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Disney Adults: Exploring (and Falling in Love with) a Magical Subculture
A fascinating and enlightening deep dive into the infamous Disney Adult community from the woman behind the popular website The Disney Food Blog.
Disney Adults are grown-ups who derive singular, almost obsessive, joy from all things Disney. They devote countless hours and millions of dollars to Disney offerings, whether or not they have children. They’re avid fans of the films, devotees of the Disney theme parks, collectors of the vast world of Disney merchandise, cosplayers who dress in clothing inspired by Disney characters.
Their ranks are so large and their cultural impact so distinct that they have their own moniker and are an economic force unto themselves. They’re often maligned in the larger culture and put on a particularly high pedestal of cringe. But in truth, their obsessive fandom hints at a universal desire for pleasure and joy, for magic and escape.
There are darker sides to Disney mania that can’t be ignored, but the ranks of the Disney Adult community are broad, deep, and ever-growing. Disney Adults are a telling microcosm of modern America, highlighting the value we place on magic and escapism, and what we deem to be “acceptable” sources of joy.
Disney Adults dives deep into a misunderstood subculture, exploring the lives and experiences of a fascinating community to better understand its devotees’ unwavering passion for all things Disney, why it offends, and why it matters.
Disney Adults are grown-ups who derive singular, almost obsessive, joy from all things Disney. They devote countless hours and millions of dollars to Disney offerings, whether or not they have children. They’re avid fans of the films, devotees of the Disney theme parks, collectors of the vast world of Disney merchandise, cosplayers who dress in clothing inspired by Disney characters.
Their ranks are so large and their cultural impact so distinct that they have their own moniker and are an economic force unto themselves. They’re often maligned in the larger culture and put on a particularly high pedestal of cringe. But in truth, their obsessive fandom hints at a universal desire for pleasure and joy, for magic and escape.
There are darker sides to Disney mania that can’t be ignored, but the ranks of the Disney Adult community are broad, deep, and ever-growing. Disney Adults are a telling microcosm of modern America, highlighting the value we place on magic and escapism, and what we deem to be “acceptable” sources of joy.
Disney Adults dives deep into a misunderstood subculture, exploring the lives and experiences of a fascinating community to better understand its devotees’ unwavering passion for all things Disney, why it offends, and why it matters.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2025
998 people are currently reading
2765 people want to read
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December 29, 2025I’m 100% a Disney adult and I am definitely the target audience for this book. There were soooo many parts of this book I loved and it was VERY well researched. So why the 3 stars you ask? I am SO tired of the pandering to the insane left. This book immediately lost two stars when she starts talking about FL being “unsafe” for the alphabet group and the “don’t say gay” bill. If it weren’t for the insane pandering this would have received 5 stars from me, but I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes at all of the pick me girl stories from liberals.
September 18, 2025
here’s the thing about ‘disney adults’ by aj wolfe. it’s about 30% unadulterated fluff, 50% impassioned defense of adults liking things that are kind of cringe, and 20% getting inches away from the truth about what is actually so unsettling and sinister about disney adults (but not quite managing to really name it).
i’ll start with the good things first. this is an apex example of a fan studies book targeted towards the fans. i am not a disney adult (i range from ambivalent to downright hateful of disney depending on the day), but this is a compassionately rendered portrait of a frankly fascinating subculture. and i really and truly think that wolfe makes points when she argues that it’s unnecessary and cruel to shit on people for liking things, even if those things seem cringe or childish. this all probably hits a lot harder if you actually enjoy disney, but i appreciated it as an outsider.
onto the rest. in ‘disney adults,’ wolfe explains that her gateway into disney adulthood came when she was living in new york city in 2004: “i like comfort, and new york is anything but comfortable. so, i spent hours each week fantasizing and obsessing over disney world - a place that was, to me, safe and clean and predictable” (wolfe 15). she continues, later, that “disney is synonymous with safety for many disney adults, and that word can mean a lot of different things. it’s physically safe. it’s sanitized. the only surprises are good surprises. it’s predictable and consistent” (wolfe 38). what wolfe’s repeated descriptions of disney’s ability to provide safety and cleanliness and predictability indicate is that part of what drives people to the disney parks is, in fact, the fear of the unknown and the desperate need for control in an uncertain world. later in the book, wolfe discusses the connection between poor mental health and self-medicating with disney during her new york years: “i craved order and predictability. i wanted to go somewhere pristine that would promise, above all else, consistency and joy that required nothing whatsoever of me except a swipe of my credit card” (wolfe 170).
‘disney adults’ suggests that part of the reason why, for so many people, disney can fill the void of fear and terror is because so many people hold a deep nostalgia for it. wolfe investigates how it’s possible that the nostalgia people feel for disney is rooted in restorative nostalgia, which she defines as having a “reactionary ‘we must return to the past’ vibe, where progress and change are the enemy, and restoring how things ‘used to be’ is the goal” (wolfe 47). and while wolfe ultimately decides that this is not the primary type of nostalgia disney evokes, i find this to be one of the many moments in the book where she dances right up to the edge of a criticism before running back away. because when things about disney change, that nostalgia takes on a bitter edge: “for many, disney parks are quite literally their ‘happy place.’ when you’re struggling with real life, you can go back to disney time and again. it’s almost time travel back to a safer, happier time. so when something is different, it’s uncomfortable” (wolfe 202).
time and time again, ‘disney adults’ indicates that what people want from disney is comfort, and disney gives it to them through safety, nostalgia, and consistency. i realize that when you’re holding a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail. but jason stanley argues in ‘how fascism works’ that fascism is built on nostalgia for a mythological version of the past - one simpler and easier and with more societal structures and controls than we have today. it certainly doesn’t help disney’s case that in wolfe’s survey of disney adults, 88.4% are white (wolfe 89). the question, then, is what are disney adults actually nostalgic for? what are the comforts that they are seeking? and what does it mean that disney catering to these desires in the same way that contemporary populist politics do? i’m not trying to say that lovers of disney are fascists. but it seems a lot like the reasons why people love disney are similar to the reasons why fascist ideology is appealing to more and more american voters.
in ‘on tyranny,’ tim snyder writes that “the seduction by a mythicized past prevents us from thinking about possible futures” (snyder 123). do i think it’s aj wolfe’s responsibility to shoulder the burdens of fascism? no, not really. but i just can’t stop thinking that this book is fascinating and pertinent microcosm for the current chapter of the american experiment - and perhaps a lot more of a cautionary tale than wolfe could possibly have intended.
i’ll start with the good things first. this is an apex example of a fan studies book targeted towards the fans. i am not a disney adult (i range from ambivalent to downright hateful of disney depending on the day), but this is a compassionately rendered portrait of a frankly fascinating subculture. and i really and truly think that wolfe makes points when she argues that it’s unnecessary and cruel to shit on people for liking things, even if those things seem cringe or childish. this all probably hits a lot harder if you actually enjoy disney, but i appreciated it as an outsider.
onto the rest. in ‘disney adults,’ wolfe explains that her gateway into disney adulthood came when she was living in new york city in 2004: “i like comfort, and new york is anything but comfortable. so, i spent hours each week fantasizing and obsessing over disney world - a place that was, to me, safe and clean and predictable” (wolfe 15). she continues, later, that “disney is synonymous with safety for many disney adults, and that word can mean a lot of different things. it’s physically safe. it’s sanitized. the only surprises are good surprises. it’s predictable and consistent” (wolfe 38). what wolfe’s repeated descriptions of disney’s ability to provide safety and cleanliness and predictability indicate is that part of what drives people to the disney parks is, in fact, the fear of the unknown and the desperate need for control in an uncertain world. later in the book, wolfe discusses the connection between poor mental health and self-medicating with disney during her new york years: “i craved order and predictability. i wanted to go somewhere pristine that would promise, above all else, consistency and joy that required nothing whatsoever of me except a swipe of my credit card” (wolfe 170).
