as she is pulled back to reality, setting a high bar for all "I Want" songs that would follow.