History YMMV / DisneyPrincess

** The era that a Princess debuted in has quite the impact on who they are, many of the UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation Princesses were White idealized WomenAreDelicate-types bordering on YamatoNadeshiko whereas the ones from the UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation and UsefulNotes/TheMillenniumAgeOfAnimation are a FiveTokenBand of {{Rebellious Princess}}es. With how Disney has treated its other franchises, a StraightGay Princess is practically inevitable.

** The era that a Princess debuted in has quite the impact on who they are, many of the UsefulNotes/DarkAgeOfAnimation Princesses were White idealized WomenAreDelicate-types bordering on YamatoNadeshiko whereas the ones from the UsefulNotes/RenaissanceAgeOfAnimation and UsefulNotes/MillenniumAgeOfAnimation are a FiveTokenBand of {{Rebellious Princess}}es. With how Disney has treated its other franchises, a StraightGay Princess is practically inevitable.

* ValuesDissonance: One justification of the RealWomenDontWearDresses criticism. Not only were the original fairy tales written centuries ago, but the time periods in which the earlier Disney Princesses were made had the "demure-but-hard-working ingenue" type as the epitome of womanhood in mainstream America. Naturally, this flies up the head of many modern fans who just peg them as "weak" and "whiny".

** ''Disney Palace Pets'' is SnarkBait amongst much of the older fanbase. The designs and premise itself is controversial, though people do tend to enjoy the various unused concept designs.

* HoYay: The PeripheryDemographic of older fans includes a fair number that like pairing the princesses up with each other instead of with princes. Some of the most popular inter-princess pairs are:

* AuthorsSavingThrow: As of the late 2010's and early 2020's, Pocahontas seems to be phasing out of the lineup, presumably to sweep the controversies surrounding her and her movie under the rug.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any real danger) and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, [[Film/TheNutcrackerAndTheFourRealms who had a role in a "princess" movie]], [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}'' or ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming Don't. Rescue yourself!]]" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** The scene in ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' where Jasmine kisses Jafar to distract him while Aladdin steals the lamp back caused Jasmine to receive a lot of criticism, [[MoralGuardians with said critics feeling that she was "overly sexualized"]] and that taking control of her female sexuality [[ThinkOfTheChildren "wouldn't send the best message to young girls"]]. Others, however, point out that Jasmine [[DefiantCaptive at least used her wit and her cunning to try and make a decent escape]] [[DamseloutofDistress while being captured by Jafar]] rather than simply letting Aladdin do all the work and waiting for him to rescue her; the fact that this required her to ShowSomeLeg, since Jafar tried to use his final wish to make Jasmine fall desperately in love with him all the while completely unaware that the Genie's magic cannot be used to make people fall in love, really shouldn't matter.

** Over the inclusion of characters who do not seem to fit with the line as easily as characters like Aurora or Rapunzel; that is, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Merida for being too athletic, not girly enough, and/or not a princess. Similarly, if Elsa joins the line-up, a lot of people feel that it is insulting somehow to being her queenship. ''Disney/{{Moana}}'' fans have been somewhat divided over the prospect she could join, though most seem to support it. The main debate is if she's technically a princess or not. She's [[InsistentTerminology a chief's daughter]], and her culture lacks the connotation of princess. On the other, even Maui points out that she fulfills the qualifications, brave, strong, sings, has an animal sidekick, and her title is the closest to a princess anyway. A concern for fans is her body type, which was made to go against the mold as she has a lot of muscle and built to look like it.
** Alternatively the ''exclusion'' of certain characters is this. For example, Esmeralda from ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (who actually was a ''Princess'' character early in the franchise) or even Nala from ''Disney/TheLionKing'' are fan-favorites but are not in for different reasons, however people often point at non-royalty like Mulan and question this.

* {{Fanon}}: [[Disney/BigHero6 Honey Lemon]] fans believe she could be part of the lineup, even saying she's probably related to Rapunzel to confirm her royal blood.

** Calling Kuzco from ''Disney/TheEmperorsNewGroove'' one's favourite princess.

* CriticalBacklash: Many of the users on certain social media websites, such as Tumblr, grew up watching these movies as kids and were inspired by the princesses due to them possibly being the first iconic female characters many girls ever came in contact with. Any criticism or comment about the princesses that isn't instant praise will be shot down by enthusiastic fans ready to defend them and correct any inaccurate argument.

** The princesses as a whole compared to other characters of Disney. While some fans admit the hatred the princesses have received over the years is overblown and inaccurate, some others will admit they're kinda tired of how Disney only focuses their attention onto these characters and ignores most of the other characters they have in their large roster. it's less an issue of criticism, but more preference according to fans, and what characters they'd prefer to see being focused on.

