Live Action Ariel Performers in Disneyworld

Discussing the Live Action Ariel casting, Halle Bailey, and how it relates to Disneyworld casting performers for the role in their theme parks.
"Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon."--Song of Solomon 1:5
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The Tiana image his image was originally posted to Flickr by HarshLight at flickr.com/pho... (archive). It was reviewed on 10 December 2019 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.
The Disneyworld Princess image was originally posted to Flickr by CandaceApril at www.flickr.com.... It was reviewed on 29 January 2014 by FlickreviewR and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

[@summmerlyyy]

I'm so excited they decided to do this meet and greet because the reaction videos from people meeting the live action Ariel speak VOLUMES! All of the friends of Ariel are gorgeous and look just like Halle! I love it!!

[@Dani-wh7yn]

“hopefully they do this one right” she says as strange world flashes across the background 😂😂

[@coyotefever105]

Princess Tiana is underrated as a character I think.

[@mikaelacash3791]

I hope Disney does a princess who has a physical disability someday. I'd never be able to be a Disney Princess with my need for a wheelchair. Ariel is the closest I can get at this point because we were both non-verbal for points of time and obviously she can't walk while in mermaid form. She helps me to some degree with knowing that I can still be a princess, even if I'm not "perfect" and able-bodied. Nobody recognizes her as a disabled princess, though, because Disney doesn't mention it. A princess who used a wheelchair, though? I would cry. I really would. Maybe someday... But for now, I'm glad that people of color are getting the chance to see Ariel as someone who they can see themselves in, just as I've been able to see myself in her in the past. Ariel really does mean a lot to me, and I want Disney to get this movie right.

[@OakesPrincess]

Agreed! I feel like I had this discussion in another video I uploaded awhile back, titled "Disney Art & Disability: Heart Transplant Story" ...hopefully we will indeed see that!

[@mikaelacash3791]

@@OakesPrincess Oh wow, that video was quite awhile ago. I had to go look back for it. Lol

[@OakesPrincess]

:D I had taken a few years off from KZbin :D but I'm coming back finally, lol.

[@mikaelacash3791]

@@OakesPrincess And I'm so glad to see that! Welcome back!

[@OakesPrincess]

@@mikaelacash3791 thank you!

[@crazyauntieapril5380]

Love this video, the experience you shared, the book, and your belief in God! What a beautiful message! I'll have to try and find that book! Thankyou! I remember being so excited when Disney did Mulan. We are all children of God! Thanks again!

[@OakesPrincess]

Thank you! OHHH Mulan! My heart, be still!!! I can't tell you how many mothers of Chinese daughters in America LOOVED Mulan at Disney (you have a lot of adopted daughters from China, mind you!) So moms, naturally, wanted their daughters to love Mulan.

[@ethanarmitage5611]

My name is Uncle Ariel Ethan.

[@OakesPrincess]

Hey Uncle Ariel Ethan, xoxo

[@timslee0618]

Nice you added a clip from Former UFC fighter Yoel Romero from his post fight interview

[@OakesPrincess]

I think that's what's actually needed in America. This video is a "sort of" controversial topic, but I was hoping the message might try and make peace with everyone's differences. I don't know a lot about UFC or Yoel, but I like the childlike faith that I see from the fighters. So ironic to hear it come from the mouths of fighters, lol.

[@butterfly6864]

Yes Jennifer you are right Jesus did die for All of us. I watch your videos. 😊

[@OakesPrincess]

Thanks for watching!

[@laurendewitt8403]

great video i am black girl but light skin so i couldnt even try out princess in frog for disney world also i am to short i am 5'2 if did had 5'2 as disney princess with my skin ton i think probly do pocahontas i do have little native american though my dad side of family but now think maybe pass for mona to i see park vision of her she light skin but yea also not princess and frog fan as moive but think try gave tv show a chance on disney plus i think i love to cosply i can be jasmie pocahontas or ariel with out working at the parks

[@OakesPrincess]

Hey Lauren! Great to see you in the comments again! 🥰 I hope you're well!

[@laurendewitt8403]

@@OakesPrincess i doing fine just wish in fl right now elsa bring chicago cold tormorw going be 12 as high and tuesday as well 12 agagin

[@GeeBri]

❤❤❤❤

[@sophiamcbride2457]

i’m glad they’re doing more black representation in the new live action but i also think that they should make a whole new princess that’s black. they need another black princess in the lineup

[@OakesPrincess]

You mean like one with her own story? Not necessarily the Hans Christian Anderson Mermaid? Watch the video a little further, I have a suggestion for Disney!

