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

[Tony the Tigger]

Not necessarily moving near the parks, but making them your sole option in travel. There's a FB group which sorta mocks the forums, and the term being "Tu Invested" (too invested) in Disney gets tossed around.

This sums it up accurately:

Hmm.



@Tuvalu

 

[mysto]

Like so many catch phrases I feel that the term "Disney Adult" has been abused to the point of being unusable. I mistakenly used it to refer to myself once thinking that the english words described it, unknowingly associating myself with a vast assortment of nonsensical unrelated ideas.

An adult who likes Disney, and someone who rabidly consumes IP, are two very different things. Someone who buys anything Disney is something else. Someone who is childless is something else.

Say what you mean, please avoid this now useless and undefined catchall phrase.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Say what you mean, please avoid this now useless and undefined catchall phrase.

The point of this thread and the videos, in part, is to stop it from being used as a catch-all phrase, lumping everything together in one negative connotation.

 

[Andrew C]

I guess my question is why do you want that distinction so badly?

To have an interesting discussion about a group of people who many believe have negatively impacted the parks for others? And how they came to be? And why accept everything Disney throws their way?

Honestly, the rest of your post missed the point so badly it’s difficult to respond.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I’m not responding to anyone in particular here but a general thought on what qualifies as a “Disney Adult”… I feel like colloquially people use this one of two ways. One includes basically any adult who is really into Disney / Disney parks. The other refers to a smallish group of people, often quite young and very online, who kind of live in character in a way that is highly visible to others. It’s almost like a form of cosplay but without one specific character in mind.

The first group, to my mind, speaks to the appeal of Disney in general. It’s interesting to reflect on just what about Disney connects so much with people. The second is much more niche and the performative aspect is probably better understood by mentally grouping them with other cosplayers and analyzing what’s behind that whole phenomenon.

 

[rio]

I remember reading that there's a scale, and a lot of us on this forum are higher on that scale than others. The scale starts as not being a Disney or theme park fan, and the scale ends with being a Disney fandom fanatic. For myself, I love the Disney parks, but my favorite park is AK for atmosphere, theming, and pace, beating out DisneySea because of the pace. A lot of times the MK and HS are just stressful. And while my travel is being heavily influenced for the next 2 years to see the remaining Disney parks, Universal Parks, Six Flags parks, and Middle Eastern parks, I also have and will continue to take trips and detours to see some of the coolest places at home and abroad. I'm higher up on that scale than most.

But at the same time I also am fine skipping RoTR because it's not a great ride, I don't wear the mickey ears, and I don't have a lot of themed clothes, posters, etc. I will gladly talk about the parks, but I'll be just as happy talking about other stuff too.

Most people are fine with others being somewhere on the upper-end of the scale, just not at the very top where Disney consumes the personality. Where everything they own and do is Disney and Disney can do no wrong. It's hard to have a conversation with those people because it's almost completely one-sided. When people hear "I went to Disney" when they are first introduced and you know they don't have kids caution raises a bit because now you need to figure out where they are on that scale. Most people are not like that, but the visibility and amount of those people are increasing, and I don't like to be associated. Hypocritical, yes, and it is a bit "not like them" attitude, but it also doesn't have to come across as pretentious as Poseidon made it. Every hobby and interests has it's crazies, and Disney adults are ours.

 

[JoeCamel]

Easy test for me is the answer to this question

"Would you stand in line 6 hours for a popcorn bucket?"

If the answer is yes the likelihood you are a Disney Adult is high

 

[Jrb1979]

I remember reading that there's a scale, and a lot of us on this forum are higher on that scale than others. The scale starts as not being a Disney or theme park fan, and the scale ends with being a Disney fandom fanatic. For myself, I love the Disney parks, but my favorite park is AK for atmosphere, theming, and pace, beating out DisneySea because of the pace. A lot of times the MK and HS are just stressful. And while my travel is being heavily influenced for the next 2 years to see the remaining Disney parks, Universal Parks, Six Flags parks, and Middle Eastern parks, I also have and will continue to take trips and detours to see some of the coolest places at home and abroad. I'm higher up on that scale than most.

But at the same time I also am fine skipping RoTR because it's not a great ride, I don't wear the mickey ears, and I don't have a lot of themed clothes, posters, etc. I will gladly talk about the parks, but I'll be just as happy talking about other stuff too.

