@SchrodingersImmigrant and some other posters are right.
This was a way of safeguarding children through shock and awe, but with songs, music and lovely moving illustrations (improving literacy was still a major issue) in his times.
Not all parents, wanted to make their children aware, that the world was a dangerous place. Bad things happened. All that glitters is not good or gold. This is clearly, still the situation, as we seek to protect our children. But telling a child, is not always enough to get the message through.
I think Walt Disney got this, and 'used' the fairytales to visualise and encourage good ethics/morals, good behaviour and show that the world was not always fair. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you have to work hard, and it comes to nowt. But, it also shows happiness is not just about money or things, but about how we treat others and appreciate what we do have.
Re. the animals, there is the food chain, and we are at the top of it.
In the old days (70s), we would have seen these films as matinees at the cinema, had other filler shorts. So, maybe, the impact wore off, in the excitement of being out, not truly understanding the implications of death.
I loved going to the cinema to watch Disney as a child, it was true escapism, and I loved a good book. I also lived in a children's home (a good one) till I was 7, and appreciated, that parents aren't always there to save you. They were busy.
Even today, I still love wide-range of fantasy & sci-fi, in addition to the every day crime stuff.
Finally, I have a largely non-verbal autistic DS, who loves the music and stories of most disney films, especially Jungle Book. He learnt to read and sing from these!
To be fair, he is not keen on Fantasia, and he gets bored with Pinochio just before he goes to the island, so I switch it off, or fast forward, I hadn't realised (& forgot) about the scary bits.
Still, we have a practically complete library including various video compilations of Disney songs.
The best way to enjoy Disney, I think.