Top 5 Disney Characters We Wanted to Be When We Grew Up & 5 We Actually Became

“Mulan” (1998)
There are definitely parts of Mulan we identified with, like looking at our reflections and feeling like we don’t recognize the person staring back. Yet, when we watched “Mulan,” we wanted to be that badass warrior who trains hard and takes down enemies as ferocious as Shan Yu. Okay, maybe not literally. However, we’d love to be able to tackle life’s hardships with “the force of a great typhoon” and “the strength of a raging fire.” Sure, we’ve kept pieces of Mulan with us—like finding our inner fire and proving our critics wrong. However, we’ve also accepted we’re not saving empires anytime soon, and our ancestors aren’t sending any pint-sized dragons our way.

“Moana” (2016)
Okay, this one’s still a work in progress, but we’re getting there! When we were younger, we cared way too much about what others thought and often buried our true selves to fit in. Eventually, we just threw up our hands and thought, “What’s the point?” Sure, the village might think you’re crazy, but if you’re living your best life, do you even care? Gramma Tala lives a joy-filled existence and inspires Moana to stay true to herself—even if it doesn’t align with her village’s expectations. We’re not quite solo dancing on the beach yet, but the tides are changing in how freely we choose to live—even if it does earn us a few side-eyes.

“The Little Mermaid” (1989)
Why wouldn’t we want to be Ariel? She’s curious, adventurous, and gets to explore a whole new world—literally! Growing up, we all probably wanted that taste of freedom, to break free from the rules and experience life in a totally different way. While we’re not saying we’d rush to sign a contract with a sea witch, we’d definitely be tempted to trade our legs for a mermaid tail to dive into Ariel’s world; after all, we hear it’s better! Ariel’s determination to go after what she wants and not settle for less is something we could all relate to. Sadly, one day, we realized we’d grown up when we found ourselves siding with King Triton.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)
What can we say? Grumpy gets it! You won’t hear us sing joyfully during a busy commute, either! The world can be frustrating, and sometimes, the last thing we need is another overly cheerful person in our face. Like him, we’ve learned the value of setting boundaries and keeping a little distance from things that don’t feel right. We’ve also become experts in spotting things that annoy us. Life doesn’t always feel like a fairytale, so we prefer to keep it real, even if it means sounding a little... grumpy. But, like Grumpy, deep down, we’ve got a soft spot and care deeply for our loved ones—even if we’re not the first to show it.

“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
There were probably several Disney princesses we wanted to be growing up. We related to Belle’s dreams of leaving her small town to find “adventure in the great wide somewhere.” Meanwhile, Tiana encouraged us to turn our dreams into reality through hard work and determination. Both princesses taught us to follow our hearts and create our own destiny. Belle doesn’t care what others think—she loves reading, dreams of a bigger life, and isn’t afraid to stand up for her beliefs. She also taught us to look beyond appearances and see the good in people. Plus, who wouldn’t want to explore an enchanted castle, spend hours in that library, and live with a talking candelabra?

Various
On a regular day, Donald Duck is just your average duck, getting on with his life like the rest of us. But when his feathers get ruffled—oh boy! And okay, we’ll admit it: we’ve definitely been known to throw a little tantrum when life gets overwhelming… or just mildly inconvenient. Our outbursts may also turn into incomprehensible messes of noise and frustration. Like Donald, we’ve got a knack for getting in over our heads, which, surprise surprise, leads to trouble. Hands up if you relate to that! Now, keep them up if you also get hot-headed when things don’t go as planned. We’re basically one sailor suit away from fully embracing our inner Donald Duck!

“The Incredibles” franchise (2004-)
Who wouldn’t want to be fabulous dahling? She might be small in stature, but she’s big on conviction, creativity, and being herself unapologetically. We were in awe of this practical fashionista’s no-nonsense attitude and unwavering self-belief. Edna knows exactly who she is, and if you don’t get her, well, that’s just a you problem now, isn’t it? Honestly, who wouldn’t want to walk into any room with that “I’m in charge” energy? She’s a force to be reckoned with, with a quick wit and unforgettable one-liners. We wanted her confidence to do things our way, her vision to make them happen, and her courage to speak our minds fearlessly—all while looking like a million bucks.

“The Little Mermaid” (1989-)
As we mentioned earlier, we grew up wanting to be Ariel, but as we got older, we realized we’re actually more like Sebastian—not just because we can get a little crabby. Sebastian does his best to keep things calm while anticipating the next storm. When we were younger, we probably saw him as a buzzkill, but now we get that he’s the voice of reason. He’s always watching out for everyone, trying to steer them right—even if they’re not listening. For those reasons, we also identify with characters like Marlin from “Finding Nemo” and Zazu from “The Lion King.” Like them, we’ve learned that sometimes you just have to go with the flow—even if it feels like you’re swimming upstream.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Spirited Adventurer, a Fearless Rider & Just the Rootinest, Tootinest Cowgirl in the Toy Box!

Who Hasn’t Felt the Weight of the World on Their Shoulders? Luisa Showed Us That There’s Strength in Vulnerability

This Is the Version of Being “Stretched Too Thin” We Imagined in Our Futures

We Think This One’s Pretty Self-Explanatory, or Is It? What If It’s Not? Oh No!

“Tangled” (2010)
As kids, we all dreamed of the freedom and adventures waiting for us when we were older. While most of us didn’t have to deal with a Mother Gothel, we totally understood Rapunzel’s curiosity about the world and her need to explore beyond the tower, no matter what. Her bravery to take that leap lit something within us. Sure, stepping into the unknown is terrifying, but Rapunzel taught us that sometimes you just need to take a chance. Although, her crippling self-doubt after leaving the tower is super relatable now. Also, come on, who wouldn’t want magical hair with the power to heal? With the right haircare team, we just knew we’d be totally unstoppable.

“Winnie the Pooh” franchise (1966-)
Life doesn’t always feel like sunshine and rainbows, and sometimes, we can’t help but relate to this gloomy donkey. Eeyore is the master of embracing the less-than-ideal side of things, and honestly, there’s a certain comfort in his pessimism. Like him, we’ve all had those moments when everything seems to go wrong, or we’re just waiting for the next cloud to show up. Each of his friends are a mood too. You might find yourself relating stronger to Piglet, Rabbit, or even Tigger at times! What’s beautiful, though, is that this gang accepts each other as they are. Eeyore proves you can be loyal, thoughtful, and compassionate—even if you’re the one sighing in the corner.


Which Disney character did you idolize as a child, and which one do you identify with most now? Let us know in the comments