New Christmas DVDs 2011

The Christmas holidays are a time when many families put aside the usual demands of work, school and other obligations to spend time together. One great way to do this is to watch Christmas DVDs. You may already have timeless classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but if you're looking to add some new movies to your collection, or want some good ideas for stocking stuffers, here are some of the holiday movies that have just been released for 2011.

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas DVD
If you're a fan of the Ice Age movies and can't wait for Ice Age 4: Continental Drift next year, you'll be delighted to know that you can get your prehistoric fix this holiday season with Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas. This new animated special will air on Fox TV on Thanksgiving and the Ice Age Christmas DVD will be released November 26.

In this new animated film, Sid breaks Manny's favorite holiday decorations and heads to the North Pole to explain it all to Santa Claus and get off the Naughty List. Crash, Eddie, and Peaches accompany Sid up north, leaving Diego, Manny and Ellie frantically searching for Peaches. Of course, Sid can't stay out of trouble and ends up destroying Santa's workshop on Christmas Eve, so it's up to our favorite prehistoric herd of misfits to set things straight and make sure Christmas isn't canceled.

Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story DVD
Elf on the Shelf was published several years ago, and since then, thousands of kids have joined in the Christmas tradition of having a scout elf visit their home and report to Santa whether they've been naughty or nice. Now they can get a look at what it's like to be one of those secret helpers.

Elf on the Shelf: An Elf's Story will premiere on CBS this year, and the new Christmas DVD for 2011 will be released on November 26. This animated special tells the story of Chippey, a scout elf who is assigned to a boy named Taylor who can't decide whether he still believes in Santa Claus and Christmas magic. When Taylor breaks the most important Elf on the Shelf rule, Chippey loses all his Christmas magic and the family loses its scout elf. But through the power of love and forgiveness, both Chippey and Taylor discover that true belief in Christmas isn't something that can be taught.

Disney's Prep and Landing DVD
This original Disney holiday special first aired in 2009, but Disney is releasing it on DVD for the first time this year. As usual, Disney offers a fun-filled tale that will entertain kids and adults.

Wayne is an elf in Santa's elite "Prep and Landing" unit, a team of elves who work with military precision to ensure every house is ready for Santa's arrival before he gets there. Their job is to make sure everyone is asleep, the path is clear and Santa Claus can get in and out quickly and without a hitch. But Wayne has been doing this job for over 200 years and just got passed up for a promotion. Now he's tired and jaded and willing to let his new trainee, Lanny, take over while he lollygags. It leads to disaster, and Wayne has to save the day so one little boy's Christmas won't be ruined.

Barbie: A Perfect Christmas DVD
This straight-to-DVD holiday Barbie movie will be a hit with little girls. Barbie and her sisters Skipper, Stacie and Chelsea are on their way to New York for the holidays, but a snowstorm diverts their flight, and they find themselves stranded in the remote town of Tannenbaum. Much to their surprise, they discover magical experiences and new friends. Barbie and her sisters then put on a musical performance for the whole town to enjoy and discover that "being together is what really makes A Perfect Christmas.

Beethoven's Christmas Adventure
The first Beethoven movie came out about 20 years ago, but this movie franchise starring a Saint Bernard named Beethoven is still going strong.

In Beethoven's Christmas Adventure DVD, viewers will get to hear Beethoven speak for the first time! Beethoven comes to the rescue in this film after an elf takes Santa's sleigh and all the toys, and then crash-lands in a tree. When Santa's magical bag of toys ends up in the wrong hands, Beethoven and his human companion Mason have to save the elf, get the toys, and make sure Christmas comes for children around the world.