Disney adults

Pages 14-15 | Opinion

Disney adults: cultish obsession or sweet childhood nostalgia?

As the phenomenon of “Disney adults” has become increasingly common, many question whether or not their fanhood is a well disguised cult or simply adults reminiscing their long lost youth

COMMENTARY BY LUCAS BETANCOURT, STAFF WRITER

EVERY YEAR, thousands of young adults make the pilgrimage to their holy land: Orlando, Fla. Upon arrival, they make their offerings and receive a day pass, often crying in emotional excitement as they come upon Cinderella’s Castle, the altar of Mickey Mouse.

Whether due to a lack of meaningful childhood experiences or an overconsumption of Disney entertainment, Disney adults have developed an emotional, almost childlike attachment to their favorite Disney characters. This emotional attachment leads to some rather interesting choices, including the dedication of entire rooms to Disney merchandise and traveling to Disney World in Florida more than 30 times.

Considering all the expenses most Disney World visits entail, the monetary cost of Disney adults’ devotion can reach up to $22,800 a year, based on prices compiled from disneyparks.com, an absurd price comparable to what many cults demand of their members.

However, before going around labeling an entire group of people, it must first be established what that label means. As defined by Merriam-Webster, a cult is considered “a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious” and a “great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work.” Considering the devotion Disney adults hold towards their corporation of choice, they fit both definitions quite well.

“I think exclusively watching Disney content is a bit cultish. The film industry has much to offer, so only watching things distributed by Disney just seems out of place in today’s society,” senior Amy Rodriguez said.

But this zealous devotion by Disney adults should come as no surprise. Many of the deities they worship, i.e. Disney characters, trace their genealogy as stories back to religious mythologies of various cultures. Take “Beauty and the Beast,” a story derived from the myth of Cupid and his lover Psyche, both of whom being ancient Greek deities. Or the circle of life from “The Lion King,” which is oddly similar to Saṃsāra, a concept of cyclical life present in Hinduism, Buddhism and other Indian religions. There’s even Biblical allusions in classic Disney movies — most blatantly seen in Snow White’s eating of a cursed apple, just like Eve. ​

Disney’s reappropriation of religious mythos may remove their association with any particular religion, but the stories contain the same metaphysical appeal. The difference is, instead of worshiping a religious deity or following a set of beliefs, those who consume these stories worship the beloved characters within these retellings alongside the company that produced them.

Corporations like Disney are notorious for their relentless profit seeking business practices, capitalizing on every opportunity to increase their company’s revenue. So when given the opportunity to replace the prophet with Mickey Mouse, they jump without a second thought.

Disney merchandise acts as a physical personification of these fictional characters, encouraging their devoted followers to buy their deities for at home access. They even go so far as to offer Disney themed funeral services, practically usurping one of religion’s key roles in society to turn a profit.

Though, it must be clarified that not everyone who enjoys Disney and its entertainment properties is a part of a cult. Simply being a “Toy Story” or “Cinderella” fan does not constitute a label of such negative connotation. Furthermore, other content fandoms are in no way cults themselves and many of them have developed communities where people feel included and welcomed, practicing healthy escapism.

Crafting a personality entirely around a corporation which has monopolized the entertainment industry is clearly abnormal. Given the power Disney holds, one cannot help but feel as if Disney adults are victims of a complex marketing scheme crafted to further expand said corporate power. The dystopia of late-stage capitalism has provided the conditions for the exploitation of vulnerable people, who in alienated desperation for a sense of community attach themselves to whatever they can, forming a cult in the process.

“I think that some of these adults, I can’t speak for all of them, but some have had a lot of traumatic experiences as a child and this is just them living out their childhoods in their thirties and forties,” film teacher Gabriel Rodriguez said.

