Inside the undying passion of ‘Disney Adults’ — as devotees named ‘the most hated group online’

For immoderate adults, their hobby is imagination football. For others, it is Broadway shows, day-trading aliases possibly pickleball.

But for different passionate group of Americans — pinch aliases without kids of their ain — it’s each astir Disney.

A caller article branded Disney enthusiasts “the astir hated group online” and specified disapproval often comes pinch viral anecdotes, for illustration a 2022 Reddit station from a mates who admitted they skipped catering their wedding to salary for a 30-minute quality by Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

The mates whitethorn not beryllium unsocial successful their dedication. Roughly 1,500 couples get joined astatine Walt Disney World successful Florida each year, according to wedding planners.

And immoderate fans emotion Disney until decease — literally.

In nan caller book “Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture,” writer AJ Wolfe describes visitors who person scattered nan ashes of loved ones connected rides for illustration nan Haunted Mansion, contempt repeated warnings from park staff.

“They return 1 past travel location earlier they die,” Wolfe writes. “And they moreover bargain ceremonial urns etched pinch images of Disney World’s Cinderella Castle.”

Disney adults talk astir “converting” their loved ones into fans because Disney is simply a benignant of religion for them, according to Wolfe, who is besides nan laminitis of nan Disney Food Blog.

Wolfe said pinch a San Diego tattoo creator who exclusively inks Disney-related art and a mates who regularly flew from New York City to Disney World for azygous overnight stays.

“We max retired our in installments cards to go,” Wolfe wrote of her Disney community. “We count down nan days until we tin spell again and scheme obsessively astir what we’re going to do, eat, wear, and acquisition nan adjacent clip we’re there. We station connected societal media astir really life ceases in betwixt trips.”

Journalists covering nan parks person noted much child-free millennials and Gen Xers since nan pandemic, pinch after-hours events, nutrient and cocktails catering to an older crowd.

In 2023, Walt Disney World drew astir 48.8 cardinal visitors, according to reports. Part of Disney’s tie lies successful its unmatched reputation, said Roy Schwartz, a New York-based popular civilization historiographer and author.

“Disney is astir apt the most iconic brand in entertainment,” Schwartz told Fox News Digital. “They’re nan astir associated pinch classic, timeless, guiltless stories and characters. That’s very appealing to childless adults who’re looking for a measurement to recapture aliases support live that emotion of delight and comfort.”

While Schwartz acknowledges that portion of nan loyalty is cultivated done savvy firm strategy, he believes overmuch of it is organic. Adults are searching for community, personality and elemental joys, whether it beryllium through Disney, Taylor Swift, CrossFit or governmental movements.

Wolfe admits that Disney adults are buying what nan multibillion-dollar corp is selling.

In her book, she describes “smellizer” machines that pump scents of pome pie, jasmine and roses into nan aerial to entice shoppers successful nan parks. 

“Everything astatine Disney is bigger, brighter, and much infused pinch visuals, smells, feelings, flavors and sounds,” she wrote.

Critics often disregard Disney fans arsenic group who garbage to turn up, but Wolfe describes Walt Disney World arsenic a safe, predictable escape. 

For her, Disney was still preferable to European, Alaskan aliases Thai vacations aft she became a mother. 

“They said English and utilized American dollars, proscription was elemental and urgent attraction for my asthmatic kid was highly accessible,” she wrote.

Experts work together nan entreaty is astir comfort, relationship and fun.

“Sometimes we request to revisit childlike spaces — for illustration Disney — successful bid to heal our soul child,” Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, a New Jersey-based objective scientist and trauma specialist, told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Debra Kissen, CEO of Light On Anxiety Treatment Centers successful Chicago, agreed, calling Disney a “turnkey escape.”

“It offers safety, cleanliness, predictable logistics and a reliable affectional arc,” she said. “Adults often usage nan abstraction much intentionally arsenic a temper reset, a couples ritual or a hobby.”

But that fandom tin extremity into excess.

Kissen advises asking, “Is work, slumber aliases relationships suffering? Are you spending beyond your intends aliases hiding costs? Can you skip an arena without distress?

“If yes to any, it’s clip to group guardrails — budgets, travel frequency, ‘no-park’ months, aliases diversify your hobbies,” she said.

Wolfe told Fox News Digital that her interviews pinch Disney adults showed her that their fandom isn’t their only defining characteristic. 

“It’s a hobby among galore others,” she said. “Having an affinity for Disney allows group to process life pinch a spot much optimism — that you tin beryllium strong, grow, beryllium nan leader of your ain communicative and that happily ever aft tin happen.”