Most people are fine with others being somewhere on the upper-end of the scale, just not at the very top where Disney consumes the personality. Where everything they own and do is Disney and Disney can do no wrong. It's hard to have a conversation with those people because it's almost completely one-sided. When people hear "I went to Disney" when they are first introduced and you know they don't have kids caution raises a bit because now you need to figure out where they are on that scale. Most people are not like that, but the visibility and amount of those people are increasing, and I don't like to be associated. Hypocritical, yes, and it is a bit "not like them" attitude, but it also doesn't have to come across as pretentious as Poseidon made it. Every hobby and interests has it's crazies, and Disney adults are ours.

I agree with most of your post. I will say the one thing that I find different with Disney fandom is how much they dismiss other theme parks that aren't Disney.Where as in other fandoms they may not like similar products but will respect them.

 

[Chi84]

This thread is an example of why the label is useless.

The changes in the parks are not to @Andrew C ‘s liking so a Disney adult is a person with bad taste.

@Jrb1979 loves other theme parks so a Disney adult is someone who dismisses them.

@Tom Morrow doesn’t want people making fun of him so it’s important to distinguish him from the group of people known as Disney adults (who are clearly weird)

As usual, I don’t know what the hell @Baloo124 ‘s problem is

I watched the videos and I’m pretty sure there aren’t enough of the people described as Disney adults to drive changes in the parks.

This is all on Disney management, not the people who visit the parks.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I guess my question is why do you want that distinction so badly?

Because being an adult that is a fan of theme parks is not embarrassing like being an adult who's entire house is decorated with Disney merch, who only wears Disney clothes, who cries when hugging a character, or, as Joe Camel put it, waiting hours for a character popcorn bucket.

It's hard to read all of this and not walk away with the feeling that you're fighting to be seen as something different, or better, because it has become popular and acceptable online to make fun of adults who enjoy visiting the Disney theme parks. It's like you want those people to see you as something different so you don't have to take those lashes.

Because being a fan of theme parks is distinctly different than being a hardcore fan of Disney, the brand.

But really, it's a pointless goal. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the distinction you're searching for is not going to matter to the people who make those assertions. They're not going to see a difference between someone who enjoys visiting the theme parks and someone who enjoys the brand as a whole.

That's why I'm attempting this discussion. I personally do not feel that it is pointless.

You're fighting to be distinguished from the only group of people who even understand your interest in the first place. You want to place yourself above them, come off better than them, when they're the only ones who are ever going to respect your enjoyment of the parks. The people who make fun of adults who go to Disney aren't going to care that you don't care for the rest of the brand.

I disagree. There are legions of people who are fans of theme parks in general. This forum is a bubble with a mix of theme park fans, fans that are only fans of Disney's theme parks, and Disney Adults who go to Disney's parks specifically because of Disney.

This all just comes across as very pretentious and othering. The Poseidon Entertainment video, and you as well, are very hellbent on the "i'm not like other guys" narrative to...do what? Appease a group of people who will never be pleased with you whether or not you don't like the Disney brand as a whole? To be seen as acceptable or good because you like other theme parks than Disney?

Yes. We're not like the Disney Adults. That's the point.

I love all theme parks and themed entertainment. I am passionate about them in any form they take. I visit as many as I humanly can every single year, not just Disney. I also very much enjoy Disney's brand in addition to their parks. What does that make me? I like the Disney brand, but I also enjoy theme parks in all shapes and sizes? Am I your definition of a Disney Adult, or am I "like you" in that I'm an appreciator of themed entertainment?

It means your enjoyment of Disney's parks goes beyond pointing to (character and iconography you recognize) and gushing. If you like more than just Disney, you're not a "Disney Adult".

It's all pointless, meaningless distinction that does nothing but make the individual feel better about what they like.

You're not better than someone else because you like other theme parks and don't go see Disney movies, nor are you going to be accepted or approved of by the people who criticize adults who visit Disney. There is no distinction in the minds of the people who make fun of Disney adults. To them, any adult stepping foot into a Disney theme park is a Disney adult, and that is not the fault of the people you're so desperate to be distinguished from and punch down toward.

That's why we're attempting to assert the distinction, because there is one, and you're free to feel that this is pretentious, but yes - liking Disney's parks for reasons other than brand loyalty is far less lame and a lot more interesting than being a brand worshipper.

"I go to Disney parks because I appreciate the intricate level of detail. I like seeing how they sculpt and craft these worlds. I like analyzing how the effects are done. I like taking time to find all the small thematic details. I like seeing the advanced technical achievements they create with their rides."

vs.

"I go to Disney so I can take pictures with Mickey, eat my Moana snacks, and sleep in my Incredibles Hotel room."

 

[Tom Morrow]

Honestly, the rest of your post missed the point so badly it’s difficult to respond.

Yeah, this is a bit frustrating.

