A Disney adult is an adult who is a devout fan of The Walt Disney Company.^[1][2] Common hobbies of Disney adults include visiting Disney theme parks, collecting Disney merchandise, cosplaying Disney characters, and consuming content on the Disney+ streaming service.^[2]

Some people, including influencers and celebrities, proudly identify as Disney Adults.^[3] Buzzfeed News describes the phenomenon as a "polarizing fandom" that has received scrutiny and ridicule from others.^[1]

Practices associated with the phenomenon, such as Disney weddings, date back decades to the 1990s.^[4] Disney World's marketing in 1996 included an advert aimed at adults, promising "A World of Magic Without the Kids!"^[5]

Amanda Brennan, former head of editorial at Tumblr, identifies that website as the origin of the Disney adult fandom, specifically the practice of "DisneyBounding", a type of informal cosplay where adult visitors dress in the color palette of their favorite Disney character. She sees the millennial generation as having more "freedom to follow their own obsessions" and it being more socially acceptable for them to have juvenile interests.^[4]

In 2019, a Facebook post went viral in which a parent complained about childless millennial couples obstructing her family's experience at Disney World.^[4] This post then turned into a meme that was widely shared on social media making fun of Disney Adults, specifically millennials in their 30s who didn't have any children still going to the parks often.^[4]

Disney Adults are sometimes seen by others as embarrassing or naive for enjoying material ostensibly aimed at children, with sociologist Idil Galip saying that the financial and emotional investment in maintaining the commercialized hobby "almost signals a break from regular society or real life".^[4]

A January 2024 survey of self-identified Disney adults found that 71% were aged between 25 and 44, and 80% were female. 91% expected to remain a "Disney adult" for the rest of their lives.^[5]

Various celebrities have acknowleged being Disney fans, including: ^{[6] [7] [8]}

• Robert Muldoon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who was known for his eccentric behavior, including an affection to Mickey Mouse, and travelled to Disneyland during his premiership. His Disney fandom was said to contrast with his reactionary, aggressive and abrasive personality of a right-wing populist and economic nationalist politician.
• John Stamos: proposed to his wife Caitling McHugh at Disneyland and celebrated their first anniversary at the park, also collects Disney Parks memorabilia.
• Holly Madison: married at Disneyland and named her home library the "'Beauty and the Beast' library".
• Katy Perry: presented the unveiling of Minnie Mouse's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Mariah Carey: renewed her wedding vows with then-husband Nick Cannon on their 5th anniversary at Disneyland, and serves as the godmother for Disney Cruise Line's Fantasy ship.
• Ariana Grande: a Florida native, celebrated her 21st birthday at Walt Disney World.
• Chris Evans: stated he is a "a big, big, big Disney fan" and that Walt Disney World is his "idea of heaven". According to the actor, "no trip is complete without a ride on Space Mountain and a Mickey ice cream bar".
• Jason Bateman: has visited Disneyland since he moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, and achieved his long-time dream of starring on a Disney film by voicing Nick Wilde on the 2016 film Zootopia.

• Dapper Day – Unofficial biannual event at Disneyland
• Disneyana – Walt Disney Company ephemera
• Disneyland social club – Organized group of Disneyland fans
• Donaldism – Disney comics fandom