The Classic Princess, Walt Disney’s first clique of role models, was the basis of many a childhood. Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White were the heroes of their time.

Every young girl watched the movies in awe. Stories unfolded with dwarves whistling through their work days, and pumpkins turning into carriages with the words “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.” It was the childhood dream to be them, to have a prince come and save each and every girl.

Somewhere along this dream, Disney changed it on us.

The dream became less about a prince’s rescue causing the girl to live happily-ever after, and more about the journey of the girl to achieve that herself.

As society changes to allow girls to become more independent, the movies become less about relying on a prince. The new princesses develop attitudes, existing without the prince. They are no longer waiting to be saved, but stepping up to the challenge and working with the men of the story.

Our generation has begun to like the Classic Princesses less.

“Cinderella didn’t do anything,” said sophomore Raven Collins. “She just worked a lot around her house. She never stood up for herself. How is that a movie?”

“Snow White broke into a house, messed up the food, and then acted like nothing was wrong when seven men came home to find her. Does any more need to be said?” junior Meredith Johnson said.

The credentials of a “real” Disney princess seem to be changing.

“[The princess] has to do something, like go on an adventure. She has to be able to live somehow on her own.” Johnson said. “She also has to have a dead parent. Disney likes doing that.”

The newer princesses with the journeys and self-reliance have become the draw. Mention Snow White or Sleeping Beauty in a group of girls and you still get recognition, but mention Rapunzel or Elsa and your audience turns into a group of fan girls.

Disney is starting to reflect what our parents have always warned us of: Life is more about the journey then the happily-ever after.