Opinions on 'Disney Adults'?

[RoseandLillieee]

Bit of controversy regarding this? I feel there's a stigma. I personally wouldn't look at an adult who enjoys Disney and think wrong of them!

I have a 3yo and 1yo and I'm reliving my childhood a bit with some Disney stuff. We've been once (planning to go back) and they like the films and I think kids Disney clothing, accessories, homeward and toys etc are so cute!

I do like Disney stuff! I love the films, loved going to Disneyland Paris it was magical. But the other day a family member made a joke "oh be careful don't become a Disney adult"

I laughed it off but then thought why would it be bad if I enjoyed Disney trips etc? I don't personally dress in character clothing or have homeware but love the kids stuff and love Paris and the films etc

Is anyone else in agreement that the negativity around 'Disney adult' just needs to be dropped? Why so judgmental?

But ultimately not everyone needs to be ‘my kind of person’ so just do what works for you.

I know, right? There's 8 billion of us, I definitely don't like all of them or need to be liked by all of them. As long as you're not being rude to or hurting someone to their face, it's a bit annoying being told you can't privately dislike something.

I went to Lapland alone, so that probably counts for some kind of Disney adult.

Well I've never heard the phrase "adult disney" before but I suppose I must be one? This is the first thing you see when you walk in my house 😅 I have 2 DC and we all love Disney. This is their house too and they love our stickers and decor.

If just adults and no kids, I always assumed ND a lot of the time

Of course It’s escapism but isn’t any holiday, film, tv program or hobby? There’s nothing wrong with it so long as people are happy.

I love Disney world and Harry Potter. I also love hiking, cooking, sports and any holiday I can possibly afford!

Nothing odd about it so long as it’s not an obsession.

I don't care where people go on their holidays and I don't think there's anything wrong with adults enjoying things primarily aimed at children - I went to see the new How to Train Your Dragon film on Monday and really enjoyed it. But there are some Disney Adults who are obsessive and practically evangelistic about it. I had a colleague once who really was the stereotypical Disney Adult - desk covered in momentoes from her trip, "It's a Small World" as her phone ring tone, a countdown telling her how many sleeps to her next trip on her laptop, you get the picture. Now if she'd kept her enthusiasm to herself I wouldn't have cared, but she went on and on about it at every opportunity, trying to persuade the rest of us to see the error of our ways. She seemed to take it as a personal insult if you'd never been and didn't plan to. Heaven help anyone who said they weren't into theme parks...
Obviously not everyone who goes to Disney resorts is like this but there does seem to be a subset of fans who take things a bit far. I suppose that's the same with any hobby or interest though. I don't care what someone else's "thing" is as long as it's not harmful to others but I have my own interests and I don't want to be "converted". Interestingly my ex colleague who told me that I couldn't possibly judge Disney unless I'd been, gave a sharpish "no, I would hate that" when I offered to take anyone who was interested out on my boat, and she'd never been sailing before. Seems that you can know whether something appeals to you without trying it after all!

It’s considered perfectly acceptable to wear football shirts, sports team hats, scarves etc, start conversations with “who do you support?”, never miss a match, travel miles to watch teams, have family allegiances.. but escapism in a different way is perceived as childish?

I know plenty of people who go back every year.
It wouldn’t be my choice but I totally understand everyone has different likes and holidays they enjoy.

lots of people also have the odd Disney mug or print around the house perhaps the only thing I do find strange are those couples who dress up for a Disney day out in ‘theme’ (I’m not talking about a hoody or ears).

Theres a word for it I think it’s called bounding? Where you dress up close to characters or theming even down to bags. It’s bizarre.

There are several adults on YouTube who have made a business out of constantly going to Disney (and Universal) resorts and reviewing everything from the rides to the food and all power to that if it’s making them money but they cry and get overwhelmed by new attractions such as the recent opening of Epic Universe and that I find harder to understand but it’s their life and it seems to make them happy. So 🤷‍♀️

I think there’s a difference between liking Disney films from your childhood and rewatching them with your own kids and some of the Disney adults i know who friggen buzz off going to Disney World twice a year and have 15 pairs of Minnie Mouse ears that they coordinate with every outfit of the day.

