Obviously the franchise has skyrocketed since it was a thing in the 90s. Disney heroines have been added and taken out for different reasons and people can't always agree on who should count as a princess and why. We know Mulan was added for diversity and that she's basically a princess at heart, but what exactly does that mean?

I think the DPs do make people, especially girls, feel special, beautiful, deserving of a happy ending when they see a a girl they look up to or relate to get one. I think there's just something magic about the Princesses specifically over the Heroines but it's hard to define what exactly it is. Mulan was popular enough to add but Eilonwy, an actual royal with a rounded personality, was never even considered due to her movie being too dark/an unmarketable flop. But then Esmeralda was briefly, a non royal like Mulan who is also heroic, but was taken out too.

Maybe in part it's thanks to third wave feminism supporting the belief that being girly, romantic, or wanting a fairy tale ending isn't as bad as people used to think (and often still do).

I am sure not if I am a DP fan. Fan of some DPs( Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Tiana, Belle and SOMEWHAT Mulan) - yes.
Pocahontas - relatable and inspiring.
Rapunzel - admirable, inspiring, beautiful love story and the combination of innocent personality and green eyes( I hate that green eyes are so often assoicated with villainesses and very sexualized heroines). "Your eyes fit your personality very well. Green is color of spring. Spring came to me when I met you", it's what my male OC says to his girlfriend, I totally see Eugene saying this to Rapunzel.
Tiana - very balanced personality. She brokes the stereotype that ambitious women are bitchy.
Belle - nostalgic and relatable.
Mulan - relatable and I feel sorry for her more than for any other DP.
I can't say what I like about DPs in general. But they are mostly good role models.

People expect "more out of them" than they do the "heroine" category, I guess. Or so, it appears to me.

They're a more cohesive brand .

Sure, but why the princesses specifically when there are so many other franchises for girls out there? I've never met a little girl who didn't like them. They've become such a big thing in our culture with the YouTube parodies and articles written about which of them is the best role model and such.

I think you're probably right though, Disnerd.

Why? what other princesses brands are there that are as big a conglomerate as Disney? What other Disney Princess brands have entire theme parks, movies, tv shows centered around the company?

i think it's only the title "princess" that gives a feeling of exclusivity. If any of the heroines were a princess she'd be loved more than she is as heroine.

i think it's mostly because the princesses generally represent more iconic disney movies - the ones people get the most sentimental/nostalgic over - than because of any traits they share as a group that the heroines don't.

I love the princesses. I love what they stand for, love all their characteristics and flaws, love the hope and empowerment they instill in their fans, and so much more. But I also love the heroines and all these things about them too. The difference in appeal to me (honestly) is the marketing. You see the Official Lineup everywhere! On lunchboxes, backpacks, dinnerware, clothes, shoes, merchandise of every sort. Little girls (and boys) from babies on up are exposed to the Lineup from a very early age. I know for my nieces, you weren't cool unless you had a DP backpack or pencils, anything DP. That being said, once exposed to the DP's, their movies, stories, ect., I think little girls (and safe to say, most or all of us here) come to love the individual DP's. Most of us grew up with the movies and stories and knew them already without have the Line Up affect us. The DP's get more exposure worldwide than the heroines do. For true fans the appeal is for the characters themselves but in general marketing is what I believe makes more of an appeal difference.

It's like an exclusive clique that Disney makes you feel apart of.