Disney Princess
History
New Enchanted Tales set of Pez dispensers featuring the then-eight Disney Princesses.
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. hey weren 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 is $ 4 billion.
Today there are over 25,000 products based on the franchise.
The princesses to be featured in the line were chosen from classic Disney films.
The characters were not chosen specifically for their royal titles, but rather for how well they fit into what Disney executives deemed he Princess mythology.” Mulan is an example of this concept; she has no familial ties to royalty, but is still included in the character list. Tinker Bell was once included under the same principle before it was decided she was not suited for the “mythology.” She now stars in her own Disney franchise, the Disney Fairies.
Character list
Disney Princesses
Disney Princess Figurine Set with the then-eight princesses.
Princess
Voice Actor(s)
Film(s)
Snow White
Adriana Caselotti
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Cinderella
Ilene Woods
Cinderella (1950)
Jennifer Hale
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002)
Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007)
Aurora
Mary Costa
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Erin Torpey (speaking)
Cassidy Ladden (singing)
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007)
Ariel
Jodi Benson
The Little Mermaid (1989)
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008)
Belle
Paige O’Hara
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
Belle’s Magical World (1998)
Jasmine
Linda Larkin
Lea Salonga (singing voice, Aladdin and Enchanted Tales)
Liz Callaway (singing voice, Return of Jafar and King of Thieves)
Aladdin (1992)
The Return of Jafar (1994)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams (2007)
Pocahontas
Irene Bedard
Judy Kuhn (singing voice)
Pocahontas (1995)
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)
Mulan
Ming-Na
Lea Salonga (singing voice)
Mulan (1998)
Mulan II (2004)
Tiana
Anika Noni Rose
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Announced Disney Princesses
Rapunzel – will be voiced by Mandy Moore – Tangled (2010)
Other characters
Clockwise from left: Jasmine, Pocahontas, Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Fa Mulan, and Alice.
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-eight (before Tiana was added) 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.
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 (The Lion King) 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 are also 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, 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 Giving Love for Christmas” (sung by Cinderella)
“It 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)
“Colors Of The Wind” (sung by Pocahontas)
“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 Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Ariel, Belle, Princess Jasmine, Pocahontas and Mulan)
“Pretty As A Princess” (sung by Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Aurora, Princess Ariel, Belle, Princess Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan and Tiana)
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 ettiquete for a princess and features appearances by the Disney Princesses themselves. Princesses that have appeared include Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, 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.
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 little girls 3 and up to being transformed into Disney princesses with hairstyling, make-up, and manicures, dresses, wands, crowns, etc. A second salon opened in Cinderella 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 isney’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
Disney Princess Collection is a VHS Princess series basend in Shows The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Sing Me a Story with Belle
VHS
Jasmine’s Enchanted Tales
True Hearts
Magic and Mystery
Jasmine’s Wish
Greatest Treasure
Ariel’s Songs & Stories
Wish Upon a Starfish
Giggles
Belle’s Sing Me A Story
Chapters of Enchantment
Beauty And the World of Music
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 Princess. 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 appear in the first game, only Belle and Jasmine reappeared in Kingdom Hearts II with Kairi, though the others are mentioned. The two, along with Alice appear in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories as figments of Sora’s memory with 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 and Enchanted Dominion. Digital versions of Alice and Jasmine appear in Kingdom Hearts coded.
As of now, the only two Disney Princesses who have not yet appeared in the series are Pocahontas and Tiana.
Kilala Princess
Main article: Kilala Princess
Kilala Princess is a Japanese fantasy/romance manga produced by Kdansha 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 six Disney Princesses, who are Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle.
Disney Princess video games
2003: Disney Princess (Game Boy Advance)
2007 Disney Princess: Magical Jewels (Nintendo DS)
2007 Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey (Playstation 2/Nintendo Wii/PC)
Criticism
On December 24, 2006, Peggy Orenstein published, hat 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.
Notes
^ “Official Disney Princesses website”. disney.go.com. http://disney.go.com/princess/html/main_iframe.html. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
^ http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY;=/www/story/04-08-2008/0004789174&EDATE;=
^ “Princess pedestal: How many girls are on one?” Martha Irvine – The Associated Press. Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2009
^ a b c Orenstein, Peggy (2006-12-24). “What Wrong With Cinderella?”. www.nytimes.com. The New York Times Magazine. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/magazine/24princess.t.html?ex=1324616400&en=8e5a1ac1332a802c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
^ Some Disney Princess products refer to her as “Sleeping Beauty”, but her proper name is Aurora.
^ Marr, Merissa (2007-11-19). “Disney Reaches to the Crib To Extend Princess Magic”. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119543097711697381.html. Retrieved 2007-11-25].
^ Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique | Downtown Disney | Walt Disney World Resort
^ “What’s Wrong With Being a Princess?”. abcnews.go.com. April 22, 2007. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=3065469&page=1. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
External links
Official Disney Princess site
Disney Princess Online
v d e
Disney Princess
Official list
Snow White Cinderella Aurora Ariel Belle Jasmine Pocahontas Mulan Tiana
Yet to be released
Rapunzel
Associated
Minnie Mouse Alice Kilala Kairi Giselle
Others
Wendy Darling Maid Marian Eilonwy Nala Esmeralda Megara Jane Porter Kidagakash
Video games
Disney Princess Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey Disney Princess: Magical Jewels Disney Princess 3 (working title)
Miscellaneous
“If You Can Dream” Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
v d e
Disney Consumer Products
Disney Publishing
Worldwide
Disney Adventures Disney Press Disney Hyperion Miramax Books
Franchises
Baby Einstein Disney Fairies Disney Princess Disney Villains Donald Duck Hannah Montana High School Musical Kingdom Hearts Lilo & Stitch The Lion King Mickey Mouse The Mighty Ducks The Muppets Pirates of the Caribbean Pixar Power Rangers Roger Rabbit Winnie the Pooh
Other
D23 Disney Store Disney Auctions
Categories: Disney Princess