I remember seeing and enjoying "Aristocats." I tried to see it again, and it couldn't keep my attention for long. So I ask myself what is the difference between fun, though shallow, romps of that era like "Aristocats" or "Jungle Book" vs. Pixar/Disney offerings now.
The secret seems to be in the hero's journey. I've mentioned this multiple times, but it seems most of the best adventure yarns of any depth and meaning in the modern day focus on it. Pixar, which runs Disney's animation division, openly uses the hero's journey as its formula for writing. There's no question that just about everything from "Star Wars" to "Harry Potter" to "Star Trek" and "Pirates of the Carribean" follow the formula as well. A hero of any species starts in their home base and refuses the call to adventure. Eventually, he/she/it heeds that call and descends into the underworld to face opponents with the help of allies. After several trials and loss, often of his/her father figure, he/she faces the primary adversary to become the master of both worlds.
There's much more to the hero's journey. It was conceptualized by Joseph Cambell, who was invited to the set of "Star Wars: New Hope," so Lucas could make sure they got the story right. Obviously, any Disney movie before the widespread study of Cambell's work and its adoption in modern Disney wouldn't have these keys to good storytelling. The movies from earlier dates seem to be based on a vague plot with a lot of madcap moments and songs to keep kids entertained. I don't think it's overstating things to say that there has been a cultural revolution with the hero's journey at its heart. If you want to write an adventure story and don't know the intricacies of the hero's journey, I highly recommend you google it now. I have no doubt you're following pieces of it without knowing it because it has become so ingrained in the culture. But as you become self-aware, your writing will improve.
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