Disney Adults

As is often said, fan is short for fanatic. Depending on where you fall on the given slider for any given activity/interest, those who are more fanatical will often be met with side-eyes. We've often talked about how most people tend to view themselves as more typical/average than they actually are and how our own perspectives often influence our views of others. Think that is true of "kids activities." I can join an adult kickball league. Many adults collect/build Legos. I know many adults who color or paint by numbers. Kids activities worthy of side eyes?

Makes sense Disney would focus beyond kids. Birth rates have been declining. Generally it decreases as incomes increase. At the top end, tends to increase somewhat but Disney needs more than just families in those income brackets.

Isn’t the story that the idea for Disneyland started when Walt was sitting on a bench and thought there needs to be a place with things for everyone and not just kids?

I get that the argument can be made that this makes the parks for families and Disney adults are still weird, but it does make the Disney is for kids argument questionable at best.

Vater:

considering my penchant for video games

There are obviously video games aimed at adults, and not just 20-somethings. Adults are perfectly willing to play cards, dominoes, Scrabble - why does putting a game on a screen make it something for kids?

Also reminds me of when I was going to some animated film and my dad's reaction was, "Isn't it a cartoon?" I can assure you from experience the movie "Flow" is not for kids.

hambone:

why does putting a game on a screen make it something for kids?

I think my perspective on that comes from being a kid in the 80s when arcades were a thing, which eventually birthed the home gaming systems. What adults back then were buying an Atari 2600 or NES solely for themselves? I remember my parents back then playing Ms. Pac-Man on our Atari (we had the 400 computer because we were badass), but the system was "ours." Also anytime we went to an arcade (or restaurant that had an arcade cabinet), they'd fit in a game or two, but my brothers and I were always there. I never heard of them going to Denny's on date night and pumping quarters into the Ms. Pac-Man machine.

Then again, my dad bought one of these cocktail tables for my mom when I was in my late teens I think (that we also used), so maybe my theory is whack.

But my parents' weirdness aside, we as kids grew up with arcades and home consoles and when I built out my cabinet to play 10,000+ original games from the 80s and 90s, it was almost entirely a nostalgia thing. We also grew up with comic books and Star Wars, but they were aimed at kids...until we became adults. To Gonch's point, comic books were a kid thing, but I'll submit that those started far before my time and there were adults who were reeealy into them when I was a kid. There's a reason Comic Book Guy exists on The Simpsons. I used to see him everywhere when I'd accompany my dad to comic book conventions (he was a guest artist, not just going for the hell of it).

I dunno, it's not like I have room to talk, or judge, or justifiably think anyone into that stuff (not the stuff I'm into) is weird and I'm not.

But...they're weird. Especially the bronies.

Actually, video games are definitely another area that some folks think is a child's endeavor. I never stopped playing. Why would I?

Lord Gonchar:

...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.

See you later, I guess. 😆 When I collected comics as a kid, comic shops were hardly the domain of children. The themes in those books were definitely not children's themes. That was Stan Lee's thing, that super heroes and villains were people with problems like anyone... issues of identity, purpose, relationships, financial worry, etc.

I mean, you haven't outgrown jokes about boobies, right? Should you have to?

Most forms of art, and certainly leisure activities, don't have age limits. Disney gets a lot of crap for being popular, but much of their art is pretty good, and some of it timeless. Heck, I didn't appreciate Mary Poppins until I was an adult. And Saving Mr. Banks just wrecks me.

Maybe my wider point is, why do we have to put a box around people for what they like or who they are, when they're not causing any harm? Seems like there's an awful lot of that going on right now, and it's not good. It's petty, mean and not a good look for society.

I was going to comment earlier but I was busy watching Trekkies.

My favorite scene in Hook is when Robin William's "Peter" remembers how to tap into his imagination at the dinner table. He needed some help, but he found his way back, without losing sight of his most important role as a dad. I can't imagine a life that doesn't include, every so often, tapping into that aspect of life.

