Disney Adults

Thoughts?

I was going to post this on Facebook along with some snarky comment, but the video never goes there. Actually takes an sideways look at it from the idea of Disney's evolving business model.

Seemed like a better share here.

Not watching that entire vid I love Disney, but you will never catch me dressing up and Cosplaying or anything like that.

I've #DisneyBounded a few times with extended family. With a group, it can be fun, though I'm never the instigator.

And it's not a surprise that "lets get kid-free/post-kid adults to come" was part of the strategy to smooth out year-round crowds.

They drive enough following that people want their ashes spread there. Apparently the cast members have a codeword for someone attempting to do it. I was reading an article about it.

The dfb woman flat out describes the thing that he doesn't get, and he just races past it. It's community. Are these folks all that different than coaster enthusiasts? We don't even have any real IP to identify with (unless coaster designs and technology are IP, and they sort of are). But it's people with a common interest who enjoy talking about the thing that they're interested in with like-minded people. That's not hard to understand.

In my experience with the cruise line and resorts though, there's also a segment that isn't there for the IP, they're there for the hospitality. Nice places to stay, good food, good drinks, it doesn't matter if Disney can provide that, but it turns out they're really consistently good at it. And if they have children, their kids can be into it for the more stereotypical "Disney stuff."

I wear my "We're All Lesbians" T-shirt to musicals (if you know the reference, awesome), and my "Music By John Williams" shirt to hear orchestras. Is that "cringe" too? People like what they like.

Jeff:

People like what they like.

And I thought the video did great job of pointing that out. Like I said, I was surprised he never took the low-hanging fruit and went at it from a different angle.

As for why it might be seen the way we're all politely dancing around?

Disney is traditionally a child's thing. Simple as that. When someone is a that big of a Disney nerd, the stigma is clearly arrested develoment of some kind. You're a weirdo that like children's things, dresses up like toys and cartoons, and hangs out at the ultimate children's playground.

As the video pointed out, that's not often the case at all and Disney is even pivoting to create/accomodate these customers.

And yes, since you asked, being TOO into anything is cringe.

Give me your lunch money!

I’ve often said the only people I ever see having a horrible time at Disney are the ones who brought their kids. I love to see Disney Adults living it up at the parks, but I always trust that when the trip is over they rightfully revert back to their everyday personas. Or, maybe not.

As for DisneyBounding we did it once for our day at MK. We represented the cast of Peter Pan, with Peter, Wendy, Hook, and me as Smee. We had a ball- nobody in our group particularly shies away from attention, but a couple were unsure how it would go. No worries. We got so much response as we walked around, from guests and cast members alike. It was hilarious and worth the creative effort.

And once you’re hip to the thing, it’s fun to recognize and identify park goers who are participating. There are more than one might expect.

I think another fun thing to do would be Dapper Day. I think it’s more of a thing in Anaheim than Orlando, but it looks to be pretty awesome.

^ Plus 1, mostly for the first sentence. 😂

I've been to WDW more than most (though I suspect Jeff is catching up). I wore matching shirts a couple of times with the family when the kids were younger because they wanted to. Otherwise, I'm not into all of that stuff...though I have no feelings one way or the other about the adults who do.

If you think the adults dressing up at Disney are any weirder than the adults undressing and painting their bodies for a December football game in Buffalo, then YOU might be the problem.

The only thing better than Disney without kids is Disney by yourself.

wahoo skipper:

If you think the adults dressing up at Disney are any weirder than the adults undressing and painting their bodies for a December football game in Buffalo, then YOU might be the problem.

Couldn't disagree more...for the exact stigma reasons I listed above.

Disney is traditionally seen as a children's brand aimed at kids. For kids. It's toys and cartoons. And yes, we've established via the video that Disney is adapting and catering to the adult crowd. But, most people (hell, myself included to a large degree) do not understand that. And...

Adults doing child things will ALWAYS get the side-eye.

Grown men being drunken idiots is pretty much what football is. It's just as stupid as dressing up at Disney - hell, more so. But it's an ADULT activity. It wins by default.

I mean, you get some three year old out there in the middle of the crowd live on CBS in December covered in blue & red paint downing Michelob Ultras, and you're gonna get a similar side-eye.

I'd argue that NOT seeing the difference is exactly the lack of self-awareness that also gets projected onto the "Disney Adult" crowd. (Likely, unfairly)

Disney adults are weirdos, they should be more like football fans.

