Disney Adults by AJ Wolfe

Author:AJ Wolfe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2025-08-05T00:00:00+00:00

DO DISNEY ADULTS DESERVE THE HATE?

“As a high school kid, I kept my Disney fandom hidden. And part of that was because my favorite bands were the Clash and punk rock bands, and I’m sort of like, maybe that doesn’t gel with the Disney thing,” said Todd Martens. “But I can love both. I think Joe Strummer of the Clash is an idealist, and so was Walt Disney.”

Todd has wrestled regularly—even publicly in his stories for the LA Times—with the concept of how Disney Adults are perceived. “I was aware that being a guy in his early thirties going to Disneyland by myself could be perceived as weird; could be perceived as not growing up. And I wanted to find a way to sort of intellectualize it. Why do I gravitate towards this place?

“That’s when I started to think of theme park attractions as works of art and what they are trying to convey. It has to be more than ‘fun,’ or an escape, or ‘We like the snacks.’ It has to be psychologically deeper than that. When I’d go on dates and a woman said, ‘Don’t you think that’s weird?’ I wanted [to have] a response: ‘No, actually it’s important.’ And I also sort of defend myself and say, ‘Look, if all I did was go to Disneyland, maybe that would be a red flag. But I do go and volunteer at our museums. I love everything from baseball to live theater.’ ”

This is what I hear over and over again from Disney Adults: “It’s not the whole of who I am. I love Disney. I choose to go to Disney theme parks and watch Disney movies and purchase Disney products, but there are other things I love and choose and purchase as well.” It’s very possible to be a Disney fan, but to also be a well-rounded person who contributes to society in a positive way. In fact, I would wager a confident bet that most of us fall into that category. Just because those aren’t the fans that get the reach on social media or the headlines in mainstream articles doesn’t mean that those aren’t the majority of the members of the Disney fan community.

Todd says, “I think when I encounter people out in the world who identify as Disney Adults, I consider it to be an extremely positive thing. Because I find, generally, people who are fans of places like theme parks are people who are curious and people who are playful. And life is really stressful.”

Theme park journalist Carlye Wisel agrees. “I think what Disney Adults have done really well is allowed themselves to feel joy as an adult. Because adulthood is very hard. That’s why everyone’s craving little treats all day—because you wake up, you parent, you go to work, you come home, you pay bills, you watch a little TV… your life is kind of on repeat.

“And then there’s this place filled with different magical lands, where you can do whatever you want no matter who you are, no matter what age you are.

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