Distinction between "theme park enthusiast" and "Disney Adult"

[MAGICFLOP]

The difference is easy to see, one hates strollers and "edible disability scooters" and thinks they should banned and the other doesn't.

 

[Touchdown]

IMHO, comparing a Theme Park Enthusiast to a Disney Adult is kinda like comparing a minor league baseball fan to a MLB fan…there’s really not a comparison because theme parks are all about thrills where with Disney, it’s more about the overall experience. I don’t leave Six Flags with the same feeling I get leaving WDW especially MK…to me, there’s really no comparison…

Six Flags sucks, you will see virtually no coaster enthusiast older than 30 defend them. It is absolutely the wrong comparison to make. The only Six Flags park I would consider going to currently is Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and even then it’s low on the list. Cedar Fair parks range from tollerable to quite nice, they aren’t immersive (outside of Ghost Town at Knotts) but deliver on thrills. Busch Gardens, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City are a big step up and tend to strattle the theme park/thrill park void incredibly well. If a Disney enthusiast wants to dip their toe outside of Disney Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Dollywood or SDC would be my top suggestions if they can’t stomach going to Universal. Speaking of “the dark side” it is clear that Universal turned over a new leaf after F&F Supercharged failed spectacularly. Epic Universe looks stunning, and appears to be a park with Harry Potter detail in every one of its lands.

For a completely different experience, and one I also enjoy, there are some really great independent amusement parks that have charm but provide an old school escape of yesteryear where the amusement park was a city park on steroids. Places like Canobie Lake in Salem, NH, Kennywood outside of Pittsburgh, Knobels in Elysburg, PA. They are good times in their own right I appreciate. Then there are places like Holiday World in Santa Claus IN, that while there is a light theme, provide a much closer experience to the amusement parks I just listed as opposed to Disney but is still incredibly charming.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Six Flags sucks, you will see virtually no coaster enthusiast older than 30 defend them. It is absolutely the wrong comparison to make. The only Six Flags park I would consider going to currently is Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and even then it’s low on the list. Cedar Fair parks range from tollerable to quite nice, they aren’t immersive (outside of Ghost Town at Knotts) but deliver on thrills. Busch Gardens, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City are a big step up and tend to strattle the theme park/thrill park void incredibly well. If a Disney enthusiast wants to dip their toe outside of Disney Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Dollywood or SDC would be my top suggestions if they can’t stomach going to Universal. Speaking of “the dark side” it is clear that Universal turned over a new leaf after F&F Supercharged failed spectacularly. Epic Universe looks stunning, and appears to be a park with Harry Potter detail in every one of its lands.

For a completely different experience, and one I also enjoy, there are some really great independent amusement parks that have charm but provide an old school escape of yesteryear where the amusement park was a city park on steroids. Places like Canobie Lake in Salem, NH, Kennywood outside of Pittsburgh, Knobels in Elysburg, PA. They are good times in their own right I appreciate. Then there are places like Holiday World in Santa Claus IN, that while there is a light theme, provide a much closer experience to the amusement parks I just listed as opposed to Disney but is still incredibly charming.

You sound like a coaster version of a foodie…lol…I just used SF as an example because Great Adventure is so close to me…there was just a group of coaster enthusiasts from Europe that dust visited GA to ride their offerings. I don’t have a pony in this race…other than EE, my days of thrill coaster riding are done. I’m glad though, that you’re so passionate about them.

 

[Touchdown]

You sound like a coaster version of a foodie…lol…I just used SF as an example because Great Adventure is so close to me…there was just a group of coaster enthusiasts from Europe that dust visited GA to ride their offerings. I don’t have a pony in this race…other than EE, my days of thrill coaster riding are done. I’m glad though, that you’re so passionate about them.

Of course people from far away are going to go once, they’ve never been! However there exists a concept we have called a “credit coaster” it is essentially a bad coaster that you ride once to add to your total count but intend to never ride again. I would argue that they’re are also “credit parks” baring a phenomenal ride being built or a chain drastically changing their operations there are parks I’ve been to, glad I’ve been to, but don’t ever intend to go back on my own. Practically every Six Flags park is on that list (exception being SFFT for sure, SFOT and SFOG maybe if management changes) including Magic Mountain. They aren’t for me, others skew more towards thrills and aren’t as negative on the SF experience but that chain is currently being run so poorly that everyone is negative on them.

BTW, a lot of us older enthusiasts recognize the hobby has two distinct phases, the quantity phase and the quality phase. Early on it’s all about increasing experiences to add to your bucket. Eventually, you go to enough places to form an opinion on what you like and what you don’t and decide to stop wasting money on things you don’t like and instead just experience the stuff you do, even if that means repeating yourself.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Of course people from far away are going to go once, they’ve never been! However there exists a concept we have called a “credit coaster” it is essentially a bad coaster that you ride once to add to your total count but intend to never ride again. I would argue that they’re are also “credit parks” baring a phenomenal ride being built or a chain drastically changing their operations there are parks I’ve been to, glad I’ve been to, but don’t ever intend to go back on my own. Practically every Six Flags park is on that list (exception being SFFT for sure, SFOT and SFOG maybe if management changes) including Magic Mountain. They aren’t for me, others skew more towards thrills and aren’t as negative on the SF experience but that chain is currently being run so poorly that everyone is negative on them.

BTW, a lot of us older enthusiasts recognize the hobby has two distinct phases, the quantity phase and the quality phase. Early on it’s all about increasing experiences to add to your bucket. Eventually, you go to enough places to form an opinion on what you like and what you don’t and decide to stop wasting money on things you don’t like and instead just experience the stuff you do, even if that means repeating yourself.

I absolutely agree with you in the way SF is run…just in appearance, peeling paint, potholes and uneven sidewalks…no arguments from me.

