Disney Adults Are Misunderstood – Here’s What Mainstream Media & Onlookers Miss About Our Disney Fandom

A story about a Disney Adults drinking group that centered around an EPCOT garbage can, named “Binny,” made the rounds in the media at the end of last week. Many comments on these articles poked a bit of fun at Disney Adults which has become a bit of a common occurrence when they're brought up in mainstream media.

Since we at Mickey Visit could all largely be identified as Disney Adults, we felt it was our place to step in and offer our own commentary. Why are Disney Adults often the butt of so many jokes? What makes a true Disney Adult? Why do Disney Adults travel to Disney so much?

But first, we need to address this now famous EPCOT garbage can and its impact on a certain group of Disney Adults. We'll share that backstory and what the founder of that group has to say about their newfound media coverage.

Binny the EPCOT Garbage Can

I loved the story of the Binny garbage can at EPCOT and the fun history behind it. This was a great feature piece that gives a bit of insight into the silliness and fun that Disney offers for many adults. Why the Wall Street Journal decided it was worth their coverage is another fun aspect that demonstrates the power of happenings at Walt Disney World. It also shows that there is so much going on within Disney that not even we had heard all the details and turns of this trash can saga.

According to the article, Binny is an EPCOT garbage can that serves as the official mascot of the Disney Day Drinkers Club. The trashcan's debut as their mascot was a result of serving as a great place to set drinks as a stop on the drink around the world at Epcot tour (as most EPCOT trash cans do) and the rest was history. This large club is even acknowledged by some who work for Walt Disney World. Restaurants like Yak & Yeti offer a secret menu to club members according to the Wall Street Journal, “Bars around Walt Disney World, including the Yak & Yeti inside the Animal Kingdom park, offer a secret menu of cocktails to club members. “Take me to the summit,” D3 members say to the bartenders—a private password that gives access to the secret menu.”

Members of the Disney Day Drinkers Club, D3 for short, started a tradition of “…visiting Binny to pay homage to a mascot who the club’s website says is “always trashed.” (The site also cautions, “Don’t trust any other trashcan.”)” according to the Wall Street Journal article.

Group Founder Comments on Newfound Media Coverage

Unfortunately, Binny has been moved around EPCOT lately due to the crowd of guests blocking the Rose & Crown entrance to take pictures with the famous trashcan which then led to confusion over the location of the original Binny trash can. As of now, Binny seems to have been removed entirely.

This recent development and the social media buzz around it is likely what caught the eye of mainstream media to write this story predominantly featuring Disney Adults with the story ending with some key quotes from members describing their love for Disney. Sher, the founder of Disney Day Drinkers, elaborates on what Disney means to him in the article, “When I enter the parks, I just feel really good. It brings back all those childhood memories,” he says. “That’s really magical as an adult, especially when you introduce a few cocktails.”

I couldn't agree more with Sher. Disney provides a magical combination of childhood memories and a way to connect with the community. When we asked D3 how they felt about all the attention they've received Sher told us, “Yes it’s been overwhelming with the support. I did not realize how passionate people were about our club and Binny. We are a fun group that loves to know what new drinks are showing up at Disney. For us to get national attention has brought more fans together that have the same passion about Disney and Drinks.”

This sounds like a truly happy ending for the Disney Day Drinkers, so now I'll turn my focus to trying to give a little bit of context and reflect on why we (and perhaps you) love Disney as adults so much.

What Are Disney Adults?

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What is the official definition of a Disney adult? Well, a Disney adult is any adult who is a devout fan of The Walt Disney Company. This can take the form of fandom primarily focused on the Disney theme parks like Disneyland or Walt Disney World.

But Disney Adults can take many forms including those who collect Disney merchandise, look into Disney Pin Trading or Disney Popcorn Buckets to see how devoted some merchandise fans can be, while some mainly focus their fandom on Disney films and shows. Some Disney Adults may be fans of the films and their fandom ends there without extending into theme park trips or merchandise collecting. And then you have some Disney Adults that transcend all categories from frequent park visits, merchandise collecting, and Disney media.

There's a bit of Disney for everyone especially now that Disney owns Lucasfilm and Marvel Studies. Although it may be a bit controversial to go as far as to call Marvel and Star Wars fans Disney Adults, you will often see some overlap in those fandoms.

Disney Adults are often assumed to be “childless millennials” although many fans of Disney do not fit into this narrow box. Disney Adults who are frequent theme park visitors with or without kids also seem to get the most criticism in the media.

Disney Adults Often Face Backlash

Disney Adults have been the butt of many jokes over the years with that frequent “childless millennial” bit being the most common. Some have even gone so far as to call Disney Adults weird, childish, or immature. Disney Adults who frequent Disneyland and Walt Disney World often seem to get the most criticism. Why don't they travel somewhere else? How can they afford to go to Disney all the time? Don't they get bored of going to Disney… AGAIN?

So why does mainstream media poke fun at Disney Adults? Why does this seem to trigger such a harsh response from so many people? When it comes to Disney Adults who frequent theme parks, which are often the most talked about in the media, I think some of this backlash comes from the known cost associated with Disney theme parks.

Although it is possible to do Disneyland or Walt Disney World on a budget, the general public thinks of Disney trips as costing a large amount of money. And they can, depending on how you do them! There does seem to be an undercurrent of envy when I hear criticisms that are associated with the cost of a Disney trip. While Disney trips can get expensive, Disney Adults who visit the parks frequently might forego other lifestyle costs (eating out, shopping excessively, concerts, etc.) to make these trips possible.

Criticism Aimed at Disney Adults

It does not seem fair that this particular fandom gets criticism when other fandoms, football being one good example, go by unscathed. “NFL Football Adults” spend money on merchandise, event tickets, follow all relevant news about sports, and make their household pay for the most expensive premium cable packages, and do not receive the same type of criticism we see reserved for Disney Adults. Perhaps we need to let people like what they like without criticism.

Why Do Disney Adults Love Disney Parks?

As a self-proclaimed Disney Adult, I have a few reasons for why I love Disney. I grew up with Disney like any 90's kid amid the Disney Renaissance when Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King and other modern classics all debuted. My parents also loved Disney and were in the midst of all that popularity of seeing every new film in the theater, visiting the Disney Store on weekends, and then finally taking our first Disney Parks trip in 1994. After that first year, we went twice more driving from Colorado to Anaheim each summer. We had garage sales to save for trips, we got discount Disneyland tickets from the Disney Store and stayed at cheap motels to pull it off. A Disney trip around this time became the middle-class family rite of passage and I was fortunate to be able to experience it many times in my childhood.

So I can recognize a big part of my Disney fandom is rooted in nostalgia. But it's more than just that, I love taking trips to Disneyland and Walt Disney World for reasons that don't have anything to do with nostalgia.

Safety of the Disney Bubble

While this reason is a bit grim, the safety that both Disneyland and Walt Disney World offer puts many families' minds at ease. Due to their intense security measures to enter their shopping districts or theme parks, this is one large public space where you can truly feel safe.

As a single mom, my son's first family vacation was to Disneyland and this was a large part of the appeal for me since I knew I would be traveling alone with my son. This was a big consideration for my travel when my son was young. But even now, I always feel safe and at ease on Disney property. The Disney Bubble as it's called does isolate you from the outside world and gives a sense of security.

You can read my take on if the area around Disneyland is safe here.

Walt Disney's Vision of Transportation Ease

One of my favorite things about Walt Disney World is how it's a great example of a walkable community connected with various advanced forms of transportation. This aligns nicely with Walt Disney's vision when he first dreamed of EPCOT as a real city connected by an advanced mass multimodal transportation system that would “never cease to be a living blueprint of the future.”

Walt Disney World is larger than San Francisco connected with efficient bus transportation, an advanced gondola system, monorail, and boats. You don't need to rent a car at Walt Disney World and can efficiently get from place to place.

Disney Parks as a “Third Place”

For Disney Adults, especially those who are Annual Passholders, Disney also exists as a “third place” to connect to others in their community. The third place is a term that refers to places where people spend time between home (their ‘first' place) and work ( their ‘second' place). Events that take place at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland demonstrate a good example of how this third place is utilized among Disney Adults.

Dapper Day is one of my favorite examples of this, this longheld Disney tradition started by locals has evolved now into a full convention that takes place three times a year at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Since communities seem to be lacking strong third places these days, it makes sense that the popularity of Disney as a place to gather with others would be increasing. This is especially true if you live near Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Having a Walt Disney World Annual Pass or Disneyland Magic Key grants access to this third place in the community to connect with others whether it's meeting friends at the Food & Wine Festival at California Adventure or enjoying an After Hours event at Walt Disney World.

Advanced Disability Access

Disney is known for excelling at inclusivity for guests with disabilities. Disneyland and Walt Disney World provide easy access for those who require a wheelchair or scooter while guests who require additional assistance can apply for DAS to help with further accommodations. For guests who face challenges, especially those traveling with children with disabilities, this is a huge appeal of a Disney vacation. Disney accommodates a wide variety of disabilities from developmental, physical, and invisible. This is a lifesaver for many guests and leads to many repeat visitors.

Disney Parks as Escapism

And of course, the most common reason that is presented as a reason for being a Disney Adult- visiting Disney to escape the reality of life. I love escapism as much as the next person but I do feel, based on the reasons above, that Disney offers even more beyond just this escape from reality.

But let's face it, this is a huge appeal for many Disney Adults. Especially those who may have suffered trauma in their adult life or childhood and battle with anxiety or depression. One of the reasons I looked to Disney for my son's first vacation when he was young is because I was two years out of cancer treatment which had essentially traumatized my whole family. I was looking for a magical escape from that trauma we had just experienced. It was the perfect way to celebrate surviving a rigorous chemotherapy treatment and entering remission. Since then I have turned to my love of Disney frequently to get me by, most recently after the sudden death of my mother. Disney has been a comfort in my grief and a way to connect to the memories I shared there with my mom.

You don't necessarily need to have endured trauma, loss, or a life-threatening illness to appreciate the escapism of Disney though. The pressures of work, school, and other responsibilities are enough to need a break from.

Disney encourages adults to feel like kids again and let go of all that responsibility and hardship, even if it's just for a quick ride in the teacups.

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