Top 10 Most Romantic Things Disney Princes Have Done

It’s the kiss that started it all. Though Disney Princes and Princesses have evolved a lot in the last few decades, we cannot ignore this first Disney couple. After Snow White is poisoned by the Evil Queen, the Prince searches for her far and wide and wakes her with love’s first kiss. She’d been on his mind ever since that beautiful duet at their first meeting. This moment is so iconic that many other Disney love stories are based on it. The idea of true love and the theme that the power of love conquers all have become staples of Disney romances.

The romance of “Snow White” might make us swoon, but how would it fare in real life? “Enchanted” subverts the Disney formula, while still affirming the power of love. When Giselle emulates Snow Whites and bites into a poison apple, the prince from her cookie cutter fairytale world is NOT the guy for the job. In the eleventh hour (or rather, when the clock strikes twelve), it becomes obvious who has the power to revive her. Robert has spent the entire movie trying to ignore Giselle's naive and optimistic ways, but here he finally believes in the magic of true love - and that's a pretty special thing.

Prince Charming is the guy that made our young hearts believe in love at first sight. After one night of dancing with Cinderella, he falls so deeply in love with her that he searches the entire kingdom to find her again. This act is so epically romantic that a whole slew of rom coms have been based on it. Prince Charming only gets even more romantic in the live action adaptation of this animated classic. That added scene where Kit shows Cinderella his secret garden almost rivals his later search for her.

Though we refer to them as Disney Princess movies, it’s the princes who often get all the glory. But Kristoff is not that kind of Disney Prince. He doesn’t have to be the hero, save the girl, or fight the battle, he’s just ready to back Anna up when she needs him and help her the way she needs it. Unlike many of the other Disney Princes on this list, Kristoff doesn’t have to demonstrate his love through some grand romantic gesture. He shows Anna he cares by simply supporting her in her own adventure. His romantic gestures, like when he asks Anna to marry him, are just the cherries on top.

He may not be a traditional Disney Prince, but we’re gonna throw him a bone anyway. The Tramp from the wrong side of the tracks takes Lady on a whirlwind adventure, but he saves some time for a little romance. That Italian dinner in the alley under starlight while being serenaded really is a beautiful night. And when he nuzzles the meatball over to her, or when they slurp the same spaghetti and end up in a kiss, who doesn’t swoon? This moment is so romantic, pop culture has been imitating it ever since.

While we’re on the topic of unconventional Disney Princes, we need to talk about Ray. Naveen definitely gets points for being willing to sacrifice his dreams to make sure Tiana could have hers, but in our book, Ray is the real prince. Ray spends the whole movie longing for his Evangeline. And though the rest of the characters roll their eyes at his fascination with a star in the sky, Ray never stops loving her, and never stops believing they’ll be united one day. And lo and behold, he makes his friends believe too as he joins her as another star in the sky.

Even before he was cursed, Beast didn’t seem like the most romantic guy in the kingdom. And holding Belle captive wasn’t exactly smooth either. But he definitely upped his game with this move. Knowing that books are Belle's greatest passion, Beast presents her with his grand library. The more time he spends with Belle, the more he opens up to the possibility that someone could love him, even in his beastly state. With each new part of the castle he shows Belle, he opens up himself more. When he opens the doors to the library, he opens up his heart to her.

Who knew a street rat could have such smooth moves? Aladdin becomes enamored with Jasmine the very first time he sees her, and after meeting the genie, he pulls out all the stops in trying to impress her. Much to his embarrassment, the harder he tries, the less the princess likes him. The thing that really woos her is Aladdin simply being himself, and showing Jasmine the version of Agrabah he sees all the time. Jasmine has never left the castle, aside from a few sneak outs, but dreams of adventure. Just when Aladdin had pretty much blown his shot with her, he makes this grand gesture and shows her a whole new world.

Hercules' entire journey is based on his goal to reacquire his godliness and return to Olympus with his birth parents. But over the course of that journey, he realizes that the place where he truly belongs is with Meg. When she dies saving his life, he goes to Hades willing to trade his soul for hers. And although his bravery and virtue do earn him back his godliness, he doubles down and trades it all for a mortal life on Earth with Meg. If that’s not true love, then what on Earth or Olympus is?

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

Tarzan Shows Jane the Jungle
“Tarzan” (1999)

John Smith Saves Chief Powhatan
“Pocahontas” (1995)

Eric Takes Ariel Back to the Palace
“The Little Mermaid” (1989)

Prince Phillip Dances with Aurora
“Sleeping Beauty” (1959)

Shang Stays for Dinner
“Mulan” (1998)

This is hands down the most romantic scene in Disney history. It's always been Rapunzel's dream to see the floating lanterns at the palace, so Flynn, aka Eugene, takes her for a boat ride with lanterns of their own. Out on the water, they sing one of Disney's most beautiful songs ever to each other surrounded by the light. The song, the lanterns, the boat on the water; this scene had grown adults in tears. And there’s no writing that one moment off as a fluke, because he steals our hearts again when he cuts off Rapunzel’s hair before she can heal him to free her from Mother Gothel.