Disney adults are a symptom of a step toward capitalist instituions instead of religious ones. All hail Mickey Mouse. h

COMMENTARY BY AUSTIN YAGODA, STAFF WRITER

THERE IS NOTHING EQUAL to the magic a child feels when first stepping into Disney World and seeing Cinderella’s castle. Their tiny toddler brain suddenly realizes that the desire rooted deep in their mind by their favorite movies is becoming a reality. This realization turns what one thought was just a theme park into a living dream, filled to the brim with the locations and characters one never thought could be reached. However, as people age and mature, the magic will turn to silliness for most. But for those who continue to believe, Disney World remains a beacon of joy and excitement throughout their life. Despite the choice to enjoy Disney World being a harmless one, some will claim that doing such is cultish and regressive, mentally moving backwards when the mind should be maturing. Disney adults, who are the target for such offenses, will often receive more hate from simpletons who have never tasted joy in their miserable lives than happiness from an enchanted wonderland. It really does not matter where one finds peace and inner satisfaction, even if it involves wearing mouse ears and slow dancing with adults in costumes.

Personal experience varies, but for many parkgoers the drastic change from their daily work routine to a different world offers a unique and refreshing change of pace and break from stress that no other attraction could possibly match.

“When I lived in Orlando I would bring my kids all the time [to Disney]. Now I live in the Gables and the trip might feel just as worth it as before,” Gables parent Alana Garcia said. “In fact, without the kids I might finally enjoy some rides without hearing shrieking every second.”

For many busy parents such as Garcia, oftentimes the best way to have some time away from the kids is to become one for just a little bit. Many factors play into why someone can feel stressed out and overworked, and for those who have the opportunity, there is no harm in reliving the joy Disney can bring to their inner child.

According to a survey done by disneywithdavesdaughters.com, a Disney World visitor site, 42% of all adult park visitors would rather take the trip without their kids rather than with them. This statistic is an indicator of how people feel about how much enjoyment cancome out of a theme park designed for children.

“Honestly, who cares who it was intended for? I’m just saying, haters are going to hate and they can say whatever because they’re not having fun, but we are,” Gables alumna Micaela Stavrinos said.

Another prevalent problem with being a Disney adult is the new culture of hate brought on through the internet by younger generations. No good thing can happen outside of the 12-18 age range without being constantly attacked for not appearing “with it” or “hip” enough. This is the same case as dad joke culture and insurance ad commercials, which remain peak comedy and should never change. Disney adults have only just been officially added to this list, the sole reason being that it seems “immature.”

In more intelligent terms, the principle of “no harm, no foul” holds true in this situation and the unnecessary hate for Disney adults comes from a source of misdirected jealousy. The kids just cannot find joy in the little things anymore. Maybe when they grow up and do some nice long introspection, they will join the fun in their own childlike ways. h

AVA’S ANTICS

Crossword Capitalism

COMMENTARY BY AVA VOLMAN, OPINION EDITOR

There is nothing I love more than my daily crossword puzzle. The second I step into highlights I am already buzzing with anticipation for the biggest competition of my life: who can complete it the fastest. The overwhelming joy when I see the look of disappointment on news editor Emily Kardjian’s face as I have once again secured a faster time than her is unmatched. However, my daily ritual has been faced with an unprecedented disruption: my brokeness.

The USA Today crossword is a bonding exercise among highlights’ staff. It has made us laugh, it has made us cry, it has made us scream in anguish, but it also has brought us closer together. Somewhat.

You can only imagine the look of horror on my face when I opened my laptop, opened the glorious USA Today website, only to find that I only get two free puzzles weekly.

Unlike the previous allure of free daily crossword puzzles, the evil corporation known as USA Today has now decided that a $2.99 subscription is needed in order to access their daily puzzles. How am I supposed to satiate my need for proving my overwhelming superiority in word games if the only way I can do so is by emptying my already barren wallet?

Now don’t get me wrong, I realize $2.99 is barely any money in the grand scheme of things. However, I would rather die than sacrifice any money to corporate greed. The capitalistic focus of today’s society is inherently wrong and I won’t stand for it (if you want to hear me rant about this further, check out page 28!)

This is my official protest. Not to mention, I am very broke and wouldn’t be able to pay anyway, but that is besides the point.

I think it is time we take up our pitchforks and storm the USA Today headquarters. USA Today, if you’re reading this, please give me free crosswords for life. Or else. h