So...what's up with Disney princesses?

[bosk1]

IMO, this forum is getting a little soft, so I figured we needed to have more metal-type topics like this one.     The following rant is brought to you by the 2013 Christmas shopping season, c/o dads with little girls. 

So, according to official Disney princess canon (yes, I looked it up; there actually is such a thing) the "official" list of coronated Disney princesses is:  Mulan, Snow White, Tiana, Cinderella, Belle, Merida, Rapunzel, Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine and Pocahontas.  If you like other female Disney characters, and don't understand why they aren't official princesses, hey, take it up with Disney. If she ain't an official princess, you are not going to find any Disney princess dolls, toys, accessories, etc.  You're just out of luck.  Sorry.  I don't make the rules.  I just...look them up on the Internet. 

So, okay, cool so far.  The character I am looking for is actually an official princess.  Which means I should be able to find a Disney princess doll of that character.  Problem is, I am learning that not all princesses are made equal.  Depending on the toy line, you simply aren't going to find anything for certain princesses at all, or particular princesses may be "rare" if they are not in high demand.  I face just such a dilemma with Mulan.  If you want Cinderalla, Belle, or Merida (well, she's the newest, so of course there are tons of Merida toys), you're in luck!  And while I don't think she's nearly as popular, Tiana seems to be in abundance as well.  But good luck finding Mulan, Pocahantas, or, to a lesser extent, Jasmine.  In fact, a lot of the toys, posters, etc. showing various "collections" of Disney princesses don't even have these characters.  Interesting... 

This brings me to the next part of my dilemma.  I am trying to find a Mulan doll for my daughter.  They are hard to find.  Disney.com only shows two in existence (other characters may have many, many different dolls).  Okay, fine.  But if possible, I wanted to pick something up in a store somewhere.  One particular retailer lists the following Disney Sparkling Princess Mulan Doll:  https://www.target.com/p/disney-sparkling-princess-mulan-doll/-/A-13842419#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=mulan+doll  Sounds like my problem is solved, right?  WRONG!  This doll is not available online.  It is only available in stores, and only in those stores that happen to have it.  Problem?  Getting there...  This particular store chain has a feature where you can check and see if the item is in stock in a particular store.  Okay.  So my local store has it.  The website says so.  So I go there.  They can't find it.  I go back a few weeks later.  Same result.  I call.  And I learn something interesting.  All the princess dolls have the same items #.  What that means is, if they check to see whether they have any, if it says they have 12 in stock, it could mean they have 8 Cinderellas, 2 Meridas, a Tiana, and a Belle.  So they have to physically check to see if they have Mulan.  Guess what?  They don't.  No store in my vicinity has one--at least, none of the ones I called before I ran out of patience has one.  And what is even more curious is that even though the Disney Sparkling Princess Mulan Doll clearly exists, she isn't pictured on the back of the boxes of any of the other princesses where they show you what other princess dolls all you little girls out there should convince your parents to spend money on.  And, yes, I tried some other big retailers as well.  Nobody seems to have it, and nobody but the Internet seems to have any evidence that it actually exists.

So, that's where I am.  WHY, DISNEY?  WHY?  I WANT A DISNEY SPARKLING PRINCESS MULAN DOLL!  IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?   

[orcus116]

I immediately thought of Jingle All The Way.

[matt1722]

Is this  the same one Bosk?? I don't know if you've tried amazon but they seem to have the one you want or at least something quite similar. it says they only have one in stock though so ohmygodyougottahurrybeforeIbuyitbecauseit'spretty.

https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Sparkling-Princess-Mulan-Doll/dp/B002TOJFN8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387251338&sr=8-1&keywords=Disney+Sparkling+Princess+Mulan+Doll

[bosk1]

Oh, cool!  Thanks, I--WHAT THE $35 BUCKS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  It's a $12 doll!

[matt1722]

 

I think that's the price you pay for that disney "Swagger" think of the children. Not the one your buying it for, I'm talking about those poor chinese kids who get paid to make that 35 dollar piece of plastic. 

[gmillerdrake]

Oh, cool!  Thanks, I--WHAT THE $35 BUCKS ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  It's a $12 doll!

The smile on your daughters face.........Priceless. 







I predict a $35 charge to Bosk1's credit card tonight.

[jingle.boy]

Option #2.  Hope I don't get banned.  Who needs clothes?

