New research suggests confidence, kindness and resilience are among the qualities parents and grandparents want young girls to develop – with Disney Princess stories helping to bring those traits to life.
Confidence, kindness and resilience are among the qualities women believe are most important for young girls growing up in today’s world, according to new research commissioned to mark Disney’s World Princess Week.
A OnePoll survey of 1,250 UK women, including young women, mums and grandmothers, found that 98% believe these qualities are important in helping girls prepare for the challenges of modern life. All three are qualities frequently reflected in Disney Princess stories.
For many families, those lessons begin through stories, films and shared activities. The research found that all of the women surveyed believe media can play an important role in teaching children values, while 93% said it is important for young girls to have strong female role models in the media.
Stories about overcoming challenges were also identified as particularly valuable, with 40% of women saying they have the most positive impact on children.
What can children learn from Disney Princesses?
Disney Princess characters were widely recognised by those surveyed as demonstrating many of the qualities women would like young girls to develop.
Kindness was identified by 72%, followed by confidence at 57% and resilience at 50%.
Kindness was also the quality women most wanted to pass on to the next generation. It was ranked as the number one trait by 76% of grandmothers and 65% of mothers.
The research suggests that, for many families, the appeal of Disney Princesses extends beyond childhood entertainment. 94% of mums said they had seen a young girl copying the behaviour or attitudes of a Disney Princess, while 79% agreed that Princess characters seen on screen can influence girls’ traits and behaviour.
Among the Disney Princesses included in the research, Moana was the character mothers most wanted their daughters to emulate. Her story centres on confidence, resilience and self-belief as she ventures beyond the reef, faces challenges and works to save her people.
Lessons that can last beyond childhood
The research also suggests that the qualities children encounter through Disney Princess stories can remain meaningful as they grow older.
More than eight in 10 mothers surveyed (81%) agreed that traits learned from Disney Princesses remain relevant as girls grow up. Among women aged 18-34, a quarter said the characters had helped them to be kinder to others, while 31% of mothers said the franchise had helped improve their confidence.
Lee Jury, SVP, Marketing for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, which commissioned the research, said:
“Stories have always been a powerful way for children to learn about the world and this research confirms those lessons endure well into adulthood.”
She added that the theme of this year’s World Princess Week, Once A Princess, Always A Princess, reflects the way people can carry the values associated with their favourite Princess characters into different stages of life.
Sharing the Disney Princess tradition
For many families, Disney Princesses are also part of shared family traditions.
The survey found that 78% of mothers take part in Princess-related activities with their daughters at least once a month, compared with 41% of grandmothers. These activities can include reading stories together, watching films and shows, playing with toys or dressing up.
Motsi Mabuse, ambassador for Disney’s World Princess Week, said that Disney Princess stories had been part of her own childhood and that she now enjoys sharing them with her daughter.
She said Tiana, who follows her dreams with determination and warmth, has a particular place in her heart.
World Princess Week 2026
Disney is marking World Princess Week with the release of a new short film, Once A Princess, Always A Princess: A Disney Short Film, from filmmaker Alex Prager.
The film is available to watch on Disney+ and YouTube.
The week-long celebration brings together new Disney Princess stories, entertainment, special events, products and activities inspired by characters including the Princesses who have become familiar to generations of families.
Fans can also watch Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration on Disney+, featuring what Disney describes as its largest gathering of Disney Princess talent to date. Other celebrations include new episodes and specials, Disney Princess-themed retail and live experiences, digital activities and opportunities to support Disney Princess wishes with Make-A-Wish®.
At the heart of this year’s celebration is the message “Once A Princess, Always A Princess” – reflecting the idea that the qualities children discover through beloved stories can continue to have a place in their lives as they grow.
Photo Disney