[@sophiamcbride2457]

yes exactly! i commented in the middle of the video so hadn’t watched the whole thing yet haha

[@OakesPrincess]

@@sophiamcbride2457 I do the same thing when I watch KZbin 😆 yes! My daughter actually asks the same question, like why didn't they give a new black princess her own original story, vs take from the cartoon? Because Ariel was absolutely her favorite and to be honest, I agree with this. I didn't think to mention it because, I guess, what's done is done. Like the Black Panther film was original so that was nice... that Mufaro's daughter book didn't piggy back off of another story that I know of, so I keep wondering why Disney didn't look into African folklore. Since I homeschool, we read a lot of different classic stories from all around the world and Disney should have had plenty to choose from. But here we are 😆 Disney in general is making a buck off of every single cartoon they ever made, making all these live action versions, irrespective of race, that has been the big upset for many people. But I guess they make money? Especially with all the big flops they've been having, they really need this to do well.

[@BratzRockAngels]

They're already making a new black princess in 2023 named Asha.

[@OakesPrincess]

@@BratzRockAngels oh I wonder what story it is?

[@2010Aveen]

I think the more representation the better. I don't remember them having characters in the park to represent any of the live action films before though?But I still think its great. What I really disliked about the Princess and the Frog is that, they made a massive promotional point of saying it was the first black princess...but Tiana spends so much of the movie as a Frog, so it's disappointing.

[@OakesPrincess]

Oh you know! I never thought about her being a frog so much in the film! But you're right!

[@yippedoodah]

They've had live-action Cruella and Maleficent at special events so it's speculated that live-action Ariel will be at one of those too.

[@blueer0se]

I never needed any of the princess to be my skin tone or ethnicity in order for them to represent me. But that’s just me

[@OakesPrincess]

@Princess Hearts I feel you! (sorry, I'm writing a novel!) In a way, I feel the same! Princess Aurora is the opposite of me physically speaking, but for me, she was always my favorite. But I knew I could never portray her at Disney & I accepted that. I did LOVE being Jasmine and I learned to love her more than Aurora, but technically, Jasmine was always a fave of mine, so it wasn't hard, lol. I will be real with you though and I am ashamed to tell people this & ashamed to write this on the internet, but I will be vulnerable... I used to hate that I was Hispanic.... I hated my dark eyes and I hated my dark hair & I just wanted to be .. "white" growing up.. white like my friends.. why??? because, in the 90s, Pamela Anderson was what you wanted to be.. and besides that, all the guys loved the blondes, but especially my crush, Travis... He told me that his parents would never allow him to date someone like me & though he was my friend and flirted with me all the time, from sophomore year of high school until when we were in college, he never dated me and he only wanted to marry a blonde and that's the only type of girl I ever saw him date. And to be honest, I'm not mad at him. You cannot help who you are attracted to. But he did lead me on! lol. anyways, that being said, it took me a long time to feel like "my type/my kind" was attractive and shame on me that it took me seeing celebrities like JLo & Penelope Cruz to think, "Hey, I guess I am pretty..." but it took that for me to realize.. isn't that terrible? It is. Shame on me for not knowing better. I wish my mom or dad would have told me to love myself the way I was but my mom never had to struggle with self confidence issues when she was growing up. But I did. She grew up in Colombia and married another Colombian, so.. it just wasn't hard for her. I was called a "Mexican" in high school, as though that is a bad thing??? It was meant as a derogatory remark.. sad. And so you see where I maybe struggled.. I used to hear the kids talk about how annoying those noisy Hispanics were.. (they were pretty loud, not gonna lie.. lol, that's another story) but yeah. It isn't easy to feel like society considers you.. "unattractive." It's been a struggle for the black community, especially.... truthfully, anybody who "doesn't fit in" is going to feel that way.. regardless of where you live in the world, if you are in China? and you are Indian? you could struggle.. Japan, etc.. confidence is beautiful though. It can improve not only the way you view yourself but how others perceive you, when you have confidence. I still recall the Cinderella in Epcot complaining about the Hispanic families.. lol. If you have ever seen the film, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," you may understand what I was feeling. lol. The Hispanic families are often chaotic at the tables, or at least they were when I worked. English (British families) were the most well mannered, honestly, in my memories! hahaha. But yes, it was painful to hear the Cinderella complain about the Hispanics because they reminded me of my family growing up and the way we are and yes, my husband complains about our chaos. LOL But he loves me and my family, so I hear him and I get him and technically, I'm born & raised American, so I get it. I understood the Cinderella's frustrations w/the Hispanics. So all I can do is do my best to educate Hispanics to American culture if they are unaware. At this point, my parents have lived in the USA for longer than they ever lived in Colombia...and now my parents are grandparents, so now all the grandkids are mixed w/white and Chinese or whoever else we married and the kids are being raised American, speaking English, etc. So they understand American culture now, but when you immigrate from another nation and you have different customs, there is a learning curve. One of the most shocking things for me, going to work at Disney, was how many mixed race families there were in the nation. I was so shocked. Having lived in northern Orlando, near UCF since I was in middle school, I wasn't exposed to a lot of "mixing of the races," because it was very small town. Orlando has exploded as a city though, so I don't think things are that way here anymore, however back in the day, it just wasn't seen all that often, but Disney opened up my eyes. You also have a lot of families adopting these days w/infertility issues and blended/mixed families. I technically consider my relationship to be "mixed race" because of my Latin American heritage, but at the same time, it's like my husband told me, "When I see you, I just see an American" & he loves my heritage, my dark brown eyes, & my skin, etc.. my outward appearance doesn't bother him. Everyone wants to have a chance to know that they aren't repulsive looking. It's important. But at the same time, it's important to know that beauty is vain.. It took me years to learn that and I'm sure I'm still learning it now.