[Prog Snob]

That's just Disney.  Once something fades out, that's it.  It's next to impossible to find a product for that specific character.  We went through hell for my daughter the last couple of years trying to find Little Einsteins memoribilia.  Just about everything we wound up finding was on eBay or Amazon for at least twice the price.  So what does a father do?  Of course I buy it.  She's my daughter and it's her favorite show.  It's just how Disney is. Little Einsteins came and went but now you can't find anything on a Disney site.  They still play the show a hundred times a day but you can't find memoribilia. 

Sofia the First is the newest Disney princess though she hasn't been labeled an official Disney princes, she is an ACTUAL princess in the tv show.  You can find her stuff everywhere.

Anyway, I feel your pain Bosk.  I went through it and anyone who needs certain Disney stuff for their kids will have to deal with it too.

[gmillerdrake]

Option #2.  Hope I don't get banned.  Who needs clothes?

Why do I have the feeling that web address was already in your 'favorites' tab Chad? 



"She puts the lotion in the basket........."

[bosk1]

Option #2.  Hope I don't get banned.  Who needs clothes?

Bant!  No porn on this site! 

Sofia the First is the newest Disney princess though she hasn't been labeled an official Disney princes, she is an ACTUAL princess in the tv show.  You can find her stuff everywhere.

Anyway, I feel your pain Bosk.  I went through it and anyone who needs certain Disney stuff for their kids will have to deal with it too.

Yeah, I actually love Sophia.  But my wife is going through a "I want her to have a doll that looks like her, and not some blonde Barbie!" phase, which I get (and, yes, I know Sophia isn't blonde).  And to an extent, I agree.  If she already had a Chinese/Asian looking doll, my wife wouldn't care what other dolls she had.  But this is her first, so my wife is feeling particularly protective of her race and culture, which I get. 

[bosk1]

Option #2.  Hope I don't get banned.  Who needs clothes?

Why do I have the feeling that web address was already in your 'favorites' tab Chad? 



"She puts the lotion in the basket........."

[Prog Snob]

Sofia the First is the newest Disney princess though she hasn't been labeled an official Disney princes, she is an ACTUAL princess in the tv show.  You can find her stuff everywhere.

Anyway, I feel your pain Bosk.  I went through it and anyone who needs certain Disney stuff for their kids will have to deal with it too.

Yeah, I actually love Sophia.  But my wife is going through a "I want her to have a doll that looks like her, and not some blonde Barbie!" phase, which I get (and, yes, I know Sophia isn't blonde).  And to an extent, I agree.  If she already had a Chinese/Asian looking doll, my wife wouldn't care what other dolls she had.  But this is her first, so my wife is feeling particularly protective of her race and culture, which I get.

That is completely understandable.   What about June, from Little Einsteins, who is Asian.   She is my daugther's absolute favorite character so she has 4 different June dolls.

Just some suggestions.   https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.Xlittle+einsteins+Jun&_nkw=little+einsteins+June&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[bosk1]

I don't know that show.  But a little bit of research tells me she will probably like it.  But June looks like Dora the Explorer. 

She like Kai-lan, too.  But honestly, Kai-lan kinda freaks me out with that gigantic head.

[Prog Snob]

She looks a little like Dora, I noticed that too.  What I love about that show is that it incorporates classical music into every episode which is big for me.  So now my daughter hears certain well known classical pieces and she stops and listens to it.  She is obsessed with Swan Lake.    For a 3 year old I think that's pretty impressive. 

[TempusVox]

Bosk old man...easy fix. Get in your car and drive to Disneyland. There in the many high end, over priced Disney collectible shops you will find a multitude of Mulan dolls, swag, and other merchandise for sure. Whole thing should only set you back several hours and a few hundred dollars, tops! But the smile on that little angels face on the morning of December 25 will be well worth it.

[black_biff_stadler]

Option #2.  Hope I don't get banned.  Who needs clothes?

Too late.

But bosk, I'll sell it to you for just $1.79 more than that listing had it for, bottle of bleach included.

[Accelerando]

Bosk, I am actually home in Orlando visiting my folks for the holidays. There may some Mulan swag in the China pavilion in Epcot. Want me to keep an eye out for something? I think there may be some Mulan porcelain dolls

and yeah, coronation of Disney princesses are a big deal. The coronation for Merida, the first Pixar character in the canon, was huge! Also, I'm not sure how Mulan is a Disney princess. It is assumed she marries Li Shang, a captain of the royal army... Not a prince.

