14 Times Disney Princes Were Actually Useful

Tangled’s Flynn Rider (secretly Eugene Fitzherbert) is a swashbuckling crook who proves his resourcefulness on numerous occasions. The most pivotal occasion comes near the end of the film when he climbs Rapunzel’s hair only to find her chained and muffled in Mother Gothel’s tower (who keeps the princess captive and uses her hair’s healing properties to retain her youth).

Gothel then fatally injures Eugene, causing Rapunzel to submit to Gothel if the former is allowed to heal her love. Instead of letting this happen, Eugene cuts off Rapunzel’s hair, which turns from gold to brown, loses its magic, and causes Gothel to age rapidly and perish. Doesn’t get more useful than that. 

All of Aladdin’s wishes are motivated by his desire to become a prince and win over Jasmine. Upon his fateful rubbing of Genie’s lamp at the beginning of the film, he promises to release Genie when all is said and done. Throughout the film, Aladdin’s integrity is tested - the audience isn’t sure if he’ll keep his promise. However, when Genie advises Aladdin to use his third (and final) wish to regain his royal title, allowing him to stay with Jasmine, Aladdin instead does the right thing and frees Genie.

Obviously, he ends up with Jasmine anyway when Sultan changes the law, but Aladdin didn’t know this. He keeps his word even when it means he might lose the love of his life. Aladdin is much more than a love interest. 

People love Beauty and the Beast’s Prince Adam - AKA Beast - probably because of the film’s permeating themes of love and redemption. After being cursed to live a life as the titular Beast (and his kingdom as various housewares) due to his vanity/cruelty (something he spends the entire film overcoming... his servants are actually much more "useful"), Adam/Beast shows his first signs of humanity after Belle wanders into the forbidden west wing of his castle and finds the symbolic rose.

Fearful of his outrage, Belle flees the castle and, while in the woods, is accosted by a pack of wolves. Realizing the error of his ways (sort of), Adam/Beast rescues her and is injured in the process. If it weren’t for this moment, the pair wouldn't fall in love - ultimately breaking the curse. 

Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Phillip is Aurora’s knight in shining armor, both figuratively and literally. After the latter pricks her finger, succumbs to a prophesied curse, and falls into a deep sleep (along with the rest of the kingdom), Maleficent locks Phillip away so that he will grow old, and his betrothed will never be awakened by true love’s kiss.

Thankfully, the fairies rescue Phillip and arm him with the magical Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue. Armed, Phillip hacks through Maleficent’s maze of thorns, engages Maleficent’s dragon form, and throws his empowered sword into her chest, ensuring the enchantress’s demise. Bravo. 

Let’s start by admitting that The Little Mermaid’s Prince Eric is annoyingly dim-witted - so much so that his ignorance drives most of the plot. Determined to discover the identity of the girl who saved him (which was Ariel), he ignores Ariel and ends up being hypnotized by a disguised Ursula. Fortunately, he comes to his senses just before marrying the film’s villain thanks to a group of birds and sea creatures that free Ariel’s voice.

During the final confrontation with Ursula, Eric springs into action to save his love - taking control of a ship and steering its splintered bowsprit through Ursula’s heart, ending her for good. A courageous fool. 

Questionable power dynamics aside, Mulan and Li Shang fall for one another (after he finds out she’s a woman). After Shan Yu is slain, Mulan is initially reprimanded/scolded by Chi Fu for her deception - at which point Li Shang defends her as a hero.

He’s also the first to bow when the Emperor honors her and the city’s inhabitants praise her as the hero of China.