What is a Disney adult? This ubiquitous term has become quite the buzz phrase in recent years (there’s now even a book written about it!). Some people proudly call themselves a Disney adult, and others shudder at the thought of ever being included in this subgroup, and even more people straight up hate Disney adults. Just like any fan club, there are some outliers that give the rest of us a bad name. However, I have begrudgingly come to embrace the term, as there are many Disney adults who seek to help and give info about the parks, not just those who make it their entire life.
Wikipedia defines Disney adult as “an adult who is a devout fan of the works of the Walt Disney Company. Common hobbies of Disney adults include visiting Disney theme parks, collecting Disney merchandise, cosplaying Disney characters, and consuming content on the Disney+ streaming service.” By this definition, I am definitely a Disney adult.
A Childhood Revisited
For me, being a Disney adult is twofold. On one hand, it reminds me of a part of my childhood. I didn’t get to go to Disney often, but when my grandfather would visit from Pennsylvania once a year, he would treat the family to a day at Magic Kingdom (and SeaWorld and what was then Cypress Gardens, now LEGOLAND). We would arrive at the Magic Kingdom early and leave after the fireworks. It was always a special trip, seared in my mind as a tradition of my childhood. My grandfather only had two requests: a Mickey bar and to ride the Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom.
A lot of us who are now in our 40s remember going to Disney World as children. Now, we can take our children and let them experience the same joy while we revel in nostalgia.
Yes, You Can Leave the Kids at Home!
The second reason I love being a Disney adult is (obviously) the adults’ only side of it!!! My husband and I make at least one yearly trek to Disney World, WITHOUT our kids. This is one of the most controversial sides of being a Disney adult. People cannot fathom why you’d go to Disney World without kids! How infantile! So absurd. Hear me out. Is being a (sane) Disney adult any different than the Jags fan who has 100 pieces of memorabilia, or who never misses a game, or different than those who have a man cave in their home decorated as a shrine to their college alma mater? I would say not! I think being a Disney adult is similar to any hobby a person can invest time and money into.
As adults, we have tons of responsibilities (I don’t need to waste your time listing all of them). When you step through the gates at Disney World, or step on to a Disney cruise ship, or curl up in front of the TV with popcorn (in your Disney popcorn bucket of course), and your remote to watch the latest Disney+ movie, you’re transformed to a place with no worries, responsibilities, or decisions to make.
READ: 8 Reasons You Should Not Take a Disney Cruise
If you are at Disney World, you aren’t far from home, you are at a place you are likely pretty familiar with, and the only decisions you have to make are what are we eating, where are we eating and being excited because you can ride next to your spouse or friend for the first time in… forever (see what I did there?). You can stay up late enough to see the fireworks and even cry happy tears because seeing Tinkerbell fly across the sky as an adult makes you think about how magical it was when you were a child, and that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. My 9-year-old just recently realized Tink is a real person who flies away from the castle during the fireworks show — new core memory unlocked, as they say.
You may be asking, “Doesn’t it ever get boring?” No way. There is SO much to do and see and eat at Disney World, you’ll never be able to do it all.
Speaking of eating, as a Disney adult, you can enjoy the bars at Disney World! There is even a new adult-only bar at Epcot! Or go enjoy a tequila tasting at La Cava de Tequila. At Hollywood Studios, there is a great charcuterie board at Baseline Taphouse, and they have a Tampa beer that goes very well with it, as you sit and people-watch.
You can go on tours around Disney where the younger crowds can’t go. One year, my husband and I did a Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom that was pretty neat. If you want some Disney history, try a Keys to the Kingdom tour, which is for 16+ only.
Do you love fine dining? Try California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort. Eat dinner with a side of fireworks out the window. The Grand Floridian Resort has Victoria and Albert’s, which is a Michelin-star-rated restaurant.
Disney Springs has an amazing Cirque du Soleil show, and is also home to the House of Blues, which features many concerts throughout the year. There is a great bowling alley and a movie theater as well!
In my opinion, being a Disney adult is underrated. Tapping into your inner child, being with people you adore, in a safe and fun environment? Sign me up anytime.
After all, it was Walt Disney who said, “That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. They forget.” When you’re a Disney adult, you never forget how fun it was to be a kid.
Tell us, are you a Disney adult?