[Zook]

I got the Mulan doll last Christmas or the christmas before that. Can't remember, but I got it so

IN YOUR FACE, BOSK!

[Perpetual Change]

Mulan is the best and most badass Disney princess.

[Prog Snob]

Mulan is the best and most badass Disney princess.

No way. Goth Snow White is.

[davidolson22]

It took me less than 10 seconds to go to Amazon and find a Mulan doll. Not sure what the problem is. Don't expect to find it at Target/TOys are us because that doll simply doesn't sell enough to make it worthwhile to hold in stock.

[bosk1]

It took me less than 10 seconds to go to Amazon and find a Mulan doll. Not sure what the problem is. Don't expect to find it at Target/TOys are us because that doll simply doesn't sell enough to make it worthwhile to hold in stock.

Well, like I said, I know you can find some online.  But I was trying to avoid ordering online if possible.  But either way, whether online or in stores, the fact is that Mulan is more scarce nowadays, which is kind of a bummer.  It could simply be a case of "out with the old/in with the new."  I mean, just in the last few years, we've had The Princes and the Frog, Tangled, and Brave.  Those franchises are obviously going to be more popular than something in the '90s.  So you have the classics that never go out of style (Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty), and the "hot new thing," so that leaves little room in the market for something in between, I guess.  Plus the big marketing push for the hot-off-the-press Frozen, and competition from the Tinkerbell fairy franchise.  So I get it.  It's just unfortunate that the character I am most interested in at the moment has fallen off Disney's marketing radar for the time being.

I ended up ordering this one online from the Disney store:  https://www.disneystore.com/classic-disney-princess-mulan-doll-12/mp/1336912/1000259/   I was just hoping to avoid online ordering, if possible.  Not to mention that that isn't the outfit I was looking for.  But it'll have to do, I suppose.

[yorost]

I wish Mulan was a little more prominent, too. All in all, I rather dislike the princess line as a whole, though, it seems my daughter can't help but grab something with their branding in a toy section. I'm just not keen on letting that image get unleashed on her, but I've been looking into getting her some Mulan things, so, what do I know.

On the topic of Asian cartoon characters, what do you think of that girl, May, on Sid the Science Kid? Is she really an animated Chinese stereotype? I felt guilty just letting my daughter see her when she was home sick. Maybe it's just me, but when I ran across that show I just felt shocked that they would push that shtick on kids.

[bosk1]

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with stereotypes, as long as they aren't negative stereotypes.  I'm fine with May.  She's a good character. 

I also don't have a problem with the princess line as a whole either.  I get the argument of "Is that what we want to teach our girls?  That they should strive for these unattainable ideals of perfection?  And that if they don't attain that, that they are somehow failures?  Oh, the horror!"  But it also seems a bit ridiculous to me.  If we as parents can't teach our kids the difference between being real, genuine people who are content with ourselves, on one hand, vs. having fun and getting enjoyment from make believe, on the other hand, then I think the parenting as a whole is the problem, rather than the dolls.  But, hey, I don't mean to turn this into a real heavy debate either. 

[Podaar]

I bought this Ariel iPhone cover for my daughter to go in her stocking. I'm sure it's going to be a big hit!

[yorost]

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with stereotypes, as long as they aren't negative stereotypes.  I'm fine with May.  She's a good character. 

I also don't have a problem with the princess line as a whole either.  I get the argument of "Is that what we want to teach our girls?  That they should strive for these unattainable ideals of perfection?  And that if they don't attain that, that they are somehow failures?  Oh, the horror!"  But it also seems a bit ridiculous to me.  If we as parents can't teach our kids the difference between being real, genuine people who are content with ourselves, on one hand, vs. having fun and getting enjoyment from make believe, on the other hand, then I think the parenting as a whole is the problem, rather than the dolls.  But, hey, I don't mean to turn this into a real heavy debate either. 

Fair points on the princess line, but what I hate is the branding that gets slapped on everything. I'd just like to have some control on the branding my daughter gets blasted with, whereas the princess line seems to slap itself on anything it can. That makes it overly annoying, to me. ...but it wouldn't be so bad if I had some choice, like I wouldn't mind letting my daughter get Mulan branded items. To me, I'd rather get unbranded items unless I'm approving the brand for my daughter, but the princess line feels like it's trying to sneak in outside of my control. She's not interested in the brand, yet, but she's often going after items that have it on it. I don't want to over shelter her, but it feels like I almost have no choice that my daughter will like it, and that Disney will choose the princess's she likes most.