Jeff:

When I collected comics as a kid, comic shops were hardly the domain of children. The themes in those books were definitely not children's themes.

Cool. They existed for 50 years before that as primarily the domain of children.

https://the-artifice.com/co...atization/

In fact (again), they started as a primarily children's endeavor and became more of an adult thing as that primary young audience grew older (interestingly, exactly the time frame you're talking - there's a long history there before Jeff walked into the store.)

Just like almost every single example in this discussion (except those sports weirdos).

Ultimately, the point remains. Pursuing something seen as "for children" will always remain a stigma of sorts.

Disney Adults are just starting to turn the corner on that. Which is exactly the message of the video.

Jeff:
Maybe my wider point is, why do we have to put a box around people for what they like or who they are, when they're not causing any harm? Seems like there's an awful lot of that going on right now, and it's not good. It's petty, mean and not a good look for society.

Literally no one is. The entire video is about how Disney is evolving into an adult thing and when you add *reasons*, it's not all that strange at all.

It's just changing the perception of what Disney is - like we did with Lego and Kickball and...(seriously, GoBucks?)...paint-by-numbers. (and aren't Lego sets just build-by-number?)

I suppose it beats Grandma's puzzle. (See? The stereotypes run both ways!)

GoBucks89:
Kids activities worthy of side eyes?

At the risk of offending the room. Yes.

With a caveat:

Traditionally.

In 2025? No. They absolutely sell HUGE Lego sets that cost hundreds of dollars to grown men. Many in this room. The perception has changed. It's not just for kids.

There is an entire of the Lego wesbite entitle "Adults Welcome" in 2025. 40 years ago, the idea of a $800 lego set for an adult would have gotten you laughed out of the boardroom, beaten up, and fired.

Then again, I literally think I'm being collectively pranked by the room here a lot, so...

Already did it.

I’m a millennial the string of hits from Little Mermaid-Lion King hit me at that “core time” of childhood (as did the Disney Afternoon Cartoons) that it is a major part of my childhood and I look on it fondly. I enjoy (good) animated movies/shows to this day but unlike a lot of the Disney Adults this is not the core source of my Disney Love, it is but a supplement.

As being on this website should tell you, I am at my core a theme park enthusiast, first and foremost. Disney runs some of best theme parks in the world, and unlike most parks, they’re open year round. That’s what brings me back.

I don’t Disney Bound except at Halloween Parties (mainly because a full costume should inhibit riding most of the time.) I do it for Halloween Parties because it’s Halloween that’s part of the fun. My typical Disney Park outfit is a Disney Park T-shirt or polo with a Disney sweatshirt in cold months (with cargo shorts or pants) which is exactly what I wear at other parks (substituting Disney Branded clothing for that parks branded clothing obviously.)

I don’t own DVC, I’m not a member of D23. I do own a Disney AP 2/3rds of the time, I’m also now a massive fan of Adventures By Disney mainly because their tours stay at fantastic hotels, have fantastic food, and book 2/3rds of a day doing essential stuff but give me time on my own.

That said most people do not get the coaster thing, and seem to focus on talking about Disney only as it’s the hardest to plan, and kind of the only theme parks most people travel to outside their home market. So everyone seems to want to lump me in that group.

My response is if you want to put me there know that I treat Disney like any other theme park, I go to them for escape, to ride rides see a few shows and hopefully eat some good food. I go there a lot during the fall and winter months due to other parks having very limited hours during that time. But it’s just going to a really great theme park. I get the same enjoyment spending a week at Universal, etc.

Lord Gonchar:

Literally no one is.

Literally everyone is, including you.

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

You're making the argument that because you label the activity and not the people, you get a pass. It reminds me of people who say they don't dislike gay people, they dislike people who do gay things (fortunately you're not that person, I don't think, but the point stands).

