“Disney adults” are a surprisingly contentious topic, and even celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell have weighed in. If you’re not familiar with the term, “Disney adult” typically refers to an adult who frequents the Disney theme parks, collects merch, and is super enthusiastic about Disney characters and movies. Arguably, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a bit of nostalgia and doing something that brings you joy as an adult, but some critics think the stereotypical “Disney adult” takes it too far.
The topic has resurfaced online in recent weeks because of a Disney adult who goes by Toni on TikTok. Toni filmed some videos that showed her interacting with Peter Pan at Disneyland, not realizing how much negative attention she would get in response.
She has been dubbed “Peter Pan Girl.”
@babytoni99 Another adventure with the green bean💚🫶🏻✨ #peterpan #disneyland ♬ original sound – Toni
And people have left some pretty harsh comments on her Peter Pan videos. “ur gonna make this man quit,” someone commented on one of Toni’s interactions with Peter Pan. Numerous commenters tried to tell Toni that she was clearly bothering him and that he obviously doesn’t like her. “I hate Disney adults soo much,” another person wrote.
Toni, 27, told USA Today that she’s proud to be a Disney adult, but she didn’t expect so much backlash. “People can take something really small and turn it into something big without even knowing what it’s truly about,” she told the publication when reflecting on the criticism directed at her.
To her, “being a Disney Adult means letting out your inner child.”
Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell shared what they think it means.
Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon think Disney adults are a walking red flag
by u/Impossible-Yam3680 in popculture
An old video of the two actors has resurfaced online amid the “Peter Pan Girl” controversy. In the LADbible video, Reese and Will played a game of Agree or Disagree. When presented with the statement, “Disney adults are walking red flags,” both actors said they agreed.
Reese then went on to psychoanalyze Disney adults, claiming that they’ve clearly gone through a lot and she has “compassion” for them.
“Listen, here’s what I think,” Reese said. “Something real, real bad has happened to you if you’re doing that. So, like, I have a lot of compassion.”
Will interjected to say, “If you’re dressed up as Cinderella walking through the amusement park?” Reese then continued, “If you’re like, yeah, your dream is to, you know, meet the Bug’s Life cast, you suffered some dark s—.”
Will immediately started laughing when she said this, though he later added, “Is that possible? To meet the Bug’s Life cast? … I wanna meet the Bug’s Life cast.” So, perhaps, on some level, he can understand where Disney adults are coming from.
But some fans thought they were being too harsh.
@babytoni99 I think he ended up liking the idea #peterpan ♬ original sound – Toni
Clearly, being a Disney adult is not something that everyone understands, but that doesn’t mean Disney adults are harming anyone. One Redditor wrote, “There are way, way worse people in the world than Disney adults.” And someone else said, “As long as they’re not harming anyone what’s the problem?”
“While I agree I don’t fully understand it when it comes to Disney but how’s this any different then any other hobby?” someone else wrote. “Ppl shell out insane amounts of time and money on every hobby …”
And several people argued that there’s a difference between “Disney adults” and adults who casually enjoy Disney. “There are those of us who will go to Disney when we can, get good nostalgia vibes, make some memories and just have a really great time,” another person explained. “…But there are those Disney adults who make it their entire personality to an unhealthy degree.”
Someone else added, “I think the issue is that people online call every single adult who attends Disney a ‘Disney adult’ and make fun of them which is crazy because I didn’t realize once you hit 30 you’re not allowed to have fun ever again.”
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