Disney Launches the Ultimate Princess Celebration!

Just when I thought Disney Princesses were going out of style, Disney came out and announced a year-long celebration of their beloved heroines! The Global Ultimate Princess Celebration will roll out the red carpet with music, merchandise, and events devoted to the everlasting Disney Princess brand. I am overwhelmed by all of these announcements and don't even know where to begin. On May 21st, we will have a new Disney Princess anthem called "Starting Now" to replace Auli'i Cravalho's "Live Your Story" music video from 2018. The new song will be performed by Brandy, whose 1997 version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella was recently revived on Disney Plus. "Starting Now" will also be featured in a Disney Channel special this august called Disney Princess Remixed - An Ultimate Princess Celebration. Does that sound like a royal title or what?

Paper art of Elsa, Moana, and Tiana

The talented ladies Broadway Princess Party have been licensed by Disney to perform in an official Disney Princess concert tour. What's interesting about this to me is that Laura Osnes, who started the Broadway Princess party, has never worked for Disney in an official capacity until now, even though she has sung many of their songs onstage alongside Broadway's original Belle, Susan Egan, and Jasmine, Courtney Reed. I guess Disney was so impressed with their performances that they decided to take the Broadway Princess Party for themselves. Aisha Jackson, who understudied as Anna in the Frozen musical will be joining the party as well. The event is described on the official D23 website as "an unforgettable evening of story, animation, and song, alongside their magical musical director and an enchanting guest Prince." Even though Disney is not referring to the Broadway Princess Party by name, it sounds like the same the show, and I'm wondering if the original version is going to stick around much longer after Disney takes over. I'm also curious about any changes Disney might make to the concert after it gets touched by their magic.

Purple cover with princess silhouettes of the new book Takes of Courage and Kindness

Since it's Disney, this celebration will include a flood of new merchandise, including a book from Disney Publishing called Tales of Courage and Kindness. The book includes 14 original short stories that "demonstrate how the Disney Princesses, as well as Queens Anna and Elsa, are kind and courageous, each in her own way." The book is available to download now through August at disneyprincesstories.com along with upcoming videos of various Disney Princess voice actresses reading their stories out loud. You can share your own stories with Disney Princess-themed journals and stationary sets from The Happy Planner. Funko has also released some exquisitely detailed figurines of Ariel, Jasmine, Tiana, and Aurora, complete with animal friends and environments, which is a welcome change from their overly simplified standard designs. In honor of the princesses' giving nature, Disney has partnered with Starlight Children's Foundation to give princess-themed hospital gowns to children in need, a truly worthwhile endeavor.

Funko celebratory figures of Ariel, Jasmine, Tiana, and Aurora

If you haven't heard the news yet, Disneyland is opening up this week after over a year of lockdown. They will be participating in the Ultimate Princess Celebration with with a brand new version of Snow White's Scary Adventures called Snow White's Enchanted Wish. This animatronic dark ride is a complete reimagining of the original ride feature new lighting, music, animation, and more, similar to how Walt Disney World reimagined it with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Hong Kong Disneyland is celebrating with their impressive new Castle of Dreams, which draws inspiration from 13 different Disney Princess castles and stories. A brand new exhibit called Building a Dream: The Magic Behind a Disney Castle will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the imagineers' process in building the castle from conception to completion. Even if you don't plan on visiting the parks any time soon, it looks like there will be plenty of Disney Princess goodness to enjoy during this year-long celebration!

Sneak peek at Snow White's garden from Snow White's Enchanted Wish

I try not to get my hopes up with the direction princesses have been heading, especially when it comes to Disney. Today's announcement took me by surprise in a good way. I am thrilled to see that the characters I love are being given the attention they deserve and spreading their message of hope and kindness throughout the world with music, events, and specials. Even princesses as old-fashioned as Snow White have something positive to offer during today's difficult times. With so much hopelessness in the world right now, we need their positivity more than ever, and I can't wait to partake in all of these different ways to celebrate my love of princesses. Which part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments!
I have always dreamed of being a writer and creating the next great fairy tale princess heroine. Princesses inspire us to be our best selves. While you're here, feel free to follow my page on Facebook, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out my books. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter.

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