And since you're convinced that you get to decide what the debate is, I'm saying that what constitutes "kid stuff" is largely arbitrary, like boys play with trucks and wear pants, and girls play with dolls and wear dresses. Why? Because someone says so? There's no inherent reason why any of that has to be true.

And yeah, I have all of the expensive, gigantic Lego sets. I'm sure that shocks everyone.

Jeff:

You're making the argument that because you label the activity and not the people

Wow. We're not even close to on the same page.

I'm not labeling ****. I'm not judging ****.

I'm saying traditionally society has looked oddly at adults that do what are perceived as children's things. That's the stigma attached to a lot of things - especially Disney Adults (again it's right there in the name - Adults - it's not Disney Fans - it's adults...that's the point) - there wouldn't even be a discussion or video without the "Adults" part of the whole thing.

So clearly, age is a (the?) factor.

I'm not saying I believe/do ANY of these. Nowhere. Not once in this thread. Show me.

I've also said several times that I personally think over time the pereception of a lot of these things has changed. I don't think the stigma is attached anymore...and Disney is getting close.

I very literally, in the post you replied to, said:

There is an entire of the Lego wesbite entitle "Adults Welcome" in 2025. 40 years ago, the idea of a $800 lego set for an adult would have gotten you laughed out of the boardroom, beaten up, and fired.

I'm agreeing with you to a large degree. Lego are no longer just the domain of children. But, again, if you're denying they once were, you're being dishonest. (And I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just that it's true)

And since you're convinced that you get to decide what the debate is...

Nope. Never. Not once. Trying to explain where I believe the stigma in "Disney Adults" comes from. It's the "Adult" thing.

I didn't think there WAS debate - again, original post, that's why I brought it here and didn't just go to Facebook and point and laugh - but naturally this room would find a reason to argue about it.

Sorry, you took it as an attack on your Lego purchases. But you need to go re-read every single one of my posts in this thread, you got it entirely wrong.

Why? Because someone says so?

This goes into a much larger and different discussion, but (I can't believe I'm going to do this)...

Yes.

I'm talking about societal pressure. That's EXACTLY my point. It's largely perceived as a certain thing. And when people act in ways that don't jive with what's expected...well, I've been doing it for 52 years.

You catch crap.

That's all.

Speaking of catching crap: I'm not sure why but this whole conversation reminds me of a joke that I heard from a comedian. I guess it was more observational humor than a joke. A man walking around with a bag of his own poop is going to draw some stares. A man walking around with a bag of dog poop doesn't draw any attention. Context matters.

I'm good with adults dressing up as characters on Halloween and I'm good with adults dressing in character fashion when visiting the parks. I guess I would frown on someone dressing up and coming to the office for a typical workday.

And Jeff, if I ever outgrow booby jokes just put a bullet in my head.

Lord Gonchar:

You catch crap.

Again, I'm not so sure this happens to e.g. childless or post-kid people who go on a Disney Vacation (tm) regularly, and I don't think it has happened for a while now---at least, it doesn't in my corner of the universe. (And I hang out with people who are by and large not big Disney fans, because they view it as low-brow/mass-culture, and that is not where they spend their time.)

I wonder if the video that kicked this off is inventing a controversy where one does not exist. Or maybe I just orbit in an unusually tolerant crowd.

Brian Noble:

Or maybe I just orbit in an unusually tolerant crowd.

I feel like I'm being taken as far too accusatory already, but...

It all seems a little "in the bubble" in this conversation.

I'm not being a dick (seriously!) but this took three seconds:

"Disney adults share why they're dedicated to the fandom despite being called 'weird' and 'immature'" (Business Insider)

"How ‘Disney Adults’ Became the Most Hated Group on the Internet" (Rolling Stone)

"Disney Adults Don’t Care If You Hate Them. They’re Having Fun Anyway." (Buzzfeed - yeah, I know, but it's about tone and perception, right?)

