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Popularity of the Princesses
- Thread starter A1st
- Start date
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Actually, our current president did come from slavery. His mother has roots in slavery. Yes it did happen. You may look it up for yourself. Just the majority of his African roots are not from slavery. But for the sake of this thread, no more race discussion.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Coming from the perspective of growing up with all of the princesses except Tiana and Rapunzel, Belle, Ariel, and Aurora were my favorites. Aurora had a pink dress some of the time, and pink was my favorite color. Belle I liked because her hair is brown and so is mine. Ariel...I have no idea. I think I liked her singing voice (of course).
The OP said that Pocahontas doesn't get a happy ending. I believe this largely to be the reason I was never wild about her movie. I always liked the direct-to-video sequel better. Now I just think it's a bad movie. I also agree with what another poster said about there not being enough marketing towards her. I have a mirror with her on it, but other than that, I have very little with her. Mulan gets more marketing. I have a Mulan doll and other Mulan articles. I think with me, she was just lost in the shuffle and doesn't get marketed with the true princesses. As far as Tiana goes, yes she spends half of the movie as a frog and that helps make her less popular. I also know a lot of parents who disprove of that movie for whatever reason. I think the fact that the other three aren't the typical princesses with the castles also is why they are less popular.
The OP said that Pocahontas doesn't get a happy ending. I believe this largely to be the reason I was never wild about her movie. I always liked the direct-to-video sequel better. Now I just think it's a bad movie. I also agree with what another poster said about there not being enough marketing towards her. I have a mirror with her on it, but other than that, I have very little with her. Mulan gets more marketing. I have a Mulan doll and other Mulan articles. I think with me, she was just lost in the shuffle and doesn't get marketed with the true princesses. As far as Tiana goes, yes she spends half of the movie as a frog and that helps make her less popular. I also know a lot of parents who disprove of that movie for whatever reason. I think the fact that the other three aren't the typical princesses with the castles also is why they are less popular.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
You know why I didn't like Snow White? She was ugly to me. My guess is that a lot of kids find her to be rather ugly. Kids are frivolous that way. Also, I know Disney is trying to appease parents with the "Look, a princess without a prince!" thing, but it all honesty, girls dream of finding their prince. Merida doesn't have that opportunity.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
You have a point.
joanna71985
Well-Known Member
I don't know if you've ever met Merida at MK, but she is extremely popular. She always has a long line. Same goes for Jasmine
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
I agree that there are lines for Merida and Jasmine but be honest. Do you see Merida and Jasmine plastered everywhere?
joanna71985
Well-Known Member
As far as Merida merchandise? Yes I do
Darth Tater
Well-Known Member
I find it ironic that the weakest & most helpless of Disney's princesses usually seem to be the most popular. Whereas the stronger, more independent princesses who you'd actually WANT your daughter to grow up & become like, are the least popular.
To illustrate what I mean, let's first look at the five most popular Disney princesses: Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel. What is it exactly that these popular "role models" teach little girls?
1). All your dreams can come true if you're beautiful or marry into royalty.
2). No matter what obstacles you face in life, a man will always be there to save the day.
3). Beauty & attractiveness always outshine actually DOING things to improve your situation.
Okay, granted I have to cut a little slack to Belle, as she is probably the least guilty of possessing these helpless traits. She does put her brains over outer appearance, and she does outwit the villain at times. But her whole character's premise of being held hostage in a castle and practically forced into true love due to a spell which must be broken...yeah, you can see why I'd place her in this category. And despite her brains & book smarts, it is ultimately her beauty that is her defining feature (it's in the title, afterall).
Ariel teaches girls that if you disobey your father multiple times and marry into royalty & abundant seaside wealth...all your dreams will come true. Snow White & Aurora don't do anything to earn their happily ever afters, other than deliberately ignore warnings from peers which result in them being kill..oh wait, a PRINCE shall come and save you! See, girls? All you need is a pretty face & a wealthy prince to come save you...and all will be well in the kingdom!
Which brings us to the worst offender in this collection of helplessness...Cinderella. That's right, Disney's most popular princess amongst parents & little girls alike is somehow the weakest. Think about it, folks. What does Cinderella actually DO? Granted, she works her butt off doing chores, but how does she actually earn her happily ever after? It's the Fairy Godmother who makes it possible for her to attend the Ball, it's the mice who rescue her from the locked tower, and it's the Prince who assures she'll live happily ever after.
The Prince discovers her at the Ball, which never would have taken place if his father wasn't pressuring him to get married. The Prince falls in love with her despite knowing absolutely NOTHING about her. She runs out of the Ball at midnite, the prince's father orders this mystery girl to be found & her to be married to his son (I guess it's a good thing Cindy liked the Prince in return), and they end up marrying in the end. Okay...WHAT?? How has this become Disney' most treasured princess?? Am I the only one who sees the flaws & God-awful morale for women in this story? Yet girls love it, and somehow aspire to be like this. Allrighty then...
