What Disney Gets Wrong about "Happily Ever After"

And they all lived happily ever… until they didn’t. 

I grew up watching all the Disney princess movies, and there was one constant theme… the movie always ended with the princess riding off into the magical distance with her prince, and “they all lived happily ever”. It’s easy to think their lives were perfect, and I dreamed of the day when I would have my own happily ever after.

Happily Ever After??

Then we got married, and as beautiful as marriage is… it’s not perfect. It’s not what little Erica envisioned when she watched the Prince ride away with Snow White or Cinderella drive away in a beautiful carriage with Prince Charming. 

Marriage is hard work. It’s messy. It’s two sinners who are made one by vows made before God. 

In many ways, marriage isn’t “happily ever after” like Disney says it is. We have hard days where our sin splashes on each other or feelings get hurt. In those moments, it’s easy to believe the lie that we’re missing out on something Disney has to offer. We might chase that ever-elusive “happily ever after” that Disney shows us in their movies. But if we look for Disney’s version of happily ever after… we’re just going to end up being discontent in our marriages.

The castle won't fix our hearts.

Instead, I ask you (and myself) to consider another “happily ever after”... the ultimate and final happily ever after:

Heaven.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not one to try and over-spiritualize Disney. However, Disney paints this portrait of a final, beautiful, perfect ending for its princes and princesses. It seems final as the end credits roll onto the screen. But it’s a faint shadow of the beautiful and final perfection that is heaven. What is heaven? Heaven is eternity with our Savior Jesus Christ. Heaven is praising Jesus forever with every believer because He died for our sins and gave us eternal life. Heaven is finally shedding our sinful flesh and fully understanding our salvation.

Now that’s a happily ever after I want. 

If I’m focused on heaven in my marriage, it completely changes my perspective on a happily ever after. I’m going to heaven because Jesus saved me, and that gives my life and marriage so much more joy and meaning! I don’t need to chase some elusive happily ever after… it’s promised to me through Jesus’s death and resurrection. So when AJ and I aren’t agreeing or one of us is sinning against the other, I can be heavenly minded and forgive him because Jesus forgave me. And even though sin still exists, that joy and forgiveness brings such a rich idea of a “happily ever after”... more than Disney’s “happily ever after” ever could.

Disney is so much better when we're focused on loving each other like Christ loves us!

Do I love Disney princess movies still? Yes. 

Do I love the fireworks show Happily Ever After? I cry every time.

Do I look to Disney for my definition of a happily ever after? No. I look to Christ and consider His ultimate sacrifice for my life. 

Colossians 3:2 says we should “set (our) minds on things above, not on earthly things” (ESV). Friends, if you know Jesus as your Savior, then look to Jesus for your true happily ever after. 

If you don’t know if Jesus is your Savior, then I invite you to pray and consider the truth of God’s Word. 1 Timothy 1:15 sums up the gospel beautifully: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 

Jesus died so you might dwell with him in eternal heaven. Disney is fun, but if it's your life then you won’t ever find true satisfaction or joy. Our DMs are always open if you want to know more about our Savior. 

Until next time, keep enjoying Disney and keep finding your joy in the Lord. What a beautiful life God has given us!

Erica Caldwell

Happily Ever After Hours Blog