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TV special · Comedy, Animated · 2009 · TV-G

Prep & Landing: parents' guide

4+our pick

Best for ages 4 and up. Rated TV-G.

A bright, funny Disney special of about 22 minutes that suits even preschoolers, with extra jokes about office politics for parents. Wayne, a veteran elf on the team that readies each home before Santa arrives, sulks after missing out on a promotion and gets paired with an eager rookie, Lanny, on Christmas Eve. When his slacking and a fierce snowstorm put one boy's Christmas at risk, he has to make it right. There is no real violence, swearing or drinking. The only tension is a stormy rooftop landing, and the messages about teamwork and taking pride in any job are clear.

What's in it

Violence

Mild

Light slapstick only: one guide mentions an elf getting hit with a snowball and someone tumbling safely off a roof. Nobody fights, and nobody is hurt.

Language

None

None. There is no swearing at all; the humor comes from spy-style jargon, gadgets and workplace gripes rather than insults.

Sex and nudity

None

None. Apart from a brief hint at a relationship between two elves, there is no romance, kissing or nudity.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

None

None. No drinking, smoking or drug references of any kind appear in this short special.

Scary or intense scenes

Mild

Mild. A howling blizzard nearly forces Santa to skip a boy's house, and the elves have to guide the sleigh down through the storm, but it resolves quickly and happily.

Worth talking about

Wayne learns his work matters even without a fancy title. Ask kids about a small job they did that made a big difference to someone.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 24th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, screenwiseapp.com, movies.disney.com, Wikipedia. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.