So it can't be the storylines (or lack thereof) that separate the more popular from less popular of Disney's princesses. If that were the case, then nobody would be lining up to see those beautiful yet helpless dimwits mentioned above. Something else has to be the reason.
Now let's look at the less popular Disney princesses.
Tiana is hard working, yet feels like she is getting nowhere, much like Cinderella. But the difference is...Tiana actually DOES things to improve her situation. She actually defeats the villain herself (along with the help of his "friends from the other side"). Great princess all around; great message for little girls about working hard & pushing through tough dilemmas to achieve your goals, yet somehow, not a very popular princess. I don't get it either.
Mulan is probably THE strongest Disney heroine, with the most empowering message for little girls, yet not many families saw it this way. Just like Tiana, it's sad such a terrific character did not receive the popularity & recognition she deserved.
So for whatever the reason, these positive role model princesses fall well below the popularity of other, more helpless; prince-dependent women.
Then again, Rapunzel and Merida are both strong & not in need of some prince to save the day, and they have become very popular...so who knows the reason. It's odd.
There's just something about Tiana, Mulan, and Pocahontas that didn't quite tap the attention of your average Disney patron the way the others have. And it's sad, as those three are by far Disney's strongest & most impacting to their respective stories.
To illustrate what I mean, let's first look at the five most popular Disney princesses: Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel. What is it exactly that these popular "role models" teach little girls?
1). All your dreams can come true if you're beautiful or marry into royalty.
2). No matter what obstacles you face in life, a man will always be there to save the day.
3). Beauty & attractiveness always outshine actually DOING things to improve your situation.
Okay, granted I have to cut a little slack to Belle, as she is probably the least guilty of possessing these helpless traits. She does put her brains over outer appearance, and she does outwit the villain at times. But her whole character's premise of being held hostage in a castle and practically forced into true love due to a spell which must be broken...yeah, you can see why I'd place her in this category. And despite her brains & book smarts, it is ultimately her beauty that is her defining feature (it's in the title, afterall).
Ariel teaches girls that if you disobey your father multiple times and marry into royalty & abundant seaside wealth...all your dreams will come true. Snow White & Aurora don't do anything to earn their happily ever afters, other than deliberately ignore warnings from peers which result in them being kill..oh wait, a PRINCE shall come and save you! See, girls? All you need is a pretty face & a wealthy prince to come save you...and all will be well in the kingdom!
Which brings us to the worst offender in this collection of helplessness...Cinderella. That's right, Disney's most popular princess amongst parents & little girls alike is somehow the weakest. Think about it, folks. What does Cinderella actually DO? Granted, she works her butt off doing chores, but how does she actually earn her happily ever after? It's the Fairy Godmother who makes it possible for her to attend the Ball, it's the mice who rescue her from the locked tower, and it's the Prince who assures she'll live happily ever after.
The Prince discovers her at the Ball, which never would have taken place if his father wasn't pressuring him to get married. The Prince falls in love with her despite knowing absolutely NOTHING about her. She runs out of the Ball at midnite, the prince's father orders this mystery girl to be found & her to be married to his son (I guess it's a good thing Cindy liked the Prince in return), and they end up marrying in the end. Okay...WHAT?? How has this become Disney' most treasured princess?? Am I the only one who sees the flaws & God-awful morale for women in this story? Yet girls love it, and somehow aspire to be like this. Allrighty then...
So it can't be the storylines (or lack thereof) that separate the more popular from less popular of Disney's princesses. If that were the case, then nobody would be lining up to see those beautiful yet helpless dimwits mentioned above. Something else has to be the reason.
Now let's look at the less popular Disney princesses.
Tiana is hard working, yet feels like she is getting nowhere, much like Cinderella. But the difference is...Tiana actually DOES things to improve her situation. She actually defeats the villain herself (along with the help of his "friends from the other side"). Great princess all around; great message for little girls about working hard & pushing through tough dilemmas to achieve your goals, yet somehow, not a very popular princess. I don't get it either.
Mulan is probably THE strongest Disney heroine, with the most empowering message for little girls, yet not many families saw it this way. Just like Tiana, it's sad such a terrific character did not receive the popularity & recognition she deserved.
So for whatever the reason, these positive role model princesses fall well below the popularity of other, more helpless; prince-dependent women.
Then again, Rapunzel and Merida are both strong & not in need of some prince to save the day, and they have become very popular...so who knows the reason. It's odd.
There's just something about Tiana, Mulan, and Pocahontas that didn't quite tap the attention of your average Disney patron the way the others have. And it's sad, as those three are by far Disney's strongest & most impacting to their respective stories.
epcotWSC
Well-Known Member
It comes down to the quality of the movie and the impact it has/had. The most popular princesses are the ones who were in movies that ended up being the most popular. The least popular princesses are the ones who were in movies that ended up being least popular.
Tangled = Very Popular
PatF = Not so popular
Results speak for themselves.
Tangled = Very Popular
PatF = Not so popular
Results speak for themselves.