‘disney adults’ suggests that part of the reason why, for so many people, disney can fill the void of fear and terror is because so many people hold a deep nostalgia for it. wolfe investigates how it’s possible that the nostalgia people feel for disney is rooted in restorative nostalgia, which she defines as having a “reactionary ‘we must return to the past’ vibe, where progress and change are the enemy, and restoring how things ‘used to be’ is the goal” (wolfe 47). and while wolfe ultimately decides that this is not the primary type of nostalgia disney evokes, i find this to be one of the many moments in the book where she dances right up to the edge of a criticism before running back away. because when things about disney change, that nostalgia takes on a bitter edge: “for many, disney parks are quite literally their ‘happy place.’ when you’re struggling with real life, you can go back to disney time and again. it’s almost time travel back to a safer, happier time. so when something is different, it’s uncomfortable” (wolfe 202).
time and time again, ‘disney adults’ indicates that what people want from disney is comfort, and disney gives it to them through safety, nostalgia, and consistency. i realize that when you’re holding a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail. but jason stanley argues in ‘how fascism works’ that fascism is built on nostalgia for a mythological version of the past - one simpler and easier and with more societal structures and controls than we have today. it certainly doesn’t help disney’s case that in wolfe’s survey of disney adults, 88.4% are white (wolfe 89). the question, then, is what are disney adults actually nostalgic for? what are the comforts that they are seeking? and what does it mean that disney catering to these desires in the same way that contemporary populist politics do? i’m not trying to say that lovers of disney are fascists. but it seems a lot like the reasons why people love disney are similar to the reasons why fascist ideology is appealing to more and more american voters.
in ‘on tyranny,’ tim snyder writes that “the seduction by a mythicized past prevents us from thinking about possible futures” (snyder 123). do i think it’s aj wolfe’s responsibility to shoulder the burdens of fascism? no, not really. but i just can’t stop thinking that this book is fascinating and pertinent microcosm for the current chapter of the american experiment - and perhaps a lot more of a cautionary tale than wolfe could possibly have intended.
August 6, 2025
perfect, no notes. i have been a DFB fan for a while, and a disney parks fan for a while longer than that. i owe all of my assortments of park knowledge to aj, who's voice alone puts a smile on my face. she has created something so magical and helpful with not only her company, but this book as well. i will always rely on DFB for anything disney related.
August 7, 2025
What an insightful deep dive into the often misunderstood world of Disney Adults! My favorite part of the book was all the real-life stories and anecdotes from not only AJ’s life, but the multiple other Disney Adults and sources she chatted with. If you love Disney, consider yourself a Disney Adult, or are curious about the world, definitely pick this up!
September 4, 2025
*2.5 stars rounded down*
I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I did not find it here, sadly. I think I was hoping for fun pop culture references and instead found a lot of repetitive history, as well as niche examples that the vast majority of people cannot relate to. Chapter Four: Do We Deserve the Hate? did offer some interesting perspectives, but most of the book really dragged for me.
I think a lot of people in my life would probably call me a Disney Adult, but I'll tell you that I am nowhere close to the examples featured here!
I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I did not find it here, sadly. I think I was hoping for fun pop culture references and instead found a lot of repetitive history, as well as niche examples that the vast majority of people cannot relate to. Chapter Four: Do We Deserve the Hate? did offer some interesting perspectives, but most of the book really dragged for me.
I think a lot of people in my life would probably call me a Disney Adult, but I'll tell you that I am nowhere close to the examples featured here!
August 16, 2025
AJ Wolfe should have been the perfect author for this subject. As owner of two wildly successful Disney YouTube channels and a YouTube blog, she has access to tons of data of what inspires Disney adults. However, we get none of that data; instead the first half is a series of anecdotes from people who responded to her on instagram and the second half is a “what’s going with Disney” summary that you’d get from browsing any Disney subreddit for a month. Not worth your time.
September 16, 2025
Wow! I don’t know what I was expecting, but this book surpassed my expectations. It is part memoir, part history, part journalist interviews, and a lot of psychology. What constitutes a “Disney adults”? Is it just an adult that likes Disney? Why do we feel so tied to the stories and places that we loved as a kid?
It was so intriguing to think of going to the parks as a “pilgrimage” and how Disney has been criticized for both being “too woke” and “not woke enough.” Target is experiencing this - they have a backlash and a backlash to the backlash. It’s tough to exist as a media conglomerate in a culture that has made penalty everything a political issue.
Disney feels really safe to me, physically and psychologically safe. I loved hearing about Walt Disney and the executives and how they market and merchandise, even in the 1930’s. But what I loved the most about this book was the deeper questions of psychology- some people spend tens of thousands of dollars on being a sports fan. Disney has its own fans too that feel good using their money on this as a hobby.
This book is a must read if you are a Disney Adult or if you wonder if you are!
Thank you to @gallerybooks for the free book- this is my favorite so far that you have sent to me! #partner #gifted
It was so intriguing to think of going to the parks as a “pilgrimage” and how Disney has been criticized for both being “too woke” and “not woke enough.” Target is experiencing this - they have a backlash and a backlash to the backlash. It’s tough to exist as a media conglomerate in a culture that has made penalty everything a political issue.
Disney feels really safe to me, physically and psychologically safe. I loved hearing about Walt Disney and the executives and how they market and merchandise, even in the 1930’s. But what I loved the most about this book was the deeper questions of psychology- some people spend tens of thousands of dollars on being a sports fan. Disney has its own fans too that feel good using their money on this as a hobby.
This book is a must read if you are a Disney Adult or if you wonder if you are!
Thank you to @gallerybooks for the free book- this is my favorite so far that you have sent to me! #partner #gifted
September 18, 2025
Unnecessary book that would have made a better magazine article. It's not the subject, which is worthy of a deeply insightful discussion, but the poor execution by the author of focusing on simplistic and uninteresting aspects of Disney addicts. It also fails to properly define Disney Adults and includes anyone crazy enough to go $17,000 in debt for a last-minute Disney World trip (which the author did).
I know a thing or two about Disney and its fans. I worked at Disney World and was involved in collecting items. However, a "Disney Adult" in this book seems to be narrowly defined as those Disney World fanatics that spend too much time or money at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Disneyland gets some mentions, but beyond that there's not much. There are Disney film obsessions, where adults watch "Beauty and the Beast" over and over before they go to bed at night; Disney Store crazies that must buy a certain Disney-related items and spend thousands on them; Disney Channel/Disney+ zombies that consume anything shown on TV and schedule their lives around premieres; and international Disney cruise and theme park travelers, who may go on a single ride or trip dozens of times.
This book doesn't go into that stuff at all beyond side mentions. Instead this woman's focus seems to be the American Disney theme parks and its merchandising. That's because SHE runs a couple of blogs about them. So ultimately this is just promoting the online Disney businesses she owns!
Otherwise there's little profound here--it's mostly anecdotal stories from a few people that posted on her sites!
There is an interesting case to be made that Disney World obsession reveals an unhealthy need for escapism from the real world. I know people whose lives revolve around Magic Kingdom or an Orlando Disney property. But it's all a show--there's nothing real about the theme parks beyond the ridiculous prices and screaming kids. And the modern inclusion of alcohol, which needs some serious discussion about propriety.
Why would a married gay couple with no kids fly down every three weeks from the cold north to spend a quick weekend traversing a theme park, drinking and eating at canned restaurants, staying in cookie cutter hotel rooms, and battling the noise, heat, traffic and germs from heterosexual families? I know one that does, and that's an example of a real question that needs to be analyzed because Disney World is not reality! It's totally based on the concept that it's a "show," employees are "cast members," and that paying guests are the immersive "audience."
Let's just admit it--some Disney Adults are mentally ill and literally addicted to the imaginary world Walt and company created. Is that healthy? Like many adults have porn addictions to give them a high, so Disney creates ways to entice and seduce the pure-hearted childlike side of the most devoted customers. Then add the news Stars Wars and superhero characters to Disney properties and many fantasy-based adults are wasting lots of money by entering this children's world.