 

[celluloid]

Plus all kinds of animatronics, staff and more than one show. I don't know how much the actors were paid but I doubt it was minimum wage.

I imagine the cost of the Edison to have its talent is similar, but the food profit margin to be a big open space provides more ROI.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I imagine the cost of the Edison to have its talent is similar, but the food profit margin to be a big open space provides more ROI.

I will admit that I only went to the Adventurer's Club once, but the time I was there I didn't see any food served and most did like myself and just bought one drink and nursed it through the entire program. You know how we are, we want the best but are unwilling to understand how the best is kept and with a business it is how much money did they make. My thought at the time was that although this is quite fascinating, it was probably to fascinating because people went in and soaked up the entertainment but I didn't see a lot of spending otherwise. I saw more money spent at the Comedy Warehouse then Adventurer's.

 

[celluloid]

I will admit that I only went to the Adventurer's Club once, but the time I was there I didn't see any food served and most did like myself and just bought one drink and nursed it through the entire program. You know how we are, we want the best but are unwilling to understand how the best is kept and with a business it is how much money did they make. My thought at the time was that although this is quite fascinating, it was probably to fascinating because people went in and soaked up the entertainment but I didn't see a lot of spending otherwise. I saw more money spent at the Comedy Warehouse then Adventurer's.

I don't really ever see the Edison booming outside of holidays, but again, the profit margin is probably better.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Bumping my old thread because I can't help but feel like this influenced the creation of this guy's video:

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Bumping my old thread because I can't help but feel like this influenced the creation of this guy's video:

"This guy" is actually @Poseidon Quest and he's now made a kind of follow up video to that

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

A "Disney Adult" isn't just an adult that enjoys Disney, but rather an adult that has made Disney, the brand, their entire lifestyle and personality. We see them everywhere now. They go to the parks "Disney-bounding" and gush over every single shoe-horned character insertion. They vlog about it. They become social media "influencers" entirely around it. They largely don't know and don't care about WDW's history and legacy, and applaud at classic, beloved stuff being removed in place of new, lazy IP insertions.

Quoting from your original post -

This is multiple definitions and not all the same thing.

A Disney adult doesn’t = a vlogger, nor someone who doesn’t care about the history.

For me, the general definition is an adult that enjoys going to Disney either by themselves, with adult friends, or possibly drags their kids and family along haha.

Also an adult that spends time on a Disney message board is definitely a Disney adult

 

[Tom Morrow]

Quoting from your original post -

This is multiple definitions and not all the same thing.

A Disney adult doesn’t = a vlogger, nor someone who doesn’t care about the history.

For me, the general definition is an adult that enjoys going to Disney either by themselves, with adult friends, or possibly drags their kids and family along haha.

Also an adult that spends time on a Disney message board is definitely a Disney adult

Your response is flippant and dismissive. You should watch the video I just posted because a lot of excellent points were made, better than I attempted. (though he does get a bit mean spirited a few times which I disagree with).

I am absolutely not a Disney Adult. I do not care much about Disney, the brand, and I do not live and breathe Disney IP.

I care about theme parks, and I'm here because Disney used to be legions above the rest in the quality of their parks. I know that many of the long-time posters on this board feel the same way.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Your response is flippant and dismissive.

Hi wasn’t trying to come across that way - I’m in an nyc diner and was quickly typing while waiting for my tuna. Maybe I didn’t realize how it came out thought I’m not sure why you took offense to it? I just don’t agree with your definition- that’s all

 

[Chef Mickey]

Who cares what people call you. They don't matter.

Name calling is literally meaningless. Do what you want.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Hi wasn’t trying to come across that way - I’m in an nyc diner and was quickly typing while waiting for my tuna. Maybe I didn’t realize how it came out thought I’m not sure why you took offense to it? I just don’t agree with your definition- that’s all

It's okay.

I just genuinely do think there's an important distinction to be made that being an adult who is a fan of Disney's theme parks does not automatically make that person a Disney Adult.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Who cares what people call you. They don't matter.

Name calling is literally meaningless. Do what you want.

Well the thing is that there is growing vitriol amongst the general public for Disney Adults, and many are quick to assume that any adult that enjoys going to Disney's parks (some even include Universal in the equation) is automatically a Disney Adult.

And as Poseidon Entertainment put it in the video - it actually does affect people who like the parks as fans of themed entertainment, because Disney is responding by catering more and more to Disney Adults, making the experiences in their parks worse for theme park fanatics like me.

 

[Chi84]

Well the thing is that there is growing vitriol amongst the general public for Disney Adults, and many are quick to assume that any adult that enjoys going to Disney's parks (some even include Universal in the equation) is automatically a Disney Adult.

And as Poseidon Entertainment put it in the video - it actually does affect people who like the parks as fans of themed entertainment, because Disney is responding by catering more and more to Disney Adults, making the experiences in their parks worse for theme park fanatics like me.

I don’t think any good comes from this type of labeling. People are varied in their interests and rarely fall into such narrow definitions.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I don’t think any good comes from this type of labeling. People are varied in their interests and rarely fall into such narrow definitions.

I mean, I actually agree. That's the point. The internet has collectively decided two things:

Disney Adults = bad
Adults who go to Disney's parks without kids = Disney Adults

and this collective agreement has been harmful both to an interest/hobby of mine as well as the quality the parks are offering me.

 

[coffeefan]

 

[Tom Morrow]

They're not. Though yes, there is some overlap between the two. Please watch the video and think about the points being made rather than knee-jerk posting.

Is it really too hard to comprehend that a person who likes ALL theme parks including Disney's theme parks does not automatically make them a Disney brand worshipper? Why is this an outlandish statement?