Disney Princess

File:DisneyPrincess.jpg

The current line-up of the Disney Princess franchise. From left to right: Snow White, Pocahontas, Aurora, Ariel, Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Belle, Mulan.

Disney Princess is a Walt Disney Company franchise, based on fictional characters who have been featured as part of the Disney character line-up. The members of the franchise are Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Tiana. The franchise has released dolls, sing-along videos and a variety of other children's products, apparel, home decor and a variety of toys featuring the Disney Princesses. Rapunzel, one of the lead protagonists of Disney's 50th animated film Tangled will be inducted into the line-up as the 10th princess on October 2, 2011.

History

In early 2000, when Andy Mooney was hired by Disney's Consumer Products division to help combat dropping sales, the idea for the Disney Princess franchise was born. Soon after joining Disney, Mooney attended his first Disney on Ice show. While waiting in line, he found himself surrounded by young girls dressed as princesses. "They weren’t even Disney products. They were generic princess products", he mused. Soon after realizing the demand, the Disney Princess line was formed.

Despite limited advertising and no focus groups, the various Disney Princess items released became a huge success. Sales at Disney Consumer Products rose from $300 million in 2001 to $3 billion in 2006. In 2009 the anticipated sales are $4 billion.

Character list

Official princesses

Name	Voice actress	Disney film(s) appeared in	Source(s)	Representative song
Snow White	Adriana Caselotti(1937-1997) Carolyn Gardner	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)	"Schneewittchen" by the Brothers Grimm	"Some Day My Prince Will Come", sung by Adriana Caselotti.
Cinderella	Ilene Woods (1950) Jennifer Hale	Cinderella (1950) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002) Mickey's House of Villains (2002) Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007)	"Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de Verre" by Charles Perrault	"A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes", sung by Ilene Woods.
Aurora	Mary Costa (1959) Jennifer Hale, Erin Torpey Cassidy Ladden (singing voice, 2007)	Sleeping Beauty (1959) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) Mickey's House of Villains (2002) Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007)	"La Belle au Bois Dormant" by Perrault	"Once Upon A Dream", sung by Mary Costa.
Ariel	Jodi Benson	The Little Mermaid (1989) The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008)	"Den lille havfrue" by Hans Christian Andersen	"Part of Your World", sung by Jodi Benson.
Belle	Paige O'Hara Jodi Benson (House of Mouse)	Beauty and the Beast (1991) Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997) Belle's Magical World (1998) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) Mickey's House of Villains (2002)	"La Belle et la Bête" by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, abridged by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont	"Beauty and the Beast", sung by Angela Lansbury, single by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
Jasmine	Linda Larkin Lea Salonga (singing voice, 1992, 2007) Liz Callaway (singing voice, 1994, 1996) Bobbi Page (singing voice, 2001)	Aladdin (1992) The Return of Jafar (1994) Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001) Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007)	"Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp", part of the One Thousand and One Nights, translated by Antoine Galland	"A Whole New World", duet with Brad Kane and Lea Salonga, single by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
Pocahontas	Irene Bedard Judy Kuhn (singing voice)	Pocahontas (1995) Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)	life of Pocahontas (c. 1595-1617)	"Colors of the Wind", sung by Judy Kuhn, single by Vanessa L. Williams
Mulan	Ming-Na Lea Salonga (singing voice)	Mulan (1998) Mulan II (2005)	legend of Hua Mulan	"Reflection", sung by Lea Salonga, single by Christina Aguilera
Tiana	Anika Noni Rose	The Princess and the Frog (2009)	The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker "Der Froschkönig" by the Brothers Grimm	"Almost There", sung by Anika Noni Rose.

Rapunzel from Tangled has appeared in some Disney Princess merchandise but is not yet an "official" princess on the Disney Princess website. Rapunzel will be "officially welcomed into the Disney Princess Royal Court" during a promotional event at Kensington Palace in London on October 2, 2011.

Unofficial princesses

File:Disney princess alice.jpg

Left to right: Jasmine, Pocahontas, Alice, Aurora, Mulan, Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel and Belle.