The author is one of those. Anyone who leaves her dad in ICU to post an EPCOT update and is back online giving Disney World news a few hours after giving birth has her priorities a bit off. Her response: "It's easy to judge."
Well, a discerning reader will be able to judge that there's little of substance to this book and that ultimately the writer is just pushing her brand in order to make money. Disney has somehow allowed her to benefit and there is no legal statement at the front of the book clarifying that all material discussed is trademarked or servicemarked by the company, so one has to assume she is in a business relationship with Disney.
If you have to be addicted to something, then Disney World is as positive a thing as you can find--but that kind of thinking and the way the company manipulates people around the world to devote billions to fulfilling those obsessions needs true analysis. Not just some Mickey Mouse overview like this one.
I know a thing or two about Disney and its fans. I worked at Disney World and was involved in collecting items. However, a "Disney Adult" in this book seems to be narrowly defined as those Disney World fanatics that spend too much time or money at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Disneyland gets some mentions, but beyond that there's not much. There are Disney film obsessions, where adults watch "Beauty and the Beast" over and over before they go to bed at night; Disney Store crazies that must buy a certain Disney-related items and spend thousands on them; Disney Channel/Disney+ zombies that consume anything shown on TV and schedule their lives around premieres; and international Disney cruise and theme park travelers, who may go on a single ride or trip dozens of times.
This book doesn't go into that stuff at all beyond side mentions. Instead this woman's focus seems to be the American Disney theme parks and its merchandising. That's because SHE runs a couple of blogs about them. So ultimately this is just promoting the online Disney businesses she owns!
Otherwise there's little profound here--it's mostly anecdotal stories from a few people that posted on her sites!
There is an interesting case to be made that Disney World obsession reveals an unhealthy need for escapism from the real world. I know people whose lives revolve around Magic Kingdom or an Orlando Disney property. But it's all a show--there's nothing real about the theme parks beyond the ridiculous prices and screaming kids. And the modern inclusion of alcohol, which needs some serious discussion about propriety.
Why would a married gay couple with no kids fly down every three weeks from the cold north to spend a quick weekend traversing a theme park, drinking and eating at canned restaurants, staying in cookie cutter hotel rooms, and battling the noise, heat, traffic and germs from heterosexual families? I know one that does, and that's an example of a real question that needs to be analyzed because Disney World is not reality! It's totally based on the concept that it's a "show," employees are "cast members," and that paying guests are the immersive "audience."
Let's just admit it--some Disney Adults are mentally ill and literally addicted to the imaginary world Walt and company created. Is that healthy? Like many adults have porn addictions to give them a high, so Disney creates ways to entice and seduce the pure-hearted childlike side of the most devoted customers. Then add the news Stars Wars and superhero characters to Disney properties and many fantasy-based adults are wasting lots of money by entering this children's world.
The author is one of those. Anyone who leaves her dad in ICU to post an EPCOT update and is back online giving Disney World news a few hours after giving birth has her priorities a bit off. Her response: "It's easy to judge."
Well, a discerning reader will be able to judge that there's little of substance to this book and that ultimately the writer is just pushing her brand in order to make money. Disney has somehow allowed her to benefit and there is no legal statement at the front of the book clarifying that all material discussed is trademarked or servicemarked by the company, so one has to assume she is in a business relationship with Disney.
If you have to be addicted to something, then Disney World is as positive a thing as you can find--but that kind of thinking and the way the company manipulates people around the world to devote billions to fulfilling those obsessions needs true analysis. Not just some Mickey Mouse overview like this one.
October 8, 2025
(free review copy) I have never been to a Disney park, own no Disney merch and love some Disney movies only because I have watched them with my kids or remember them from middle school. But I absolutely LOVED this book because it perfectly highlights a culture of people who love what they love, and aren’t afraid to show it. In our current culture, earnestness and fandom is often ridiculed and mocked, and I just love how this book shines on the good sides of fandoms while being realistic and honest about Disney’s issues. I still don’t think I will ever go to a Disney park, but I’ve learned to never say never, and have a new appreciation for a group of people who really care about something that brings them joy.
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
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January 7, 2026Got to page 30 and I just couldn’t go on.
August 18, 2025
A surprisingly thoughtful and insightful examination of Disney fandom among adults.
Full disclosure: I am not a Disney Adult, though I do enjoy the Disney parks and movies. We take our kids to WDW every few years, but I don’t know if/how often we would go on an adults-only trip.
I mostly came to this book because I’m very interested in the psychology of fandom, both among those in the fanbase and how that fanbase is viewed by others.
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting this book to be, but I was surprised how well the author did tackling that issue from both inside and out. The research here is really thorough and intuitive.
Wolfe often uses sports fans as a point of comparison, and frequently laments that the oft-loathed Disney Adults are treated differently (in a negative sense) than sports fans essentially displaying the same behaviors. Having worked in sports media for much of my adult life, I would argue that sports fans are actually decidedly worse, particularly in terms of aggression toward others.
This is true in terms of how segments of the sports super-fandoms interact with both those in the fanbase with them and those outside it, and it’s sort of strange how these people get a pass and everyone goes after far more harmless groups like Disney Adults.
While it’s true that every fandom has bad apples, I mostly don’t understand the animosity toward this particular group. I see nothing wrong with adults enjoying something that many believe to be for kids, and these folks are for the most part pretty inoffensive in how their fandom manifests.
While obsessive fandom always has negatives no matter what the subject of any group’s admiration is, I think for most people being part of something like that is a net positive, and this group in particular seems to have created a sense of community and belonging for a lot of people.
Obviously, anything taken too far can become problematic (I cringed every time Wolfe mentioned someone maxing out their credit cards to pay for a Disney trip), but on the whole I walked away from reading this feeling like I understood this fandom much better than I had previously, and that for most people, it’s kind of a great thing that this exists.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Full disclosure: I am not a Disney Adult, though I do enjoy the Disney parks and movies. We take our kids to WDW every few years, but I don’t know if/how often we would go on an adults-only trip.
I mostly came to this book because I’m very interested in the psychology of fandom, both among those in the fanbase and how that fanbase is viewed by others.
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting this book to be, but I was surprised how well the author did tackling that issue from both inside and out. The research here is really thorough and intuitive.
Wolfe often uses sports fans as a point of comparison, and frequently laments that the oft-loathed Disney Adults are treated differently (in a negative sense) than sports fans essentially displaying the same behaviors. Having worked in sports media for much of my adult life, I would argue that sports fans are actually decidedly worse, particularly in terms of aggression toward others.
This is true in terms of how segments of the sports super-fandoms interact with both those in the fanbase with them and those outside it, and it’s sort of strange how these people get a pass and everyone goes after far more harmless groups like Disney Adults.
While it’s true that every fandom has bad apples, I mostly don’t understand the animosity toward this particular group. I see nothing wrong with adults enjoying something that many believe to be for kids, and these folks are for the most part pretty inoffensive in how their fandom manifests.
While obsessive fandom always has negatives no matter what the subject of any group’s admiration is, I think for most people being part of something like that is a net positive, and this group in particular seems to have created a sense of community and belonging for a lot of people.
Obviously, anything taken too far can become problematic (I cringed every time Wolfe mentioned someone maxing out their credit cards to pay for a Disney trip), but on the whole I walked away from reading this feeling like I understood this fandom much better than I had previously, and that for most people, it’s kind of a great thing that this exists.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 4, 2026
Really fun look into the Disney adult phenomenon by someone who knows- namely, the founder of Disney Food Blog! I love AJ's posts about all things Disney, and this was essentially a long blog post about Disney adults, why people hate them, why they don't care, and how this phenomenon got started. I own the physical book (and it's signed!) but also listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author.
August 25, 2025
First and foremost, I generally largely agree with the overall premise -- let people enjoy what they enjoy as long as it is harmless, and the most extreme examples of the most cringe, embarrassing, rude, awful, etc. people in any subculture do not reflect upon the greater subculture as a whole. It doesn't go as deep or researched into why the subculture is so stigmatized, however -- and maybe that wasn't the point of the book. It would have been nice, though, since it is acknowledged and referenced. The book largely points to the "kidult" or "that's for kids" argument without any interviews with people who strongly feel that way. They are painted as people who are just reductive and unwilling to let people enjoy things, which can be true, but there are other reasons, too! The author references the capitalism of it all re: Disney as another motivating factor, and the idea of fans being out-of-touch with reality, but again, all surface level. I still enjoyed it, but it read more like a collection of blog posts with a large narrative.
It's funny that I tend to describe myself as a 'soft' Disney Adult since that very hesitancy is focused on in the book. I'm more like a recovering Disney Adult, sort of, and that is covered too. I did move to Orlando at one point, largely to be close to the theme parks (and I tend to lean more towards Universal than Disney, especially post-pandemic). I mean, I moved because I wanted and needed to shake up my life, so I didn't upend my life specifically to be close to theme parks, but the location was heavily influenced and abetted by having a close friend of mine already living in Orlando. And I used to listen to park loops and movie soundtracks all of the time, especially while exercising, but that's mostly faded away too. There's no one specific reason or anything, I guess -- it's more just the Disney theme park experience lessening in quality while simultaneously going up in price disproportionate to market and growth and even inflation. That is also covered in the book.
There were a few other odd/weird things that I didn't like regarding politics, and they are things that should have been addressed by an editor. The author referenced the summer of 2020 as a Black Lives Matter uprising, when the idea/memory of BLM should be first to 2013/2014 and the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer and the murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner respectively. 2020 was related to the murders George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks, as well as other civil and racial unrest related to police violence. The other was in relation to HIPAA and DAS, which doesn't make sense and is dubious politically as it feels like vaccine avoidance, although the tone was indecipherable to me.
It's funny that I tend to describe myself as a 'soft' Disney Adult since that very hesitancy is focused on in the book. I'm more like a recovering Disney Adult, sort of, and that is covered too. I did move to Orlando at one point, largely to be close to the theme parks (and I tend to lean more towards Universal than Disney, especially post-pandemic). I mean, I moved because I wanted and needed to shake up my life, so I didn't upend my life specifically to be close to theme parks, but the location was heavily influenced and abetted by having a close friend of mine already living in Orlando. And I used to listen to park loops and movie soundtracks all of the time, especially while exercising, but that's mostly faded away too. There's no one specific reason or anything, I guess -- it's more just the Disney theme park experience lessening in quality while simultaneously going up in price disproportionate to market and growth and even inflation. That is also covered in the book.
There were a few other odd/weird things that I didn't like regarding politics, and they are things that should have been addressed by an editor. The author referenced the summer of 2020 as a Black Lives Matter uprising, when the idea/memory of BLM should be first to 2013/2014 and the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer and the murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner respectively. 2020 was related to the murders George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks, as well as other civil and racial unrest related to police violence. The other was in relation to HIPAA and DAS, which doesn't make sense and is dubious politically as it feels like vaccine avoidance, although the tone was indecipherable to me.
September 4, 2025
An insider's look at the phenomenon of Disney obsessives, and particularly those fixated on the company's domestic theme parks in Florida and California. Like many of the people whom author AJ Wolfe has spotlighted or interviewed for this work, I wouldn't necessarily claim the "Disney adult" label for myself, but I recognize enough of the cultural landscape that I could probably be considered a member. (I'm not especially into merchandise memorabilia, for example, but my family visits those tourist spots every few years or so when we can afford to, and I'm the planner of the household who pores over travel sites like the writer's own Disney Food Blog even when we aren't going back anytime soon. I can certainly relate to the experience of sharing vacation optimization tips with strangers online, or of commiserating over bygone memories when a beloved ride becomes the latest attraction to be torn down and replaced with something new.)
The volume offers a whirlwind tour of different ways that adults interact with a brand widely viewed as being aimed at / more appropriate for children, together with reflections exploring its unique appeal -- and the associated discomfort some might feel in engaging with a lifestyle inexorably predicated on financially supporting a huge multinational corporation that mass-markets its prepackaged nostalgia. Wolfe traces how likeminded fan communities have developed over the years with the rise of the internet and social networking platforms, and she provides further history on how Disney itself has changed across that time as well, such as the entertainment firm's recent pivot towards embracing an access-driven influencer ecosystem. She addresses the politics of our moment too, like how Walt Disney World can be seen as a safe haven for queer acceptance amid the increasing intolerance of the state around it.
Along the way she touches on one crucially distinctive aspect of the subculture, which is how it's commonly disdained as cringeworthy by outsiders in a manner that, for instance, sports fandom never is. Yet while she notes the gender disparity and posits misogyny as a likely culprit there, this part of the discussion is a lot thinner than I'd prefer. In fact, as valuable as the author's expertise plainly is for this project overall, I think she's too tightly embedded within that space for the full analysis that the subject matter properly deserves. An expert on similar behaviors and social forces could provide better context here, much as the best ethnographies tend to come from researchers with prior anthropological training.
But this is surface-level popular nonfiction, not serious scholarship, and it scratches the exact itch that it describes, of immersing oneself in the trappings of a Disney park despite not being there in person. I'll await the stronger book that I believe could be written on the topic, and in the meantime award this one a passing rating of three-out-of-five stars.
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The volume offers a whirlwind tour of different ways that adults interact with a brand widely viewed as being aimed at / more appropriate for children, together with reflections exploring its unique appeal -- and the associated discomfort some might feel in engaging with a lifestyle inexorably predicated on financially supporting a huge multinational corporation that mass-markets its prepackaged nostalgia. Wolfe traces how likeminded fan communities have developed over the years with the rise of the internet and social networking platforms, and she provides further history on how Disney itself has changed across that time as well, such as the entertainment firm's recent pivot towards embracing an access-driven influencer ecosystem. She addresses the politics of our moment too, like how Walt Disney World can be seen as a safe haven for queer acceptance amid the increasing intolerance of the state around it.
Along the way she touches on one crucially distinctive aspect of the subculture, which is how it's commonly disdained as cringeworthy by outsiders in a manner that, for instance, sports fandom never is. Yet while she notes the gender disparity and posits misogyny as a likely culprit there, this part of the discussion is a lot thinner than I'd prefer. In fact, as valuable as the author's expertise plainly is for this project overall, I think she's too tightly embedded within that space for the full analysis that the subject matter properly deserves. An expert on similar behaviors and social forces could provide better context here, much as the best ethnographies tend to come from researchers with prior anthropological training.
But this is surface-level popular nonfiction, not serious scholarship, and it scratches the exact itch that it describes, of immersing oneself in the trappings of a Disney park despite not being there in person. I'll await the stronger book that I believe could be written on the topic, and in the meantime award this one a passing rating of three-out-of-five stars.
Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--Or click here to browse through all my reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog
October 24, 2025
Ugh AJ I’m so sorry! I’d probably listen to AJ narrate paint drying, so I figured I’d love an audiobook read by her but…this book is not good. Between the human interest stories about people I did not care about, the absurdity of the idea that Disney Adults are a marginalized group, and the disorganization of the book, she should’ve gone back to storyboarding on this. And I assumed this book would be for me, as a “childless millennial” who loves the parks! Honestly, she could’ve written either a traditional memoir (we do get some backstory, but it’s clear she does not want to share past a certain point), or just a general book about Disney parks history. Every Disney fan (myself included) has multiple Disney parks history books and has likely read every one.
I am also hung up on her calling being a Disney fan a “hobby” so consistently. Maybe I’m being too in-the-weeds on this, but I think hobbies are supposed to better you in some way (reading, knitting, exercising, painting, traveling, etc.). Going to Disney over and over is not a hobby (speaking as someone who does lol), as it does not get you out of your comfort zone (Disney is the comfort zone!). There’s a difference between travel (exploring somewhere you’ve never been and learning/experiencing the culture), and taking a vacation (going to a resort where no planning or exploration is required). I love both, but calling vacationing a “hobby” is silly, and really does highlight the importance of experiencing travel.
I love AJ, I’ll continue to watch every video she posts, but hopefully if she writes another book it’s better than this one.
I am also hung up on her calling being a Disney fan a “hobby” so consistently. Maybe I’m being too in-the-weeds on this, but I think hobbies are supposed to better you in some way (reading, knitting, exercising, painting, traveling, etc.). Going to Disney over and over is not a hobby (speaking as someone who does lol), as it does not get you out of your comfort zone (Disney is the comfort zone!). There’s a difference between travel (exploring somewhere you’ve never been and learning/experiencing the culture), and taking a vacation (going to a resort where no planning or exploration is required). I love both, but calling vacationing a “hobby” is silly, and really does highlight the importance of experiencing travel.
I love AJ, I’ll continue to watch every video she posts, but hopefully if she writes another book it’s better than this one.
September 16, 2025
Fine? This book was… book?
I didn’t feel like this book had a lot to say or was particularly insightful. There were moments where I thought a certain idea or topic was interesting, but then the book quickly moved on to a different topic. Maybe if it had included more data and fewer anecdotes I would have enjoyed it more.
I didn’t feel like this book had a lot to say or was particularly insightful. There were moments where I thought a certain idea or topic was interesting, but then the book quickly moved on to a different topic. Maybe if it had included more data and fewer anecdotes I would have enjoyed it more.
November 26, 2025
3.5 No comment
December 7, 2025
An insightful book about the phenomenon “Disney adults”. Funny how this book came into my life at the exact time I needed it to. I enjoyed how the author broke up everything into sections, and I laughed at a few parts. There was a large chunk of written text by other people, and it seemed to take away from the book a bit. Overall, good book, and I read it in AJs voice.
August 19, 2025
I'm a Disney adult🤣
August 13, 2025
Thomas and I listened to this audiobook, and we both enjoyed it! There was some interesting psychology brought up. I loved hearing stories about people who are “Disney adults” and how Disney has impacted their lives.
April 11, 2025
Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
As a longtime reader of Disney Food Blog, I've been excited about this one since it was first announced, and was thrilled to dive right into this story. AJ knows Disney and has been in the business for a long time, so it's not surprising that with her reach she was able to connect with a wide array of scholars (really!), fans, and Disney Adults across a huge spectrum to tell their stories, and the truths about being Disney Adults. This isn't a tell all memoir (anyone who has followed DFB and AJ for awhile will not be surprised that it's not full of personal details), but instead really looks at the identity and community of the Disney Adult. I really appreciated the psychological and sociological context and information in this one, as well as business perspective and the more ephemeral aspects of Disney Adulthood.
As a longtime reader of Disney Food Blog, I've been excited about this one since it was first announced, and was thrilled to dive right into this story. AJ knows Disney and has been in the business for a long time, so it's not surprising that with her reach she was able to connect with a wide array of scholars (really!), fans, and Disney Adults across a huge spectrum to tell their stories, and the truths about being Disney Adults. This isn't a tell all memoir (anyone who has followed DFB and AJ for awhile will not be surprised that it's not full of personal details), but instead really looks at the identity and community of the Disney Adult. I really appreciated the psychological and sociological context and information in this one, as well as business perspective and the more ephemeral aspects of Disney Adulthood.
August 17, 2025
My husband proposed to me at Disney World and we took our children there years later and enjoyed both stays immensely. I expected this book to be an entertaining look at a fun subculture but it read more like a boring blog post.
November 28, 2025
After spending last Thanksgiving reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter and being absolutely appalled, I decided to spend this Thanksgiving on the other side of the story. Enter: Disney Adults.
This was not anywhere near as bad as the aforementioned book, but Aj Wolfe does an incredibly poor job of making a justifiable case for any Disney Adult. I spent the majority of my reading time being absolutely appalled at the numerous mentions of her going into debt for a theme park and at the testimonies shared from other Disney Adults. Namely, the Broadway couple who decided to quit their jobs to be puppeteers at Disney's theme park in Florida, as well as a man with formerly undiagnosed ADHD who spent on Disney merchandise until his wife made him stop due to the financial strain on their family.
Please, if anyone reading this is a Disney Adult for whom the things in this book ring true (the parks being the only place you feel happy, overspending especially to the point of debt, use of the parks as a literal escape from life events), please put this book down and look into therapy. You can receive help far better through a licensed professional who will talk to you specifically than through a validating book such as this.
(Also, after reading about the author's $17,000 in park debt, I can not say I have any faith in the money-saving tips to be found on DFB, which is very sad considering I have watched my fair share of videos when imagining getting to go one day.)
This was not anywhere near as bad as the aforementioned book, but Aj Wolfe does an incredibly poor job of making a justifiable case for any Disney Adult. I spent the majority of my reading time being absolutely appalled at the numerous mentions of her going into debt for a theme park and at the testimonies shared from other Disney Adults. Namely, the Broadway couple who decided to quit their jobs to be puppeteers at Disney's theme park in Florida, as well as a man with formerly undiagnosed ADHD who spent on Disney merchandise until his wife made him stop due to the financial strain on their family.
Please, if anyone reading this is a Disney Adult for whom the things in this book ring true (the parks being the only place you feel happy, overspending especially to the point of debt, use of the parks as a literal escape from life events), please put this book down and look into therapy. You can receive help far better through a licensed professional who will talk to you specifically than through a validating book such as this.
(Also, after reading about the author's $17,000 in park debt, I can not say I have any faith in the money-saving tips to be found on DFB, which is very sad considering I have watched my fair share of videos when imagining getting to go one day.)
September 4, 2025
It's almost shameful how long it took me to read this book but I had another book in between and was also distracted while reading :P
This book is for me - for me and my people.
I am a Disney Adult and I'm proud of it.
And if you have a problem with that well there is the door because I don't need or want that sort of negativity in my life.
I've been following Disney Food Blog and AJ for a few years now and when I heard she was writing a book about Disney Adults I absolutely needed to read it.
Sure a lot of the information was self explanatory to me, but to those who might be new to the subculture I found the book extremely informative and in a lot of ways reassuring.
I will say there is a section about 3/4 in that goes a bit into the politics of it and away from Disney Adults, but I think it is important to touch on Disney's history, how it affects adults and their families. From a company started a hundred years ago to the 21st century, things need to change and progress in order to move forward.
I felt very seen and justified reading this, and it was fantastic hearing stories from other Disney Adults who live and breathe more Disney than I do. How lucky they are~
I love being a Disney Adult and absolutely recommend this to all Disney Adults or if you know someone/friend, who is a Disney Adult, please get this book to them - it'll put a smile on their face.
Now if only I could find more Disney Adult friends who are single/child free......
This book is for me - for me and my people.
I am a Disney Adult and I'm proud of it.
And if you have a problem with that well there is the door because I don't need or want that sort of negativity in my life.
I've been following Disney Food Blog and AJ for a few years now and when I heard she was writing a book about Disney Adults I absolutely needed to read it.
Sure a lot of the information was self explanatory to me, but to those who might be new to the subculture I found the book extremely informative and in a lot of ways reassuring.
I will say there is a section about 3/4 in that goes a bit into the politics of it and away from Disney Adults, but I think it is important to touch on Disney's history, how it affects adults and their families. From a company started a hundred years ago to the 21st century, things need to change and progress in order to move forward.
I felt very seen and justified reading this, and it was fantastic hearing stories from other Disney Adults who live and breathe more Disney than I do. How lucky they are~
I love being a Disney Adult and absolutely recommend this to all Disney Adults or if you know someone/friend, who is a Disney Adult, please get this book to them - it'll put a smile on their face.
Now if only I could find more Disney Adult friends who are single/child free......
Read
November 24, 2025shoutout to my mom for giving me this book.
happy to report that I am not alone in spending hours pondering why I enjoy Disney so much and considering the spiritual, social, and economic impact it has on my life/the world
also glad that my theory of Disney being basically the same as sports or celebrity fandom is backed up by scientists.
I would tell y'all to read this book but I know you won't so just let me talk about all of these things while I drive you to Disney and we have a magical day
happy to report that I am not alone in spending hours pondering why I enjoy Disney so much and considering the spiritual, social, and economic impact it has on my life/the world
also glad that my theory of Disney being basically the same as sports or celebrity fandom is backed up by scientists.
I would tell y'all to read this book but I know you won't so just let me talk about all of these things while I drive you to Disney and we have a magical day
September 22, 2025
Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture by AJ Wolfe (2025)
V+260-page Kindle Ebook story pages 1-237
Genre: Nonfiction, Social Science, Travel
Featuring: Introduction, Disney Food Blog, All Ears, Graphics, Revisiting Articles, Definitions of Disney Adults, The Real Beginning of Disney Adults, Merchandise, Mickey Watches, Movies and TV, Nineties Renaissance, Theme Parks, Disney Tips as Topic, Moving the Fandom Online, Disney Addicts, What Makes Disney Addictive?, Escapism, Safety and Predictability, Tourism Research, Nostalgia, Immersion, Influence and Community, Marketing, Testimonies, Digital Creators, Cringe Crimes, Mamalorians, Kidults, Playing Dress-up, Privilege, Overspending, and “YOU’RE GOING TO DISNEY AGAIN?”; Fan V. Fan, Disney Clubs and Communities, The Disney Culture and Society Research Network; Post-Disney Depression, Overspending, Psychology, ADHD, Stepping Back, Mental Health Breaks, Ludwig II, Social Media & Disney, Politics, Pricing, Influence, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney Food Blog, Quiz, Author's Links, Notes, Image Descriptions, Publisher Links
Rating as a movie: PG
Books mentioned: Generation Chef: Risking It All for a New American Dream by Karen Stabiner, and a lot of others
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎈🏰🎢🎠🍿🌐
My thoughts: 🔖Page 29 of 260 CHAPTER TWO HOW WE GOT THIS WAY - I didn't know this book was written by the same AJ that runs my favorite Disney YouTube channel. It's definitely interesting but not enough for me to read it through, I'm going to try to knock it out in a few days. I hope there's a chapter on just food.
🔖133 CHAPTER FIVE WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT EACH OTHER - Looks like I can forget about a food chapter. This book is all about adults obsessed with Disney vacations. The closest I got to food so far is Gabby's segment.
I was disappointed that this book was not about a Disney vacation or Disney tips or food. I am not sure I would have picked this book up if I knew it was about Disney fans but I am glad I did. This book focuses on the adults behind all those Disney tips and it was very enlightening although I did feel a bit called out when they talked about addiction and nostalgia, and escapism. Are they trying to imply that I spend too much time reading books instead of focusing on the real world, because mind your business AJ. I thought it was very well thought out and informative especially when you were talking about the positive and negative aspects of this fandom. AJ does a good job of pointing out the issues while saying I'm one of you but seriously consider therapy. In the Acknowledgments, she expresses her goal for this book and I think she has surpassed it. She did not overly condemn or praise the Disney Adult, it is written from a neutral point of view with an acknowledgment that while the fandom can be very compassionate as a whole some of them might have an addiction that is affecting their personal life. This is a great book for those looking for balance. After everything I read I'm not surprised Disney is working on retirement communities, I thought they already had a retirement neighborhood within walking distance, but maybe that was just a concept from 2015.
Recommend to others: Only if you're a fan of Disney, a Disney Adult, or a hater.
Memorable Quotes: I’m a Disney Adult. I have a slightly obsessive proclivity toward experiences and entertainment created by one of the world’s largest media conglomerates. I’ve been one of those grown-ups racking up credit card debt to escape the grind of my daily life with trips to Disney World.
By the early 2000s, I had found my tribe online and realized how much my unique combo of skills—(1) eating and (2) being obsessive about getting my money’s worth in Disney World—could, maybe, become more than a hobby. So, I ended up creating an entire career based on it.
It’s one of those vague, polarizing terms that could be an attack or a term of endearment depending on who’s using it. In fact, because you’re reading this book, I’m guessing you’re (1) a proud Disney Adult, (2) scared you might be a Disney Adult, or (3) thoroughly freaked out by Disney Adults. So, c’mon. Let’s get into it.
But the childlike nostalgia was only half of the equation. It was just the gateway to obsession. The truth is, Disney was, and is, very simply joyful. Everything was clean and pristine; everyone was kind and hospitable. When I sat on a bench or waited in a queue for my favorite ride, I didn’t have to work to find happiness in the same way that I had to work to find it in my real life. Sure, a part of the joy was probably due to the fact that I was on vacation—of course I was going to have a positive experience because I didn’t have to deal with emails or errands. But another important part of the escape was Disney’s very intentional effort to create a “false world.” They worked to pull the wool over my eyes, and I willingly let them. Few other vacation destinations will so happily and effortlessly deceive you into thinking reality simply doesn’t exist. It was almost like a drug: it was very expensive, but I couldn’t wait to take another hit. This addictive quality was what, over time, ultimately drove me to become an Adult Who Loves Disney. At the time, I probably wouldn’t have called myself a Disney Adult. (Although, to be fair, we were years out from coining the term.) But it’s not like I wore a T-shirt with a big, emblazoned “D” underneath my work blazer. I just knowingly liked Disney. My enjoyment was harmless, innocent even. And the simple joy I derived from reading Disney World Trip Reports from other fans while commuting to and from work on the Staten Island Ferry made me feel happier and safer than anything else in the world.
Despite its inauspicious beginning, Disneyland soon became the precedent against which all theme parks have been compared to this day.
Within twenty years, Disney had launched a lucrative time-share program, called Disney Vacation Club, which locked fans into legally promising to pay Disney for their next fifty years of vacations. The best part? If you died, you could pass the “ownership” on to your kids so that they could pay Disney for their vacations, too!
When “social media” platforms didn’t exist, and there were few references for what day-to-day Disney World looked like when we ourselves weren’t there, these reports were a portal to our happy place, and a great way to learn how not to waste your money. When you find a community who loves what you love—especially when a lot of people don’t—you’re going to enmesh yourself fully with that tribe. Message boards became a lifeblood. Suddenly your best friend was someone you’d never actually met IRL, and you were dating (sometimes even marrying!) someone you “met” online… before dating apps ever existed. This was the dawn of no longer needing to leave your house to socialize. You could live an entire life online, creating friendships with soulmates thousands of miles away.
As with any serious hobby, Disney can become a money pit. It can pull you away from real-life relationships and responsibilities. And it can become the obsession that you have to keep rationalizing and justifying, sometimes even to yourself. But balance exists for plenty of Disney Adults, and there can be great positives to the fandom.
While Disney Adults may recoil at the use of the word “addiction” to describe our behavior, my experience at the beginning of my Disney Adult journey was one of urgency. This was the start of my “Disney mode” brain chemicals. I obsessively pored over guidebooks and trip reports, read message board threads for hours on end, lusted after merchandise, and watched Disney World’s promotional DVDs like it was my job (which it wasn’t… yet). I calculated my vacation time down to the hour and determined just how in debt I could get without hitting rock bottom, in order to make more pilgrimages to The Most Magical Place on Earth. Pretty sure there was anxiety, irritability, tremors, and nausea involved there, too. For many of us, the products of The Walt Disney Company have—at least at one time or another—been medicative; and when something makes you feel better, you want more of it. But even if you take umbrage with a negatively connoted definition of “addiction,” I’m almost certain that we can all get on board with that last one: “a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly.”
He notes, “Some scientists believe that Disney-related vacations prompt more compulsive travel behavior than others, due to the powerful strategies the company employs” (true statement), and they’ve narrowed it down via a slew of research studies to four principles of why I’m addicted to Disneyland: yearning for travel, sensory delight, desire for influence, and fulfillment of nostalgia. Well, check, check, check, and check, I guess. Does anyone not want at least one or two of those things?
So, once again, if the neurological, physical, and emotional responses that Disney triggers in Disney Adults are not dissimilar from those experienced by sports fans, why, then, are the latter heralded while the former are condemned?
My friend, and former Disney employee, Mark S. notes, “I’m not a medical professional, but I do see some obsessiveness with any kind of entertainment that’s an escape from the real world. I feel like some people have become so dependent on Disney to provide that for them that they lose sight of the fact that it is a very large multinational media company and it’s never going to love you back. And so I think that’s when it becomes unhealthy: when people depend on it to be their source of happiness. It can contribute to happiness. And I do think Disney does a lot to bring people joy. But when I see people get so consumed by it that they’re thousands of dollars in debt and they have blinders on to the rest of the world, for me, it’s just a little sad.”
LendingTree, an online lending marketplace app, surveyed over twelve hundred adults who’d recently been to a Disney park. Through their interviews, they discovered that 24 percent of those surveyed went into debt for a trip, a number that is up from 18 percent in 2022. Among parents with children under eighteen, 45 percent acquired debt to vacation in a Disney park. LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz says it’s understandable that a significant chunk of parents would take on debt for Disney: “For so many parents, taking their kids to Disney is a rite of passage, something they remember fondly from their youth and want to experience with their kids,” he says. “Because of those feelings, they’re often willing to take on debt to get there.” And 59 percent say they have no regrets.
I’ve seen Disney evolve quite nimbly to assess and analyze social media feedback. In some ways (merchandise) this has benefited them greatly. In others (political decision-making), it’s exposed their weaknesses enough to make them look decidedly wishy-washy or even partisan. But what’s clear is that Disney is all-in on social media, and they’re not afraid to incorporate what they learn there into their upcoming plans. In the past fifteen years, we’ve seen Disney move through the progression of adopting, capitalizing on, influencing, and being influenced by social media and their online fanbase, creating genuine change in the theme parks and The Walt Disney Company in general.
V+260-page Kindle Ebook story pages 1-237
Genre: Nonfiction, Social Science, Travel
Featuring: Introduction, Disney Food Blog, All Ears, Graphics, Revisiting Articles, Definitions of Disney Adults, The Real Beginning of Disney Adults, Merchandise, Mickey Watches, Movies and TV, Nineties Renaissance, Theme Parks, Disney Tips as Topic, Moving the Fandom Online, Disney Addicts, What Makes Disney Addictive?, Escapism, Safety and Predictability, Tourism Research, Nostalgia, Immersion, Influence and Community, Marketing, Testimonies, Digital Creators, Cringe Crimes, Mamalorians, Kidults, Playing Dress-up, Privilege, Overspending, and “YOU’RE GOING TO DISNEY AGAIN?”; Fan V. Fan, Disney Clubs and Communities, The Disney Culture and Society Research Network; Post-Disney Depression, Overspending, Psychology, ADHD, Stepping Back, Mental Health Breaks, Ludwig II, Social Media & Disney, Politics, Pricing, Influence, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney Food Blog, Quiz, Author's Links, Notes, Image Descriptions, Publisher Links
Rating as a movie: PG
Books mentioned: Generation Chef: Risking It All for a New American Dream by Karen Stabiner, and a lot of others
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎈🏰🎢🎠🍿🌐
My thoughts: 🔖Page 29 of 260 CHAPTER TWO HOW WE GOT THIS WAY - I didn't know this book was written by the same AJ that runs my favorite Disney YouTube channel. It's definitely interesting but not enough for me to read it through, I'm going to try to knock it out in a few days. I hope there's a chapter on just food.
🔖133 CHAPTER FIVE WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT EACH OTHER - Looks like I can forget about a food chapter. This book is all about adults obsessed with Disney vacations. The closest I got to food so far is Gabby's segment.
I was disappointed that this book was not about a Disney vacation or Disney tips or food. I am not sure I would have picked this book up if I knew it was about Disney fans but I am glad I did. This book focuses on the adults behind all those Disney tips and it was very enlightening although I did feel a bit called out when they talked about addiction and nostalgia, and escapism. Are they trying to imply that I spend too much time reading books instead of focusing on the real world, because mind your business AJ. I thought it was very well thought out and informative especially when you were talking about the positive and negative aspects of this fandom. AJ does a good job of pointing out the issues while saying I'm one of you but seriously consider therapy. In the Acknowledgments, she expresses her goal for this book and I think she has surpassed it. She did not overly condemn or praise the Disney Adult, it is written from a neutral point of view with an acknowledgment that while the fandom can be very compassionate as a whole some of them might have an addiction that is affecting their personal life. This is a great book for those looking for balance. After everything I read I'm not surprised Disney is working on retirement communities, I thought they already had a retirement neighborhood within walking distance, but maybe that was just a concept from 2015.
Recommend to others: Only if you're a fan of Disney, a Disney Adult, or a hater.
Memorable Quotes: I’m a Disney Adult. I have a slightly obsessive proclivity toward experiences and entertainment created by one of the world’s largest media conglomerates. I’ve been one of those grown-ups racking up credit card debt to escape the grind of my daily life with trips to Disney World.
By the early 2000s, I had found my tribe online and realized how much my unique combo of skills—(1) eating and (2) being obsessive about getting my money’s worth in Disney World—could, maybe, become more than a hobby. So, I ended up creating an entire career based on it.
It’s one of those vague, polarizing terms that could be an attack or a term of endearment depending on who’s using it. In fact, because you’re reading this book, I’m guessing you’re (1) a proud Disney Adult, (2) scared you might be a Disney Adult, or (3) thoroughly freaked out by Disney Adults. So, c’mon. Let’s get into it.
But the childlike nostalgia was only half of the equation. It was just the gateway to obsession. The truth is, Disney was, and is, very simply joyful. Everything was clean and pristine; everyone was kind and hospitable. When I sat on a bench or waited in a queue for my favorite ride, I didn’t have to work to find happiness in the same way that I had to work to find it in my real life. Sure, a part of the joy was probably due to the fact that I was on vacation—of course I was going to have a positive experience because I didn’t have to deal with emails or errands. But another important part of the escape was Disney’s very intentional effort to create a “false world.” They worked to pull the wool over my eyes, and I willingly let them. Few other vacation destinations will so happily and effortlessly deceive you into thinking reality simply doesn’t exist. It was almost like a drug: it was very expensive, but I couldn’t wait to take another hit. This addictive quality was what, over time, ultimately drove me to become an Adult Who Loves Disney. At the time, I probably wouldn’t have called myself a Disney Adult. (Although, to be fair, we were years out from coining the term.) But it’s not like I wore a T-shirt with a big, emblazoned “D” underneath my work blazer. I just knowingly liked Disney. My enjoyment was harmless, innocent even. And the simple joy I derived from reading Disney World Trip Reports from other fans while commuting to and from work on the Staten Island Ferry made me feel happier and safer than anything else in the world.
Despite its inauspicious beginning, Disneyland soon became the precedent against which all theme parks have been compared to this day.
Within twenty years, Disney had launched a lucrative time-share program, called Disney Vacation Club, which locked fans into legally promising to pay Disney for their next fifty years of vacations. The best part? If you died, you could pass the “ownership” on to your kids so that they could pay Disney for their vacations, too!
When “social media” platforms didn’t exist, and there were few references for what day-to-day Disney World looked like when we ourselves weren’t there, these reports were a portal to our happy place, and a great way to learn how not to waste your money. When you find a community who loves what you love—especially when a lot of people don’t—you’re going to enmesh yourself fully with that tribe. Message boards became a lifeblood. Suddenly your best friend was someone you’d never actually met IRL, and you were dating (sometimes even marrying!) someone you “met” online… before dating apps ever existed. This was the dawn of no longer needing to leave your house to socialize. You could live an entire life online, creating friendships with soulmates thousands of miles away.
As with any serious hobby, Disney can become a money pit. It can pull you away from real-life relationships and responsibilities. And it can become the obsession that you have to keep rationalizing and justifying, sometimes even to yourself. But balance exists for plenty of Disney Adults, and there can be great positives to the fandom.
While Disney Adults may recoil at the use of the word “addiction” to describe our behavior, my experience at the beginning of my Disney Adult journey was one of urgency. This was the start of my “Disney mode” brain chemicals. I obsessively pored over guidebooks and trip reports, read message board threads for hours on end, lusted after merchandise, and watched Disney World’s promotional DVDs like it was my job (which it wasn’t… yet). I calculated my vacation time down to the hour and determined just how in debt I could get without hitting rock bottom, in order to make more pilgrimages to The Most Magical Place on Earth. Pretty sure there was anxiety, irritability, tremors, and nausea involved there, too. For many of us, the products of The Walt Disney Company have—at least at one time or another—been medicative; and when something makes you feel better, you want more of it. But even if you take umbrage with a negatively connoted definition of “addiction,” I’m almost certain that we can all get on board with that last one: “a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly.”
He notes, “Some scientists believe that Disney-related vacations prompt more compulsive travel behavior than others, due to the powerful strategies the company employs” (true statement), and they’ve narrowed it down via a slew of research studies to four principles of why I’m addicted to Disneyland: yearning for travel, sensory delight, desire for influence, and fulfillment of nostalgia. Well, check, check, check, and check, I guess. Does anyone not want at least one or two of those things?
So, once again, if the neurological, physical, and emotional responses that Disney triggers in Disney Adults are not dissimilar from those experienced by sports fans, why, then, are the latter heralded while the former are condemned?
My friend, and former Disney employee, Mark S. notes, “I’m not a medical professional, but I do see some obsessiveness with any kind of entertainment that’s an escape from the real world. I feel like some people have become so dependent on Disney to provide that for them that they lose sight of the fact that it is a very large multinational media company and it’s never going to love you back. And so I think that’s when it becomes unhealthy: when people depend on it to be their source of happiness. It can contribute to happiness. And I do think Disney does a lot to bring people joy. But when I see people get so consumed by it that they’re thousands of dollars in debt and they have blinders on to the rest of the world, for me, it’s just a little sad.”
LendingTree, an online lending marketplace app, surveyed over twelve hundred adults who’d recently been to a Disney park. Through their interviews, they discovered that 24 percent of those surveyed went into debt for a trip, a number that is up from 18 percent in 2022. Among parents with children under eighteen, 45 percent acquired debt to vacation in a Disney park. LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz says it’s understandable that a significant chunk of parents would take on debt for Disney: “For so many parents, taking their kids to Disney is a rite of passage, something they remember fondly from their youth and want to experience with their kids,” he says. “Because of those feelings, they’re often willing to take on debt to get there.” And 59 percent say they have no regrets.
I’ve seen Disney evolve quite nimbly to assess and analyze social media feedback. In some ways (merchandise) this has benefited them greatly. In others (political decision-making), it’s exposed their weaknesses enough to make them look decidedly wishy-washy or even partisan. But what’s clear is that Disney is all-in on social media, and they’re not afraid to incorporate what they learn there into their upcoming plans. In the past fifteen years, we’ve seen Disney move through the progression of adopting, capitalizing on, influencing, and being influenced by social media and their online fanbase, creating genuine change in the theme parks and The Walt Disney Company in general.
October 4, 2025
This is a book about a cult by a cult member who makes money off of the cult. The author tries to normalize behavior that you find in cults. There is a huge difference between someone who enjoys going to a Disney Park and someone who goes into debt to go to that same park, spending money they don't have on expensive vacations and merchandise, over and over again.
Almost all of us know a "Disney Adult." My least favorite one runs a not-so-successful social media channel where the influencer entices friends to pay for vacations to Disney Parks by offering them the opportunity to "become famous" on the channel, which no one watches. This is not normal behavior on the part of anyone involved. There are others who merely go only to the Disney Parks for vacations and have never gone anywhere else in their entire lives. I know another woman who is in the midst of covering her entire body with tattoos of Disney characters. These people are going into debt for this!
What is lost in all of this is that the Walt Disney Corporation is just that - a BUSINESS. They are making money (or they were until recently) off of the cult members' obsessions. On top of that, the author of this book is also making money off of the cult as she runs two well-known social media channels about the Disney Parks.
This book is not worth ANYONE'S time. I'm glad it was a checkout from the library on my part.
Almost all of us know a "Disney Adult." My least favorite one runs a not-so-successful social media channel where the influencer entices friends to pay for vacations to Disney Parks by offering them the opportunity to "become famous" on the channel, which no one watches. This is not normal behavior on the part of anyone involved. There are others who merely go only to the Disney Parks for vacations and have never gone anywhere else in their entire lives. I know another woman who is in the midst of covering her entire body with tattoos of Disney characters. These people are going into debt for this!
What is lost in all of this is that the Walt Disney Corporation is just that - a BUSINESS. They are making money (or they were until recently) off of the cult members' obsessions. On top of that, the author of this book is also making money off of the cult as she runs two well-known social media channels about the Disney Parks.
This book is not worth ANYONE'S time. I'm glad it was a checkout from the library on my part.
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August 10, 2025No rating since its a review of a subculture, but secretly, I give it not 5 stars, but 5 churros from Nomad’s Lounge, IYKYK! 😂
but honestly, I started watching Disney food blog back in 2019 to prepare for my first ever Walt Disney World trip as an adult. The author of this book, AJ Wolf, started Disney food blog long long ago, and I am so happy to see that she came out with her own book!
The Disney community may never be fully understood, but I am a very proud of Disney adult and it was such a fulfilling read to hear other people stories about why Disney means so much to them and their families! 🐭
but honestly, I started watching Disney food blog back in 2019 to prepare for my first ever Walt Disney World trip as an adult. The author of this book, AJ Wolf, started Disney food blog long long ago, and I am so happy to see that she came out with her own book!
The Disney community may never be fully understood, but I am a very proud of Disney adult and it was such a fulfilling read to hear other people stories about why Disney means so much to them and their families! 🐭
October 16, 2025
As a proud Disney Adult (but not one who has gone into debt to fund a trip or has my entire house decked out in Mickey Mouse motif) I had high hopes for this. I expected it to be more of a love letter to the fandom- an explanation as to who we are with some inside jokes, nods and winks thrown in.
There were interviews with a range of self-professed Disney adults, but none felt especially heartwarming. The book read more research paper than a love letter. Particularly the section on streaming, acquisitions, sports betting, overall profit/yieldetc. That’s fine, and it was all well written and researched, just not what I was expecting.
There were interviews with a range of self-professed Disney adults, but none felt especially heartwarming. The book read more research paper than a love letter. Particularly the section on streaming, acquisitions, sports betting, overall profit/yieldetc. That’s fine, and it was all well written and researched, just not what I was expecting.
August 10, 2025
DNF after an hour of the audiobook. The narration was among the worst I’ve ever heard. Her tone is weirdly manic and gleeful and her vocal fry grates my ears. I’m not a Disney adult but I have a keen interest in subcultures so I was hoping that this book would give me some insight into the phenomena. It doesn’t. It only sounds like a cult in my ears with her gleefully announcing that she gets herself into debt to visit a theme park.This book is written solely for the cult and not for an outsider.
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