The 'Disney Adult' Stereotype Is a Made-Up Problem

Visitors to Disneyland often ask if someone is a 'Disney adult,' implying that it's something to be ashamed of. However, this term is outdated and insulting, and it misses the point entirely.

The concept of the Disney adult originated on the internet, where people assume they are childless millennials who live and breathe the brand. But the reality is that the community is much broader and more diverse than that.

Walt Disney himself designed Disneyland with adults in mind, saying 'To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land.' He envisioned a park where parents and children could have fun together, but also where adults could relive fond memories of the past or savor the challenge and promise of the future.

Today, the idea that Disney is only for kids persists, despite the fact that adults make up a significant portion of Disneyland's attendance. In 1963, Walt Disney estimated that four adults to one child attended the park, and this ratio has likely changed little since then.

Therapist Jessica Vickers, who runs the Happiest Heart therapy practice at Disneyland, says 'If it's not hurting you, move on, sir.' She believes that people should be free to enjoy their lives without being judged or ridiculed for it.