Other Disney characters have appeared in franchise merchandise, but are not considered part of the Disney Princess franchise.

• Alice (from Alice in Wonderland) was included in the PlayStation 2 game Kingdom Hearts as one of the Princesses of Heart, all of whom were official Disney Princesses besides her (and the game's original princess, Kairi). Alice has appeared in official Disney Princess art, and is included in the Disney Princess music video It's Not Just Make Believe and The Perfect Princess Tea with the then eight official princesses, though she still remains excluded from the official lineup.
• Tinker Bell was once included under the principle that the princess need not be of royal heritage. However, it was decided she was not suited for the series "mythology". She now stars in her own Disney franchise, the Disney Fairies.
• Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame has been featured in some Disney Princess Merchandise and live events, but she is not part of the official line-up.
• Giselle from Disney's film Enchanted was originally going to be added to the line, until the company realized it would have to pay the actress, Amy Adams, royalties for using her likeness.

On the Princess Collection 2 CD, songs by Maid Marian (Robin Hood), Nala (from The Lion King, who later becomes queen at the end of the film) and Megara (Hercules) are included.

On the Disney Princess Sing Along Songs: Once Upon a Dream DVD, sing-along segments with Megara (Hercules), Princess Minnie (Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers), and Princesses Mei, Ting-Ting and Su (Mulan II) are included.

On the Disney Princess Sing Along Songs: Enchanted Tea Party DVD sing-along segments with Alice (Alice in Wonderland), Maid Marian (Robin Hood) and Princess Melody (The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea) are included. Sing-along segments with both Alice and Princess Melody (Melody is Ariel's daughter) are included in the Disney Princess Sing Along Songs: Perfectly Princess DVD as well.

Original songs

Aside from the pre-existing princess songs from the films, there have been original songs produced for the Disney Princess franchise. All of the songs are sung by the princesses, with the exception of "Where Dreams Begin", which is sung from the perspective of the eight princesses, (before Tiana came) but not by the princesses themselves, and is merely credited as being sung by "Disney Princess".

• "Where Dreams Begin"
• "The Way To Bake (A Delicious Cake)" (sung by Snow White)
• "A Holly Jolly Christmas Snow" (sung by Snow White, Grumpy, Bashful and Doc)
• "The Night Before Christmas" (sung by Snow White, Grumpy, Bashful and Doc)
• "Every Girl Can Be a Princess" (sung by Cinderella)
• "I’m Giving Love for Christmas" (sung by Cinderella)
• "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (sung by Cinderella)
• "Waiting For My Prince" (sung by Princess Aurora)
• "Christmas With My Prince" (sung by Princess Aurora)
• "My Birthday Wish" (sung by Princess Aurora)
• "Keys To The Kingdom" (sung by Princess Aurora)
• "Happy Birthday, Princess!" (sung by Princess Ariel)
• "Manners And Etiquette" (sung by Princess Ariel)
• "I Just Love Getting Dressed For Tea" (sung by Princess Ariel)
• "Christmas in the Ocean" (sung by Princess Ariel and Sebastian)
• "Ariel's Christmas Island" (sung by Princess Ariel and Sebastian)
• "The Perfect Princess Tea" (sung by Belle)
• "The Princess Dance" (sung by Belle)
• "So Very Glad You're Here" (sung by Belle)
• "Holidays at Home" (sung by Belle)
• "The Christmas Waltz" (sung by Belle)
• "Musical Chairs" (sung by Princess Jasmine)
• "I've Got My Eyes On You" (sung by Princess Jasmine)
• "Peacock Princess" (sung by Princess Jasmine and Iago)
• "These Moments We Share" (sung by Pocahontas)
• "Silver and Gold" (sung by Pocahontas)
• "Cups and Saucers" (sung by Mulan)
• "The Holly and the Ivy" (sung by Mulan)
• "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (sung by Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Ariel, Belle and Princess Jasmine)
• "The Beauty of the Season" (sung by Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Ariel, Belle and Princess Jasmine)
• "Christmas Is Coming!" (sung by Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Ariel, Belle, Princess Jasmine, Pocahontas)
• "If You Can Dream" (sung by Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Ariel, Belle, Princess Jasmine, Pocahontas and Mulan)