Those are all cited on the Disney Adult Wikipedia Page (Yeah, it's enough of a thing to get a Wikipedia page explaining it)

I'll admit to not necessarily "getting" it. My stance was almost exactly the video's. I went in ready to throw punches, but you know what, now that you explain it and we've drawn comparisons, it's not at all that.

Honestly, a little disappointed at how quickly the room dug their heels in.

The smartest (and most successful) products out there are designed to grow with their audience. Just look at the Harry Potter books. The author said from the beginning that she wrote them to age with her audience. And now it's as successful as Star Wars. Star Wars just released Skeleton Crew and Andor S2 at basically the same time, covering all the age groups. P.S. Skeleton Crew was awesome, so shut up!

Lets talk Lego. I became a "Lego adult" the moment I asked my son, who was 18 at the time "If I buy this Technic Lamborghini will you build it with me?" to which he replied "probably not." I said screw it, I'm buying it for myself then. This after we gave him the Technic Bugatti for his 16th birthday and he loved it. He grew out of it, but I was only just getting started after graduating from building kits with my child into building kits for myself. (Side note: I'm secretly happy that the new $999.99 Death Star kit is so stupid. I went from "shut up and take my money" to "looks like I just saved a grand" once I actually saw pics of it.)

Lord Gonchar:

I'm not being a dick (seriously!) but this took three seconds:

But my point is, there are news stories, and there are "News Stories". Lots of things enter the cultural zeitgeist without actually being a thing, particularly if they have an "I'd Buy That For A Dollar!" angle to them. I don't hear of many (or really any) folks in the Extremely Online Disney community complaining that they take crap for their vacation choice, beyond the "why do you keep going back there?" questions that more or less anyone gets if they keep doing the same thing over and over, and it's not a thing that the question-asker does. And those Extremely Online Disney folks will complain about anything, anytime, anywhere at the drop of a (virtual) hat. Honestly, they are better able to take offense than almost any other group I know.

I could be wrong, and maybe people really do take crap for their theme park popcorn bucket colletion or whatever. Meh.

That's fair. Maybe "take crap" was the wrong word.

Have people talk crap? Just because people don't tell you to your face they think something you do is off, doesn't mean they don't think it.

I dunno. I mean, if I had a nickle for every time someone questioned the time and effort I put into visiting amusement parks in the heyday.

I assure you that, traditionally, if you dressed up and went to Disney on a regular basis or decorated your house with Disney or whatever the hell people do - you've been seen as weird.

I feel like we're hitting all the stages of coming to terms with being a Disney Adult (or whatever our nerd flavor happens to be - I think "Nerd Flavor" should be considered the modern equivalent of "Let Your Freak Flag Fly" - "Let 'em Taste Your Nerd Flavor, Man!) in this thread - just in the incorrect order:

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Lord Gonchar:

Honestly, a little disappointed at how quickly the room dug their heels in.

Says the guy who went in "ready to throw punches." 😆

Lord Gonchar:

Let 'em Taste Your Nerd Flavor, Man!

I think I saw that movie, once.

Jeff:

Says the guy who went in "ready to throw punches." 😆

You're not reading anything I type.

I'll save you the search:

I came into the video ready to throw punches. After watching it, I saw it differently, and brought it here for discussion instead of taking it to Facebook to poke fun. (dude, I've explained this umpteen times now)

You've literally either misread, misunderstood, or misrepresented every single post or point I've made in the entire thread.

My mistake was thinking the nerds were mature enough to discuss being called nerds, how that nerd-dom evolves or is evolving, and stuff like that.

We sure got defensive for something with no stigma attached.

Lord Gonchar:

I suppose it beats Grandma's puzzle.

What if its a Lego puzzle?

https://www.lego.com/en-us/...oard-games

Or Disney puzzle?

https://www.puzzlewarehouse...34pIWG5Bcm

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Where does indifference fit on this list?

Here's my lunch money.....