It's a Disney thing...

I’ll admit, I’m a Disney whore! Okay, maybe that is taking it a bit too far, but I have had a lifelong love affair with Disney. It’s not just the movies and the songs, but it’s the face characters, it’s the “First Trip” buttons, it’s the cute kids running around in their costumes, it’s the engagements and weddings in front of Cinderella’s castle... it’s the magic.

Through all of the pixie dust and dreams, Disney has had its share of criticism.

What most girls criticize about Disney is that it gave them unreal expectations about love and men. This is what I have to say about that...

Maybe if some females didn’t dress like they’re going to a club instead of school, they wouldn’t attract these “men” who only want them for their body. But if you dress and act like a princess, you will catch the eye of a prince. Now, I don’t expect you all to prance around in a ball gown and tiara singing about true love’s kiss while animals clean your room, that’s a little farfetched... okay, I wish that I could do that... A respectable woman wins the heart of a respectable man. A woman who doesn’t dumb  herself down will be admired for her brains. A woman who is kind will be loved for her beautiful face, and beautiful heart.

A true Prince Charming will love what is inside of your head, and what’s on it. He will not have gross “expectations” that you will have to live up to. Your Prince will love you for who you are. And I know that is super cliché but it is the truth, and I’m not one for lies….

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Next, a lot of people, again, mostly females, think that girls don’t have to work hard and that their dreams will be granted by a fairy godmother, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Now people may think I'm stuck in my childhood or something, or I’m crazy, but I learned a lot from Disney movies, things that will be with me for the rest of my life.

For starters, Snow White; the original princess. I haven’t met someone who says that Snow is their favorite, in fact, she’s the least favorite! Okay, I’ll admit, she was a puppy-lovestruck teenager who fell in love with the first man she had seen. But I don’t think people see the bigger picture. She stayed in a house with a step-mother who used Snow as a slave! She could have left, but she didn’t, and that takes some serious strength! Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) was similar to Snow in dreaming of finding that perfect guy. What I found incredibly strong was that she would rather be with the guy she met in the forest than be a princess (SPOILER ALERT: he’s a prince himself), now that is what I call love!

  

Every girl has wanted to be Cinderella at some point in her life, but she gets a lot of heat too. Again, I’ll admit that it’s hard to believe that she and the prince fell in love at first sight, but that’s not what she wanted at ALL! All she wanted was to be away from her step-family, she didn’t expect him to come from his castle, knock on her door and take her away from her evil step-mother and step-sisters. She took a risk of sneaking out behind her step-mothers back to have some fun! She knew that she couldn’t live her life in fear and stay hidden from the world. When she realized that the world wasn’t coming to her, she went out and got it.

Another princess that gets criticism is Ariel (The Little Mermaid). Most of her hate comes from people thinking that her giving up her legs to be with Eric meant that a girl had to change herself in order to get a guys. But actually, she gave up her legs because it’s what she wanted her whole life, to be human! Her father disagreeing with her love of Eric was just the boiling point! Ariel was not afraid to defy her society, break the rules, and be exactly what she wanted to be.

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Okay, enough with the hate that Disney Princesses get, time to look at the strong heroines that save the reputations of the rest.

Belle (Beauty and the Beast) was different, and she knew it! She was smart, savvy and wanted adventure, just like in her books. Sure she didn’t think it was all that great, but then again, when have we ever thought something that was different was a good thing? She was also breathtakingly beautiful and had practically every man at her feet, but she didn’t take advantage of that. Belle could also see the good in people. She saw past the Beast’s ugly face and saw into his kind and caring soul. Her love proves that pure love can change a person.

Even though the movie isn’t technically about her, Princess Jasmine (Aladdin) steals the show! She is strong-willed, powerful and independent! She won’t tolerate being treated like property or a prize. She defied her government and society to be with Aladdin. Who says you have to be with someone in your “status” when there are plenty of “diamonds-in-the-rough” out there.

Pocahontas and Mulan are very similar. Both are strong in the mental and physical sense. They gave up everything to save their people. Pocahontas’ spiritual hope and faith in the goodness of people set her apart from her tribe. Mulan only wanted to save her father from certain death and in the process saved the entire country of China. These two princesses show that bravery, courage, heart, and passion are important qualities for every person to have.

Tiana (Princess and the Frog) had worked her entire life just to own her own restaurant. She wished and she dreamed and she prayed for her dream to come true, but she worked two jobs and had to work to earn it. You can’t just wish on a star and hope everything turns out the way you want, it only takes you part of the way. Hard-work, determination, and never losing sight of what’s important are the only ways to truly get what you want.

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I am a firm believer in Disney and love and dreams. I don’t doubt anybody’s dreams. It’s not my dream, it’s theirs. Don’t doubt your dreams, whether it’s finding true love, making it big in Hollywood, singing on Broadway, or writing the next great American novel. So pull on those white gloves, grab that magic wand, strike up the dancing brooms, and wish upon a star, because as Walt Disney himself said, “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.”

Comments? Questions? Fellow Disney fan?! Email me!