[@blueer0se]

@@OakesPrincess I thank you for your response and I understand and relate to what you said. Being from Belize I was always mistaken for Mexican and I did hate myself for not being able to speak Spanish and to this day I can’t and I’ve tried. I’ve also accepted that in Disney I can’t a Princess but I have learned that anywhere else in the world I can be any princess I want. The only Princess I can’t relate to is Belle, and only because she’s super smart and I’m not so much. Personality wise I think I’m more like Elsa but I think Jasmine would be my favorite friend lol if she was real. I been following you for years and I’m truly grateful that you under stood I meant no malice in my comment. I just lack understanding, especially since I’m pretty mad about what they did to Eric. He was my favorite Prince. And confidence is beauty, teaching my daughter confidence so she’s not taught to think she ugly by others. Or I’m trying to anyways, any advice is helpful.

[@theresamarie6258]

I would really love to see a Disney princess who is not a size 2. Disney is trying to be inclusive with race which is great. But I would have to say that the majority of females in the US are over a size 2. It would be great to see some representation of that.

[@OakesPrincess]

Well I've never been a size 2 myself 😅

[@vj563]

Amen Jennifer! If people focused on Jesus Christ instead of the things of this world, I think this world would be much different, but sadly we live in a fallen world. Many are on the broad road. I pray more come to know Christ before it's too late. He's the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. God bless you Jennifer. Thank you for standing for Jesus. ❤🙏

[@OakesPrincess]

Praise Jesus, indeed. There you go. The road is narrow. Things like who portrays Ariel are so trivial and unimportant in the grand scheme of things and Jesus didn't really get too mixed up in politics last time I checked... He was about His Father's business. It's easy to get wrapped up in politics especially w/everything going on. But. Salvation doesn't hang on who you voted for... we need to remember the greatest commandment, according to Jesus was to "Love the Lord w/all our hearts, mind, soul & strength..& the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself." & when we do that, we bear fruit, Lord help us. This world is fallen. We all fall down, but thank God for sending Jesus.

[@Hevynly1]

My concern is more with the children who believe these characters exist. Now that there are two, very different from each other, which Ariel is "real"? Will it ruin the magic for the children? Will it cause confusion and questioning whether all the characters are real or not? Will both versions represent Ariel in the parks? Will kids be upset if they don't get to see "their" Ariel? I'm not sure. When I worked at Disneyland, there was such an emphasis on maintaining character integrity for the sake of the children and keeping that belief going in whatever we did or said. We acted as if the characters were real for the sake of the kids. So, new adaptations of old princesses I'm not sure I agree with yet - we'll see how the kids take to it, but I absolutely agree there needs to be more racial representation with the Disney princesses... but with their own unique stories. It's, imo, lazy (and cheap) of Disney to recycle an old favorite instead of telling a new tale.

[@OakesPrincess]

lol, I hadn't thought that deep about it, but then again, my kids do understand they aren't real. It could definitely be the thing that gives it away to the kids, I'm not gonna lie there. I do think it is very possible that it will cause confusion. Which, again, is the reason I think Disney should have just created an entirely different story, personally, though I didn't go over that in the video & you mentioned that in your comment, which I agree with. That Mufaro's Daughter book in this video? This is not the first time I have talked about it! I really wish Disney would have considered it, specifically because it has African folktale roots, which, Disney always takes classic stories from various countries & spins them in the way that they do. I'm not entirely sure why they chose to make it about Ariel? It would make for an interesting interview. That being said, I'm still not mad about this Ariel...but again, I'm not the one who will be the most affected by it because my kids are already older. That book I featured w/the mermaids had an original African mermaid folktale, and it would have been cool had they used that one & then had her meet up w/Ariel & then they could have kept the character integrity. But, it's done. This Ariel is happening... I just want people to love her as she is, regardless of it all. Today, my husband and I saw the Avatar film & there was a preview for the new Live Action Ariel film & the visuals were stunning, Halle's voice was AMAZING.. she was gorgeous. So, will it affect character integrity? Will it ruin the magic? yes, quite possibly... but let's be real... lol, Disney has kinda been doing that a lot lately & it's why the company is has had to go back to Iger. But, I think Halle has what it takes to charm us... I think we can fall for her the way we fell for Ariel the OG.. Disney just needs to play their cards right.

[@Hevynly1]

@@OakesPrincess I agree. I really wish they would have given created a new Princess. They seem to be afraid of new stories and The Little Mermaid was basically storyboarded out for them already, so they didn't need to do much by way of pre-production. There are so many great storytellers out there and stories from antiquity that would do so well as Disney features but... they're not the company they once were. So sad.