I think people should do what they like and be left alone personally I enjoy a few days at Disney Paris , it affects nobody else . I don’t enjoy sitting round a pool in the sun and you wouldnt find me in a caravan or tent but I don’t criticise other people who enjoy spending their free time doing those things .

I think it kind of sweet reliving the joys of Disney with your dc. It’s a bit like the adults who get excited about Christmas whilst for the rest of us its a challenge to get through it’s not that I hate it but it’s expensive and requires military planning, it’s a lot of effort to lay down at the altar of consumerism in the hope of a little magic.

I find that equally dimwitted.

yes this. Life is hard and often debilitating. Anything (legal) that gives pleasure and causes no harm is to be celebrated IMO

I like (some) Disney films. I also like (some) studio Ghibli films.

i’ve taken my kids (when small) to various Disneylands.

i love rewatching stuff like Aladdin or the hunchback of notre dame or encanto.

i have studio Ghibli T shirts and also a few studio Ghibli plushies - cat bus from my neighbour Totoro.

not seeing the problem to be honest.

We would likely be considered Disney adults. We visit the parks at least once a year, love the films, have Disney crockery etc 😂 we don’t wear the Disney clothes or ears at home though- just when at Disney on ice or on holiday. Kids absolutely love Disney too. I must say, i did visit the parks before kids but not as much as we weren’t as “into” it all before children.

Love My neighbour Totoro.

DS1 has alot of merch from that. Our favourite is a tshirt like this

https://www.coolbe.co.uk/en/products/6645ea32ba279301d917d2e9?currency=GBP&variant_id=6645ea32ba279319d917d2f0&utm_productid=6645ea32ba279301d917d2e9&gsAttrs=eyJyZWdpb24iOiJHQiJ9&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22370985509&utm_term=cid-22370985509%2Cagi-173850090141%2Cadi-741357444416%2Ctid-pla-325418297924%2Cdev-c%2Creg-1006657%2Cmd-6645ea32ba279319d917d2f0&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22370985509&gbraid=0AAAAA95JTYRKiwBFnkkg8EJvBFzkGIfQk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIma3ezprpjQMVnJpQBh1T3QseEAQYAyABEgI9f_D_BwE

This. We don’t do pool/beach hols as we simply don’t enjoy them but we love the Disney parks.

Disney doesn't resonate with me at all but each to their own. It's a relatively harmless passion compared to many.

I do think it's a bit odd but each to their own! I've done Disneyland Paris and Disney in Florida several times and it was lovely to see the children enjoying it but it's definitely not something I'd do if I didn't have children. I knew a couple with no kids who used to go every year and I did find it strange - there's a million other places I'd rather visit!

And those people were considered odd then so I politely disagree. I do think it signals a lack of emotional maturity but I also think that is part of a wider cultural phenomenon. Jonathan Haidt has written extensively on this.

I can’t relate. I like a Disney film but we thought Disney world and the parks were pretty boring so I don’t think I can relate, I agree with a PP that adults who make Disney their thing suggest ND to me

I have no opinion on adults who enjoy Disney films and theme parks, other than admiring people who can put that much planning in effort into their holiday to make the most of the experience. Everyone should have something in their life that gives them pleasure.

But I just can't relate to adults who construct their entire personality around their love of Disney, it just feels really shallow and like they are compensating for not feeling secure in who they actually are. This also goes for people who go OTT with other things as well, like a band or a football team etc, not just Disney.

Then you are mistaking being a content maker and with being a consumer of content. Children's shows aren't written by children. Why do you think that is? Most adults wouldn't find content aimed at children satisfying, why do you think that is? It's not really that difficult to understand, to be fair. I will say to write for children you do need to have a strong sense of what your audience is interested in which means being able to tap into that inner child. Which is not the same thing as living as if you are a child.

So what is an allowable form of escapism then as I’m not allowed to support my football team or enjoy my Disney holidays? I’m sure it’s something achingly worthy like art galleries. Yawn.

I’m autistic and Disney films are one of my comforts - I watch them constantly as they’re reassuring, calming and I can just have them on as background noise without needing to pay too much attention.

It’s often easier to judge than it it to just accept that some people are different imo.