The Princess Problem

Summary
D.W. loves the Princess Platoon series until she understands that it doesn't represent everyone. With the help of Arthur's friend, Lydia, D.W. discovers the true qualities of a princess.

Plot
D.W. and Emily are at their preschool. They tell Amanda about the events about Princess Perky jumping from a tower, calling a unicorn, and saving a person and falling into the arms of a prince. They said it was "fun believable". Emily gives Amanda a tiara, and Lydia calls up a basketball match. The Tibble Twins volunteer for a game, but Lydia beats them.

Right before Lydia teaches them how to dribble, Lydia prohibits tiaras, much to D.W. and Emily's dismay since they are both wearing tiaras.

The Princess Problem

D.W. attempts to show Arthur and Lydia a Princess Platoon DVD, since Lydia has never seen the Princess Platoon before. When D.W. plays it, Princess Perky is trapped in a castle by trolls. She sings a song, goes out a window, then slides down a rainbow.

When it ends, D.W. has happy tears, then she discovers Arthur and Lydia have fallen asleep. Annoyed by this, D.W. wakes them up. Lydia apologizes, saying that she's never seen a princess like her. D.W. says that Princess Prancia has red hair. Lydia says that she means a princess being disabled, and that she's never seen any princess like that. Arthur agrees with her.

At Emily's house, Emily insists that there's a princess for everyone. She asks D.W. if she told her about Princess Prancia, who has red hair. D.W. says that she told her. Emily says that doesn't sound very "princessy", so she checks her trunk. She finds princess merchandise, but nothing about a disabled princess.

Emily insists that it makes sense that there's no princess like that since every princess has to be perfect. D.W. doesn't understand her, but Emily ignores it and gives her an old Princess Perky costume. Emily then invites her to wear it at her tea party this Saturday. To add the final touch, she givers her a tiara that sparkles by flipping a switch.

D.W. is playing in the leaves with her stuffed unicorn. Then, she spots Lydia playing basketball with Arthur, and Lydia says she found a real princess named Ana de Mendoza, who's half blind. D.W. says she's never seen the movies, but Lydia tells her that she doesn't have one. Lydia reads the book to D.W.. Lydia reads that she lost her eye in a sword fight as a young girl.

At the preschool, D.W. tells Emily that she tried to overthrow a bad king, and disguised as a knight for years. Emily says that doesn't sound too "princessy". When D.W. says she wants to dress up as Ana de Mendoza, Emily prohibits D.W. from dressing up as her since she isn't from the Princess Platoon.

Later that night, D.W. has a nightmare about trolls trying to seize her book. Princess Perky arrives, and the trolls leave. Princess Perky attempts to take the book, and D.W. takes it. The force has D.W. lose her footing, which causes her to fall out of a window and the dream ends.

D.W. wakes up Arthur to call Lydia about the tea party. They make Ana de Mendoza's costume, as well as some props. Soon, they arrive at the party. D.W. is dressed as Ana de Mendoza, and Lydia is dressed as a different princess. They see that Emily and Amanda are in a bounce house. The Tibble twins (who are dressed as trolls) are shaking the bounce house. Emily and Amanda struggle to balance. Bud asks if he can be a "space cowboy" instead. Emily opposes, saying that it's a princess party. While explaining how she will escape, Emily gets stuck in an open window.

The Tibble twins attempt to bounce on the bounce house, but that just makes the bounce house shake. Using a blanket to climb a slide on the bounce house (which is tied to Lydia's wheelchair), D.W. pulls Emily out of the window. Emily thanks them both. Emily wants to repay them, so she draws D.W. and Lydia dressed up as their princesses on her Princess Platoon lunch box. Additionally, she confirms them members of the Princess Platoon.

Characters

 * D.W. Read
 * Lydia Fox
 * Emily
 * Amanda Hulser
 * Timmy and Tommy Tibble
 * Arthur Read
 * Princess Perky
 * Bud Compson
 * James MacDonald (cameo)
 * Cheikh (cameo)
 * Maryann (cameo)
 * Kyle (cameo)
 * Liam (cameo)
 * Lucy (cameo)
 * Edwin (cameo)
 * Sarah (cameo)
 * Ms. Morgan (cameo)
 * Lisa (cameo)
 * Princess Proper (mentioned)
 * Princess Peppy (mentioned)
 * Princess Penguin (mentioned)
 * Princess Prancia (mentioned)
 * Princess Ana (mentioned)
 * Princess Prophecia (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This is Lydia's third major role. Her other major roles were in The Wheel Deal and Little Miss Meanie.
 * Timeline: Though not part of the Princess Platoon, Princess Sneeze-and-Wet is seen in Emily's room.

Cultural references

 * Lydia tells D.W. about.
 * Emily's wand has a tip shaped like a . The symbol was used by French royalty and goes well with Emily's love of everything French.
 * Lydia's costume is based on Princess Leia from .