** Over the inclusion of characters who do not seem to fit with the line as easily as characters like Aurora or Rapunzel; that is, Pocahontas, Mulan, and Merida for being too athletic, not girly enough, and/or not a princess.
*** Similarly, if Elsa joins the line-up, a lot of people feel that it is insulting somehow to being her queenship.
*** ''Disney/{{Moana}}'' fans have been somewhat divided over the prospect she could join, though most seem to support it. The main debate is if she's technically a princess or not. She's [[InsistentTerminology a chief's daughter]], and her culture lacks the connotation of princess. On the other, even Maui points out that she fulfills the qualifications, brave, strong, sings, has an animal sidekick, and her title is the closest to a princess anyway. A concern for fans is her body type, which was made to go against the mold as she has a lot of muscle and built to look like it.

** Aurora/Pocahontas

** Elsa/Belle
** Elsa/Merida
** Elsa/Rapunzel
** Rapunzel/Merida
** Tiana/Cinderella
** Ariel/Moana

* SacredCow: The group has gotten this reception in places like social media websites such as tumblr, for many of the users there are young Millenials who grew up watching these movies as kids and were inspired by the princesses due to possibly being the first iconic female characters many girls ever came in contact with. Any criticism or comment about the princesses that won't be instant praise will be shot down by enthusiastic fans ready to defend them and correct any inaccurate argument.

** Aurora/Pocohantas

* SacredCow: The group has gotten this reception in places like social media such as tumblr, for many of the users there are young Millenials who grew up watching these movies as kids and were inspired by the princesses due to possibly the first iconic female characters they ever came in contact with. Any criticism or comment about the princesses that won't be instant praise will be shot down by enthusiastic fans ready to defend them.

* ValuesDissonance: One justification of the RealWomenDontWearDresses criticism. Not only were the original fairy tales written centuries ago, but the time periods in which the earlier Disney Princesses were made had the "demure-but-hard-working" type as the epitome of womanhood in mainstream America. Naturally, this flies up the head of many modern fans who just peg them as "weak" and "whiny".

* GirlShowGhetto: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE3G18tpNPk "Little girls know them. Little girls love them."]] This being said of movies that opened to the acclaim of young and old and man and woman alike.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any real danger) and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, who had a role in a "princess" movie, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''Cinderella'' or ''The Little Mermaid'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] Don't. Rescue yourself!" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** The scene in ''Aladdin'' where Jasmine kisses Jafar to distract him while Aladdin steals the lamp back caused Jasmine to receive a lot of criticism, [[MoralGuardians with said critics feeling that she was "overly sexualized"]] and that taking control of her female sexuality [[ThinkOfTheChildren "wouldn't send the best message to young girls"]]. Others, however, point out that Jasmine [[DefiantCaptive at least used her wit and her cunning to try and make a decent escape]] [[DamseloutofDistress while being captured by Jafar]] rather than simply letting Aladdin do all the work and waiting for him to rescue her; the fact that this required her to ShowSomeLeg, since Jafar tried to use his final wish to make Jasmine fall desperately in love with him all the while completely unaware that the Genie's magic cannot be used to make people fall in love, really shouldn't matter.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any real danger) and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, who had a role in a "princess" movie, [[DisproportionateRetribution outright bans her daughter from watching]] ''Cinderella'' or ''The Little Mermaid'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] Don't. Rescue yourself!" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** Ever since Disney's purchase of both Marvel and Lucasfilm, a popular internet meme is to label princesses from either Marvel or StarWars as Disney Princesses.

* HilariousInHindsight: For a long time the franchise attracted a certain amount of (mostly) friendly FandomRivalry online from ''StarWars'' fans who would jokingly contrast Princess Leia's ActionGirl characterization with the stereotypical view of Disney Princesses as super-girly [[DamselInDistress damsels]] [[FriendToAllLivingThings who sing to small forest creatures]]. Fast forward to late 2012...Disney acquires Lucasfilm, the Sequel Trilogy is announced shortly thereafter and suddenly Leia Organa technically ''is'' a Disney princess. Artists and humorists have gotten plenty of mileage out of Disney!Leia [[AffectionateParody (with a lot of overlap between the two)]] since the merger.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any real danger) and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, who had a role in a "princess" movie, [[DisproportionateRetribution outright ''bans'' her daughter from watching]] ''Cinderella'' or ''The Little Mermaid'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] Don't. Rescue yourself!" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** The scene in ''Aladdin'' where Jasmine kisses Jafar to distract him while Aladdin steals the lamp back caused Jasmine to receive a lot of criticism, [[MoralGuardians with said critics feeling that she was "overly sexualized"]] and that taking control of her female sexuality [[ThinkOfTheChildren "wouldn't send the best message to young girls"]]. Others, however, point out that Jasmine [[DefiantCaptive at least used her wit and her cunning in an attempt to make a decent escape]] [[DamseloutofDistress while being captured by Jafar]] rather than simply letting Aladdin do all the work and waiting for him to rescue her; the fact that this required her to ShowSomeLeg, since Jafar tried to use his final wish to make Jasmine fall desperately in love with him all the while completely unaware that the Genie's magic cannot be used to make people fall in love, really shouldn't matter.