Live events

Disneyland Resort

Main article: Disneyland Resort

All the princesses are available for meet-n-greets in the Disneyland Resort in CA. Additionally, Snow White has her own ride known as Snow White's Scary Adventures. In 2006, as part of the Year of Million Dreams celebration, the Fantasyland Theater began hosting the Disneyland Princess Fantasy Faire. The show has Lords and Ladies teaching young girls the proper etiquette for a princess and features appearances by the Disney Princesses themselves. Princesses that have appeared include Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, Tiana, Princess Minnie and Ariel.

Young girls will have the opportunity to meet their favorite Disney Princess as they dine in at Ariel's Grotto Character Dining in Disney's California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort.

The princesses are also featured in parades and shows throughout the resort, including Fantasmic!, A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Disney's Electrical Parade.

Walt Disney World Resort

Main article: Walt Disney World Resort

The princesses are also available for meet-n-greets in Florida, but in more specific locations. Cinderella and her friends appear at Cinderella's Royal Table in her Magic Kingdom castle, as well as "Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner, formerly known as the Cinderella's Gala Feast Dinner, at 1900 Park Fare in the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The other princesses are showcased at the Princess Storybook meal - breakfast, lunch and dinner - at Akershus Castle in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot. This particular meal is known to feature many guest Disney Princesses, including Alice, Megara, Esmeralda, Princess Minnie, Wendy Darling and Jane. In 2012, the Disney Princesses will have a new meet and greet attraction called Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom.

Many shows and parades across the property feature the princesses, including Fantasmic, SpectroMagic, Dream Along with Mickey, the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

This store opened April 5, 2006 at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World. The salon allows girls 3 and up to be transformed into Disney princesses with hairstyling, make-up, manicures, dresses, wands, crowns, etc. A second salon opened in Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom on September 10, 2007. Prices range from $45 to $280.

Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party

Main article: Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party

On January 22, 2007, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort began its first Pirate and Princess Party. This hard ticketed event features "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" and a specially themed fireworks spectacular called "Magic, Music and Mayhem". The parade features the six main Princesses attended by knights and dancers.

Each land is themed accordingly to a pirate or princess. Among the themed areas are Jasmine's Court in Adventureland, Ariel's Court in Fantasyland and the Princess Pavilion in Mickey's Toontown Fair. The princesses available for meet-n-greets include Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Pocahontas, Snow White and Belle.

Disneyland Resort Paris

Main article: Disneyland Resort Paris

See also: Disney's Fantillusion

Disneyland Paris features the special nighttime show Disney's Fantillusion which involves the princesses as the finale. The four princesses that appear are Snow White, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine.

Disney Cruise Line

Main article: Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Cruise Line ships feature musical stage shows which feature the Princesses. Pocahontas, Ariel, Jasmine, Mulan, Tiana, Belle, Cinderella, Aurora and Snow White also appear for meet-and-greets on the ship. Other popular Disney girls appear for meet and greet sessions as well such as Meg, Alice, Jane, Wendy, Esmeralda and Nala.

Television and video

Disney Princess Collection

A VHS Collection features Ariel, Jasmine and Belle

Ariel's Songs & Stories

• Giggles
• Wish Upon a Star
• Tail of Two Crabs
• Heroes

Jasmine's Enchanted Tales

• Jasmine's Wish,
• The Greatest Treasure
• Magic And Mystery
• True Hearts

Belle's Sing Me A Story

• Beauty And The World Of Music
• Chapters Of Enchantment

Disney Princess Stories

A DVD Series features the Stories from TV Series Aladdin with Princess Jasmine and The Little Mermaid with Princess Ariel and all-new Stories with Cinderella, Belle and Snow White

DVDs

• Volume 1 A Gift From The Heart
• Volume 2 Tales of Friendship
• Volume 3 Beauty Shines From Within

Disney Princess Party Palace

Princess Party Palace (formerly known as The Princess Power Hour) was a television series on Toon Disney from 2000 until 2007. It aired episodes of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.