Gonch...all those drunk football fans were sober when they put on the makeup and the costumes.

If hambone's picture is representative of appropriate adult behavior and some 40-year-old dressed up as Minnie Mouse is the example of inappropriate adult behavior...then I'll take the later.

Well, I appreciate you both missing/ignoring my entire (correct) argument.

The title of the video and thread and the reason you clicked is the "Adults" part. That's what's perceived as weird.

Being drunk isn't the point.
Dressing up isn't the point.

Adults acting like children or partaking in child-like activities is the point.

Hell, it's a lot of the stigma on being an enthusiast in the first place. Amusement rides are kids stuff. What kind of weirdos do that?

And, like I've said, (and I'm so good at agreeing and still sounding like I'm not) - the entire point of the video is pointing out that very misconception.

(Say "point" again. I dare ya!)

Lord Gonchar:

When someone is a that big of a Disney nerd, the stigma is clearly arrested develoment of some kind.

I'm not sure I agree with the premise. I don't think e.g. my colleagues view me that way, despite the fact that they know I'm a frequent flyer with the Mouse.

But even if they did, someone else's opinion of me is none of my business.

Lord Gonchar:

arrested develoment of some kind.

This is exactly the term I was thinking of when I started watching the video (I got through maybe 2/3rds before I got bored and stopped watching). That said, I'm willing to admit I probably have it to some degree as well, considering my penchant for video games (and, well, coasters...though does that count anymore if I'm only making like one amusement park trip per year, and with my kids?). Granted, half of my gaming involves sim racing, mostly because actually going to the track is cost-prohibitive.*

But other games I play are 1st person shooters/battle royale type shooters, demolition derby type stuff, and all the old classic arcade games from the 80s...on an actual arcade cabinet I modified to run them.

*If money were no object, I'd likely be making laps around my local racetrack every weekend. Most would consider that an adult activity. But, on the other hand, I joined a BMW group (despite never owning a BMW) where a local chapter meets up every month for a go karting event. So the lines might blur there a little, as go karts are often perceived as a kids' thing, and in fact whenever I show up we have to wait for junior karting practice to end before our race event begins and I'll admit it feels a little juvenile sometimes. But...on the...first hand? Junior karting is often the first step in becoming a professional race driver, so yeah, uh...I'm not sure what point I was even trying to make now.

Bottom line, I do think it's a little strange to cosplay at Disney as an adult, but I guess who am I to judge? Well, I suppose there are degrees of arrested development. Sliders, if you will.

Ugh. All of this reminds me of the brony thread from years ago.

It's all "I'm not weird. They are!" regardless of your kink.

I think that Disney is a kids-only thing is... odd. First off, now that they have Star Wars and Marvel, there's an awful lot more going on beyond the Little Mermaid. And second, I'm not sure why you have to stop liking certain things just because you get older. That seems arbitrary and silly to me. It's bad enough that most adults seem to lose all sense of curiosity and wonder as they age. That's sad.

Also, Food & Wine starts this week. Tell the grownups they're stuck with child mindsets while they're chugging their cocktails.

Lord Gonchar:

It's all "I'm not weird. They are!" regardless of your kink.

Yeah, fair. I mean, they are.

I don't think there's anything more to it (the stigma of what is weird for an adult to do and what isn't) than just habit.

I am really into ultimate frisbee, both as a spectator and as a (super old) player and the amount of disdain because "it's not a real sport" is large. But if anyone can point out a qualitative difference between any of the sports and why some are "real" and some aren't, I'd sure like to know.

But also, eSports and chess are not real sports. ;)

Jeff:

First off, now that they have Star Wars and Marvel...

Children's IP's.

Look, I understand those thing became something else entirely - especially in the last quarter century - but if you can tell me with a straight face that those things weren't for kids first (Hey, just like Disney!), then I'll politely drop out of the conversation because we exist in different universes. And the video even mentions the acquistion of Lucasfilm and Marvel as part of things - crazy, huh?

Jeff:
And second, I'm not sure why you have to stop liking certain things just because you get older. That seems arbitrary and silly to me.

I don't know how I feel about this. I think this speaks to a much larger idea that goes way beyond Disney nerds or football fans playing dress-up and not thinking it's weird in any way.