>>6040864When I was a kid in the 80s/90s Disney was going through what they now call "The Disney Renaissance" Hit after hit film was being pumped out of the studio like Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The lion King.
Little mermaid came out, and the only merch released were shitty pvc static figures with zero points of articulation or possible dolls. I wanted the Ariel doll. I was obsessed with the film, and even as a kid thought that Ariel was hot. I was told I couldn't have her because dolls were for girl. I could have the Prince Eric doll because he looked like a G.I Joe I guess. I could care less about the Prince doll. I told my parents I would go over their heads, and ask Santa for it. My father bribed me with The Disney Channel if I didn't put the doll on my Christmas list for Santa. Back in the day Disney Channel wasn't total shit ,and you had to pay extra for it each month like you still have to do with HBO or Showtime today. I accepted because The 90s Disney Channel was awesome. Friend comes over to play. She brings her Ariel doll. I'm Jelly as fuck. Back than you couldn't buy Disney princess dolls all year long because there was no such thing as a The Disney princess doll line. Once the film left theaters all the merch related with the film would leave stores for good.
Same shit happened to me the next year when Beauty and the Beast came out, but worse. Mom was saving up money to buy me a Belle doll FOR MOTHS than spends the money on a birthday gift for one of her friends. The film leaves theaters, and all Beauty and the Beast dolls/Merch leaves all toy stores.
Now as an adult I blow thousands of dollars on Disney dolls each year. I guess I'm still trying to chase that Ariel doll I was never allowed to have as a child, but no matter how many dolls I buy today it will never be the same. Sorry for the wall of text.