** The scene in ''Aladdin'' where Jasmine kisses Jafar to distract him while Aladdin steals the lamp back caused Jasmine to receive a lot of criticism, [[MoralGuardians with said critics feeling that she was "overly sexualized"]] and that taking control of her female sexuality [[ThinkOfTheChildren "wouldn't send the best message to young girls"]]. Others, however, point out that Jasmine [[DefiantCaptive at least used her wit and her cunning in an attempt to make a decent escape]] [[DamseloutofDistress while being captured by Jafar]] rather than simply letting Aladdin do all the work and waiting for him to rescue her; the fact that this required her to [[Show Some Leg]], since Jafar tried to use his final wish to make Jasmine fall desperately in love with him all the while completely unaware that the Genie's magic cannot be used to make people fall in love, really shouldn't matter.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any real danger) and bad examples of feminism. Keira Knightley, who had a role in a "princess" movie, [[DisporportionateRetribution outright ''bans'' her daughter from watching]] ''Disney/Cinderella'' or ''Disney/The Little Mermaid'', citing all the oft-used arguments about how "[[CommonKnowledge [Cinderella] waits around for a rich guy to rescue her.]] Don't. Rescue yourself!" and how Ariel [[NeverLiveItDown "[gave her] voice up for a man"]]. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but are still good characters that were simply limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** The scene in ''Disney/Aladdin'' where Jasmine kisses Jafar to distract him while Aladdin steals the lamp back caused Jasmine to receive a lot of criticism, [[MoralGuardians with said critics feeling that she was "overly sexualized"]] and that taking control of her female sexuality [[ThinkOfTheChildren "wouldn't send the best message to young girls"]]. Others, however, point out that Jasmine at least was of her own mind and that she still bravely defied Jafar on multiple occasions.

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despite them not being in any danger) and bad examples of feminism. Even Keira Knightley and Kristen Bell, who had roles in princess movies, are radical feminists and Keira doesn't allow her daughter to watch Cinderella or the Little Mermaid for those damsel lies. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but still good characters that were limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** Jasmine is sometimes hated on for seducing Jafar, as radical feminists think that being a seductive woman is "sexualizing yourself".

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, "passive" damsels (despit them not being in any danger) and bad examples of feminism. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but still good characters that were limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

** Jasmine is sometimes hated on for seducing Jafar, as radical feminists think that bring a seductive woman is "sexualizing yourself".

** The classic princesses--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--are often criticized in fandom (and media) that believes they are terrible role models, shallow characters, and bad examples of feminism. Alternatively, many others see them as having perhaps aged not quite well, but still good characters that were limited by the time period they were in and made in, or even refreshingly different in their gentler personalities than the type of heroines usually made today.

* InternetBackdraft:
** Ask which one is the best. Or worse, which one is the "more feminist" and the "best role model for little girls". Cower as you're bombarded the almost-inevitably toxic discussions on ValuesDissonance, misogyny, SlutShaming, gender roles, whether Disney/{{Be|autyAndTheBeast}}lle suffers StockholmSyndrome or not, WhatMeasureIsANonBadass, etc.
** The Disney Princess design of Merida had multiple issues people drew from it:
*** First, fans perceived the dress to be entirely new, a "girly" version of the adventurous gown she wore in the majority of the movie. This is not strictly true, as the dress is actually a version of what she wore at the very end of the film, albeit more sparkly.
*** Second, was the cut of the dress. There was back-and-forth regarding whether the neckline was lowered.
*** Third, whether she was posed to look seductive or not.
*** Lastly, any changes to Merida's face and body, which was the most contentious. One the one hand, some people were claiming she was paler, appeared to be wearing make-up, her hair was more stylish than wild, had features altered to seem more attractive, and that her breast/waist ratio got wider. On the other, some people felt that much of that was simply a result of the 3D-to-2D transition. Still, there was no getting past Merida's waist getting thinner.
** Disney has since claimed that this design was always intended to be a brief change to welcome Merida into the line-up, and hasn't used the Disney Princess designs since.
** A smaller backdraft is the how some of the other princesses are reflected in the merchandise. Large amounts of fans are hugely annoyed that Aurora is depicted in the pink dress, rather than the blue it is for the majority of her film. The reason for the change seems to be because so many of the other princesses already have blue outfits - Snow White, Jasmine, Belle's regular dress and Cinderella (whose dress was amusingly white in her film). To another extent, when Mulan is shown in a dress, fans would rather it be the blue one she wears at the end of the movie - rather than the pink one she wore for the match maker.
** There's also the matter of other Disney heroines not being included - especially with Mulan and Pocahontas not technically being royalty (though Pocahontas is described as a princess to the King of England in her sequel movie). Esmeralda appeared to be part of the initial line but was dropped after a while. This extends to girls that are canonically princesses in their films - such as Eilonwy from ''Disney/TheBlackCauldron'' and Kida from ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire''. It's theorised that it's because their films didn't do well at the box office. Then there's the decision to keep ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' a separate entity from the Disney Princess line.

* LesYayShipping: The PeripheryDemographic of older fans includes a fair number that like pairing the princesses up with each other instead of with princes. Some of the most popular inter-princess pairs are: