The One Thing Disney Adults HATE…About Each Other!

Being a Disney Adult can be pretty bizarre.

Cinderella Castle

It’s a tight-knit community with lots of magic and fun, and plenty of memorable vacations on the horizon. But to those outside the Disney Adult community, it doesn’t always make sense why we do what we do. Disney Adults are often judged harshly for being obsessed with The Mouse and planning multiple trips to the parks in a short time span. You grow to expect the occasional negative comment from a Disney hater, but there’s also one thing Disney Adults HATE about each other.

Most Disney Adults are regular people with a hobby they love! We enjoy watching the classic Disney films of our youth, we have favorite characters and TV series, and we plan trips to the parks to relive our childhood or to share the magic with those we love.

Crowds in Disney World

Many people are Disney fans because they have fond memories of Disney content and Disney destinations. We’re “obsessed” because of the happiness that being a Disney fan can bring us. But even the most die-hard fans will admit that some people take it too far.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

We’ve talked to and interviewed quite a few Disney fans recently, and when we’ve asked them what the worst part about being a Disney Adult is, the common answer has been pretty surprising! It’s not the “bullying” from people who dislike Disney or the constant “Oh, you’re going to Disney World AGAIN?” questions. In fact, many people say that the worst thing about being a Disney Adult is some negative experiences interacting with others in that same group.

Walt Disney Statue

One negative we’ve heard about Disney adulthood recently is that it can become increasingly…well…competitive. It’s easy for things to jump from a fun hobby to a feeling of Keeping Up With The Joneses. Who plans the best trips? Who goes to the parks the most days? Who owns the most pairs of Minnie ears? Especially in the day and age of social media, this has become more and more pronounced.

Journey of Water

In some groups of Disney fans, status has become important. Which level of annual pass do you have? Have you seen the newest show, eaten at the newest restaurant, or snagged the newest limited-edition souvenir? And this competition has started to weigh on the community.

Slinky Dog Dash

Psychology Today notes that fandoms can be particularly helpful “for mental health, exploring one’s identity, discovering creativity, and taking a much-needed break from the stresses of everyday life.” However, they also point out that toxicity within a fandom can “sometimes make [it] feel more like a minefield than a safe space for self-expression and celebration.”

The Haunted Mansion

One article notes that negative stigmas about fandoms can lead to “bad behavior” from the fans themselves. For example, Disney Adults are often called “childish” or looked down upon by those outside the fandom, and those kinds of negative perceptions can lead fans to lash out at others within the group. Examples can include people “policing fandoms” and “testing” other fans to determine their dedication.

EPCOT

These kinds of “tests” can include everything from demanding answers to trivia questions to favoring proof of fandom dedication in the form of time or money spent. When applied to the Disney fandom, this could be something like judging another person based on their souvenir collections or how many times they went to Disney World last year.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Even though bragging can be annoying when you’re listening to someone else do it, bragging has an interesting effect on the mind. According to Counselling Connection, psychologists at Harvard did a study on bragging where they used fMRI to take images of the brain while subjects talked about themselves. They found that when subjects “bragged,” the same area of the brain lit up that lights up when we eat food.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Combining the feel-good effects of talking about yourself and the deep-rooted desire to establish yourself within a fandom community can definitely lead to some boasting and judgment.

Hollywood Studios

So we want to reach out to YOU! Do you feel like you’re caught in the trap of comparison in the Disney community? If so, how do you manage that? How do you keep your love of Disney lighthearted without feeling the need to “keep up with the Jones’s?” We’d love to hear from you!

Ultimately, this fandom is a place that we all love. We’re so glad to be a part of the Disney Community that brings us so much joy here on the DFB team. Let us know how you keep balance in your life when it comes to those FOMO moments!

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