Disney Princess Enchanted Tales

In early 2007, Disney announced Disney Princess Enchanted Tales, a new series of direct-to-video features that feature new stories for the Disney Princesses. The first movie in the series, entitled Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams, was released on September 4, 2007. It is a musical film featuring new tales about Princess Jasmine, and the first new tale about Princess Aurora since the original Sleeping Beauty.

Originally, Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: A Kingdom of Kindness was announced as the first film in the series, which contained a different Princess Aurora story, and had a Belle story rather than a Princess Jasmine story. Disney made this change without any sort of notice.

Currently, the series was cancelled and only "Follow Your Dreams" exists.

Other media

Kingdom Hearts

In the Kingdom Hearts game series, the Disney Princesses are labeled as the seven "Princesses of Heart", a term for young ladies with entirely pure hearts which would open the way to Kingdom Hearts if gathered together. Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Snow White and Jasmine are featured in the game as five of the seven Princesses. The other two Princesses of Heart are Alice from Alice in Wonderland and game series heroine Kairi. Though featured, aiding him while Sora is in their worlds, Ariel and Mulan are not among the Princesses of Heart.

While all seven princesses of heart and all Disney princesses from first to six appear in the first game, only Belle, Ariel, and Jasmine reappeared in Kingdom Hearts II with Kairi, though the others are mentioned. Mulan, however, makes her first appearance as the player visits her world. She serves as a tradeable character in the party similarly how Ariel was in the first Kingdom Hearts.

Belle and Jasmine, along with Ariel and Alice, appear in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories as figments of Sora's memory but their roles as Princesses of Heart are not brought up, and Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days when they each meet Roxas.

In Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora feature along with their homeworlds Dwarf Woodlands, Castle of Dreams, Enchanted Dominion. Digital versions of Alice and Jasmine appear in Kingdom Hearts coded.

As of now, the only Disney Princesses who have not yet appeared in the series are Pocahontas,Tiana and Rapunzel.

Kilala Princess

Main article: Kilala Princess

Kilala Princess is a Japanese fantasy/romance manga produced by Kōdansha that debuted in Nakayoshi in April 2005, which revolves around a girl named Kilala and her adventures to find her kidnapped friend with the help of the first six Disney Princesses, who are Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine.

Disney Princess video games

• Disney Princess is a 2003 adventure video game developed by Art Co., Ltd for the Game Boy Advance. The game has the princesses completing several levels.

• Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey is a 2007 video game released for PlayStation 2, Wii and PC. When a girl discovers a pixie and a cursed castle which was once home of a princess, the girl is explained by the pixie that she needs to go on a quest across the worlds of Princesses Ariel, Jasmine, Cinderella, and Snow White. After rescuing the princesses' worlds, the girl has to come face to face with Zara, an ex-princess who is trying to stop every girl from taking her place as one. After Zara's defeat, the girl breaks the castle's curse and after remembering that she's the princess of the castle, she goes to Belle's world and solves problems there. The game has players completing several levels. According to the game, these 5 Disney Princesses also have friends of their own.

• Disney Princess: Magical Jewels is a 2D puzzle platformer developed by 1st Playable Productions. It was released in 2007 for the Nintendo DS. The game incorporates the six original Disney Princesses—Aurora, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White are in the main game, while Jasmine and Ariel are playable in minigames.

Criticism

On December 24, 2006, Peggy Orenstein published, “What’s Wrong With Cinderella?” in the New York Times. In her article, Orenstein discussed her concerns about the effects of princess figures on young girls. Orenstein used the Disney Princesses specifically to present many of her points. Orenstein also noted the pervasive nature of Princess merchandise and that every facet of play has its princess equivalent.

Other sources have also voiced concern that the franchise could give young girls the wrong message. However, other parents say that young girls would eventually grow out of this phase.

External links

• Official Disney Princess site
• Disney Princess Online