The point being made: "Enjoying Disney's theme parks does not automatically make one a Disney Adult, here's why:"

Half the posters replying: "Beep boop I like Disney Parks therefore I am Disney Adult"

 

[Tom Morrow]

The changes in the parks are not to @Andrew C ‘s liking so a Disney adult is a person with bad taste.

@Jrb1979 loves other theme parks so a Disney adult is someone who dismisses them.

@Tom Morrow doesn’t want people making fun of him so it’s important to distinguish him from the group of people known as Disney adults (who are clearly weird)

I have also made all of these points.

I watched the videos and I’m pretty sure there aren’t enough of the people described as Disney adults to drive changes in the parks.

No, it's a scale. A significant amount of people do go to Disney Parks because it's Disney though and not because they like theme parks. We're seeing more and more of this as the internet pushes fandom culture.

Current Disney leadership seems to lack the vision that, through the years, many people have loved their parks in spite of them being "Disney", not because of them being "Disney".

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

A Disney Adult is someone who lives and breathes the Disney brand and makes the brand their entire identity. Not someone who enjoys theme parks including Disney's.

This is probably the best definition I’ve seen.

It’s not about being a Disney fan, or even being a super fan, it’s about being such a huge fan it becomes your identity.

 

[Chi84]

A significant amount of people do go to Disney Parks because it's Disney though and not because they like theme parks.

That is true but it doesn't make one a Disney Adult by any of the definitions mentioned. If these are the people you're worried about there are millions of them and that's never going to change.

"It's Disney" means more than Disney IP. They created parks that are heads and shoulders above the rest and that is why people visit them.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Yeah, this is a bit frustrating.

The point being made: "Enjoying Disney's theme parks does not automatically make one a Disney Adult, here's why:"

Half the posters replying: "Beep boop I like Disney Parks therefore I am Disney Adult"

People are missing the point in the discussion because frankly, the entire discussion/debate is pointless.

You don't like a certain label, fine, don't consider yourself a "Disney Adult" under whatever definition you think the term describes. But you don't get to set the definition of the term for everyone else. Its made up, its an internet meme that means objectively nothing, and subjectively whatever the hell the person using it wants it to mean. Your interpretation of what you think Disney Adult should mean is just as valid as someone else's, including the half of the posters that might think I like Disney Parks therefore I am a Disney Adult.

Because being an adult that is a fan of theme parks is not embarrassing like being an adult who's entire house is decorated with Disney merch, who only wears Disney clothes, who cries when hugging a character, or, as Joe Camel put it, waiting hours for a character popcorn bucket.

Once again you are trying to argue subjectivity as some type of universal standard. Frankly you sound pretty weak in concept that you are so concerned about what other people may think of your likes/dislikes as far as theme parks and Disney are concerned, that you are trying to create some objective standard just so you can argue that you are on one side of it verses the other. Who says that being an adult fan of theme parks isn't embarrassing? You do? Well great, that's good for you. Someone else might think it is embarrassing. Just like others might think people can like and dress how they want, and if they want to put up a paintings of Mickey and Minnie in their house, and wear ears, as opposed to dogs playing poker more power to them.

Like what you like, ignore what other people think. Or don't ignore it and change your actions to better fit what they think if you want to. What you don't get to do is say everyone should think like i think, and there for I am or am not something, and everyone else should view me in the same way.

 

[Andrew C]

The changes in the parks are not to @Andrew C ‘s liking so a Disney adult is a person with bad taste.

Shallow too. Don't forget shallow.

 

[Andrew C]

This is probably the best definition I’ve seen.

It’s not about being a Disney fan, or even being a super fan, it’s about being such a huge fan it becomes your identity.

Settled! You call Webster. I will call Merriam. Oxford is unimportant.

 

[Chi84]

Settled! You call Webster. I will call Merriam. Oxford is unimportant.

There isn’t a dictionary definition. I believe it’s important to define terms precisely to avoid confusion or misunderstanding.

I don’t want to re-watch the video but my initial takeaway is there are very few of the people he describes. His description is very narrow. You basically have to have no personality apart from Disney.

I also wonder how much of this is staged. The popularity of social media has led to a deplorable loss of personal dignity.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I am not a Disney Adult.

I am an adult who happens to like to go to WDW. I also like to go to Universal, Seaworld, Gatorland. Wild Florida, Kennedy Space Center and others..

So I guess that makes me a theme park enthusiast.

 

[coffeefan]

I am not a Disney Adult.

I am an adult who happens to like to go to WDW. I also like to go to Universal, Seaworld, Gatorland. Wild Florida, Kennedy Space Center and others..

So I guess that makes me a theme park enthusiast.

JK, it's a nebulous term anyway.