I think a lot of the Live Action Disney films are missing one important thing: CAMPNESS.
In Cruella, Maleficent, and even Aladdin there's still an element of camp, and colourful magic. It's the actors really laying on the Disney charm (Emma & Angelina) or the bright and pantomime style sets (Aladdin) that make them work in the live action world.
Lion King was taken too serious, Pinocchio never really had much magic to begin with, Jungle Book was okay - but wasn't that camp compared to the original and so much humour was taken out, Cinderella was a bit gloomy, and Lady & The Tramp never had a decent story to begin with.
The Alice remakes are pretty decent once you get past Tim Burton's "direction" as well.
Give us camp villains, colourful sets and effects, and give them a higher age rating so they can get away with a lot more and I think they could make some great remakes.