On May, part of what puts me off is that they seem to push her as an adult immigrant stereotype, she's a young, native English speaker as far as I can tell. That ridiculous accent, she feels wrong. It's like it enforces the notion that teaching a kid to be bilingual will give them an adult learner's accent. If she's in an English speaking country, she should have the ABC'er accent rather than the accent on the English side. Probably over thinking it, but it's not just language, something about her character makes me uncomfortable.

[bosk1]

Bosk, I am actually home in Orlando visiting my folks for the holidays. There may some Mulan swag in the China pavilion in Epcot. Want me to keep an eye out for something? I think there may be some Mulan porcelain dolls.

Thanks for the offer!  If I hadn't gone and ordered online already, I would definitely take you up on it.  But if you happen to see something nice while you're there (e.g. a porcelain), let me know.  I may spring for it even though I already basically got what I was looking for.

[davidolson22]

I ended up ordering this one online from the Disney store:  https://www.disneystore.com/classic-disney-princess-mulan-doll-12/mp/1336912/1000259/   I was just hoping to avoid online ordering, if possible.  Not to mention that that isn't the outfit I was looking for.  But it'll have to do, I suppose.

I hope it arrives in time. I have a bunch of stuff coming in the mail that may not make it in time cause Christmas snuck up on me a bit.

[bosk1]

Yeah, same here.  But the good thing is that she is still little, and won't mind getting something after the fact.  She'll still have presents to open on Christmas.  The one downside to Disney's website is that, unlike Amazon, there doesn't appear to be a way to track your order.  There is an "order status" area, but it doesn't give you a tracking number to actually see where the package is.

[gmillerdrake]

I took a stroll through Walmart and Target at lunch Bosk1 to see if I could find 'the' doll you had linked....no luck

And, I've never felt so uncomfortable and out of place than I was strolling through the little girls doll aisle     I have three young boys.....this Christmas it's all about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (yes for those of you from my generation....they're back and better than ever...the 'new' cartoon is friggin' great) and remote control "anything" cars/helicoptors.

 Anyway, Even though I know I was just looking for a doll for a little girl, I felt like I was being filmed for one of those Date Line pervert specials. So uncomfortable. I guess had I been blessed with a baby girl it'd be different for sure, but the fact of the matter is I've never really ventured into one of 'those' aisles and I won't be going back anytime soon....

[Podaar]

Gary,

I know of what you speak.

Last weekend I was in the Disney store looking for gifts for my granddaughters and at one point I saw a Merida outfit complete with bow and arrow. I thought my six-year old granddaughter would love it so I started looking through the display for one in her size. At one point I was holding up--at arms length no less--a size 8 and wondering if it would fit Cassidy when I looked down the aisle and noticed a woman staring at me. Mrs. P sidled up along side me and whispered, "creep alarm." 

Sheesh, it's not like I was checking the fit for me or something...

[kirksnosehair]

Disney is kind of notorious for this with their products.  For years my wife collected the little porcelain Disney figurines.  She had them all.  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Dumbo, Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, et al.  She made it all the way up to The Little Mermaid (I think  ) and then all of a sudden there were NO figurines at ANY of the brick and mortar Disney Stores.      Of course, this happened the year I was going to get her a new one, and I didn't have a backup plan.  I'm such a loser.      F'n Walt Disney...

[bosk1]

Gary,

I know of what you speak.

Last weekend I was in the Disney store looking for gifts for my granddaughters and at one point I saw a Merida outfit complete with bow and arrow. I thought my six-year old granddaughter would love it so I started looking through the display for one in her size. At one point I was holding up--at arms length no less--a size 8 and wondering if it would fit Cassidy when I looked down the aisle and noticed a woman staring at me. Mrs. P sidled up along side me and whispered, "creep alarm." 

Sheesh, it's not like I was checking the fit for me or something...

That's just silly.  If anyone thought anything untoward of me looking at stuff for my little girl, that's their problem, not mine.  If that woman had looked at me that way, I hope I would have had the presence of mind to hold the dress up against myself, wiggle my hips, and wink at her, or something like that. 

[lonestar]

Yeah, that's a visual I didn't need.

[yorost]

Can't get it out of your head, huh? ...creep.