Megara isn't an official Disney Princess mainly because Hercules wasn't a massive box office hit, she starts by working for the villain Hades, and her cynical, "adult" personality doesn't fit the typical princess mold, though many fans argue she's a unique and relatable character who deserves the title. The official Disney Princess lineup is a marketing brand based on sales, not just royal status, and characters are chosen for merchandise appeal, with Meg's edgy vibe contrasting the established princesses.
Out of the official Disney Princess line- up, there are a few who aren't actual princesses by either birth or marriage Mulan, Moana, Raya and technically Pocahontas (like Moana, she's the daughter of a chief, no one would really call her a 'princess' in her own culture I don't think?)
The original Disney Princess line-up was formalized in 2000, consisting of Snow White, Cinderella, Tinker Bell, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Esmeralda, and Mulan. Esmeralda was removed in 2005.
She's not a princess, and she's not a villain." Egan believes that Meg undergoes "a much larger arch than the Disney princesses" as she experiences a change of heart, describing her as flawed and feeling that Disney not crowning her a princess makes her "more relatable".
Princess Eilonwy has been nicknamed by fans as the "Forgotten Disney Princess" because of her little-known status and the fact she is not an "official" Disney Princess, despite being a princess by birth, like Kida Nedakh from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Exclusions
In the end, Tinker Bell didn't lose her status — she evolved beyond it. Rather than being one princess among many, she became a standalone icon, proving that you don't need a crown to be one of Disney's most magical and enduring characters.
There are 13 official Disney Princesses in the franchise: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Raya, representing various Disney films and often featured together in merchandise and park appearances, though honorary princesses like Elsa and Anna are also popular.
For Disney's live-action Hercules, anticipated around March 2027, reports suggest Zane Phillips will play Hercules, with Michael Keaton as Hades, Jodie Comer as Meg, and Danny DeVito returning to voice Phil, alongside Jennifer Hudson and Stanley Tucci.
No, Elsa is not explicitly gay in Frozen 2; she doesn't have a romantic partner, but the film leaves her sexuality open, focusing on her self-discovery, though many fans interpret her journey and lack of romantic interest as a powerful metaphor for queer identity, with some hoping for a female love interest in the future, a possibility the creators haven't ruled out but haven't confirmed.
In the wake of her father's untimely demise, Cinderella is left in the care of her cruel stepmother and jealous stepsisters, who constantly mistreat her, forcing Cinderella to work as a scullery maid in her own home.
In a March 2024 interview with ComicBook.com, Disney actor Harvey Guillén said he was “optimistic” that we could soon see the first queer Disney princess. Guillén, known for roles in What We Do in the Shadows and Disney's Wish, thinks “we are in the life span of that potentially happening.”
Elsa & Anna are not TECHNICALLY Disney Princess, because Disney said Frozen is its own separate franchise, and it does fine on its own, as evidenced by these statistics released for Frozen's 10th Anniversary last year.
Unlike many characters in the official Disney Princess lineup, Mulan is not born into royalty, nor does she marry a prince by the end of her film. Her story centers on bravery, sacrifice, and self-discovery rather than royal lineage or a fairy-tale romance.
Trivia. She was an official Disney Princess until she was replaced by Tiana as the 9th princess in the lineup due to having her own franchise "Disney Fairies."
Kida is over 8,800 years old. Fans have clamored for Kida to be included in the Disney Princess lineup for diversity purposes, but Disney executives had a feeling that Kida doesn't fit in, possibly because of the film's poor box office performance.
Cinderella is the super-sweet, quintessential princess. Kind and gentle to everyone (even mice), she puts off calm, humble energy.
The movie that almost ruined Disney was The Black Cauldron (1985), a dark fantasy animated film that was a massive box office bomb, nearly leading to the closure of Disney's animation division due to its huge budget, disappointing returns, and challenging themes that were too intense for its family audience. Its failure prompted major restructuring, eventually paving the way for the Disney Renaissance led by films like The Little Mermaid.
People are canceling Disney+ subscriptions due to a combination of factors, primarily a large-scale boycott following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in late 2025, triggered by his monologue about political figures, leading many to protest Disney's perceived censorship and alignment with certain values, alongside ongoing frustrations with rising prices, lack of fresh content, and app performance issues.
Trivia. Jane Porter at one point was considered to be part of the Disney Princess franchise, but she was later removed because her dress color scheme was likely too similar to Belle's. Also, the qualifications for being a Disney Princess changed over time, and Jane wasn't on the list.
No, there isn't an officially confirmed autistic Disney Princess, but many fans and theorists "autistic-code" characters like Belle, Rapunzel, Elsa, and Lilo, seeing autistic traits such as special interests (books, exploring), social isolation, and unique ways of processing the world in their stories, making them relatable for neurodivergent audiences. While Disney hasn't labeled a princess as autistic, the discussions highlight how characters often embody experiences common within the autistic community, like feeling like an outsider or finding comfort in specific activities.
Each year, 33 women are picked for the 500 Festival Princess Program — a select group who serve as ambassadors for the world-famous #Indy500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Toy Story 2 (1999) was almost lost when Pixar accidentally deleted most of the film, and it survived only because an employee had a backup copy saved at home. That employee now lives in a one bedroom apartment with two kids because its all she can afford. Meanwhile Walt Disney just bought a second yacht for his yacht.