When Walt Disney opened Disneyland Park in 1955, he forever changed the theme park industry. He successfully created a place where families could enjoy the experience together — parents would not be stuck on the sidelines, watching their children enjoy the rides and attractions. Walt famously said that Disneyland would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world.
Walt’s dreams of more Disney theme parks have come to fruition in a big way since 1955. Disney currently has theme parks in California, Florida, Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong. Sadly, Walt was only ever to see Disneyland open, as he died in 1966, four years before the opening of Walt Disney World Resort.
Over the years, Disney theme parks have changed and expanded a lot, and many of them look a lot different than they did on their opening days. And while change always has its critics, the changes Disney has been making lately seem to be more controversial than ever before.
In recent years, Disney’s most controversial changes have included:
- Tearing down A Bug’s Land and building Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park
- The elimination of free FastPass and replacing it with Lightning Lane
- Retheming Splash Mountain to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park
- The closure of Muppet*Vision 3D and replacing it with a Monsters, Inc. (2001)-themed area
- The demolition of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America to create a Cars (2006) area in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom
Related: After Disney World Changes, Are Disneyland’s Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island the Next To Go?
There has been a lot of blame thrown around as guests try to figure out why Disney is making these changes — including Disney going “woke”, trying to fill the park with more IP, trying to justify raising prices by so much, and more.
However, some people think the blame can be placed squarely on the shoulders of one group of people — Disney adults.
X (formerly Twitter) user Disney Glimpses ignited a huge debate when they said that Disney adults were to blame for the “horrific changes” happening in the parks. They also said that Disney is ultimately at fault for listening to guests who won’t always be “loyal.”
I hate to say it, but the Disney Adult culture is responsible for all of these horrific changes to Disney Parks.
FWIW, Disney is still the one making the mistake here. Listening to them and thinking they will be loyal to them down the road (they won’t be). And that’s really what they are chasing: a new repeat visitor model (stated internal high priority goal).
I hate to say it, but the Disney Adult culture is responsible for all of these horrific changes to Disney Parks.
— Disney Glimpses (@disneyglimpses) July 6, 2025
Related: Bring the Tissues! Fans Honor Muppet*Vision 3D With Moving Sing-Along
Many commenters quickly jumped to the defense of Disney adults, with many of them saying that they are Disney adults, and they don’t like all the changes at the parks.
I would like to know how because I’m part of that Disney adult culture and know quite a few people that are part of that culture and we were pretty loud on what we wanted and what we’re getting is not even close to what we wanted.
Disney Glimpses also clarified that the “Disney adults” they were referring to are the ones without children who are more interested in E-ticket attractions and less interested in the quieter experiences and attractions designed for younger guests.
You’re technically not a “Disney Adult” which are classically childless adults (not all of them, to be clear) who prioritized their needs, likes and wants over everyone else; particularly families with young children.
They have abandoned the family and the holistic vacation experience the WDW used to offer to cater to childless adults who demand E-ticket after E-ticket. And so much of these things look like armchair imagineering ideas that don’t even make sense. It’s a mess.
Related: Disney Becomes Safe Haven for Childless Adults
Many commenters pointed out that Disney adults are not really focused on movies like Cars and Monsters, Inc., they love classic Disney movies that still aren’t seen in the parks too often.
I highly doubt there are many Disney Adults pushing Disney to build CARSland. And I am pretty sure none pushed Disney to build Journey of Water and that disgraceful EPCOT update either.
Others said that the natural evolution of things is responsible for the changes at the parks. Families want to see characters and themes they are familiar with. Younger kids don’t care much about riverboats, but they do love rides and attractions from popular films like Moana (2016) and Frozen (2013).
Can’t quite bc this pal blocked me but no. Evolution of the parks is responsible
Kids & Families (mainly who the parks are for) aren’t clamoring for the liberty belle and Tom Sawyer Island, they’re clamoring for Cars, Encanto, Toy Story.
Can’t quite bc this pal blocked me but no. Evolution of the parks is responsible
Kids & Families (mainly who the parks are for) aren’t clamoring for the liberty belle and Tom Sawyer Island, they’re clamoring for Cars, Encanto, Toy Story. pic.twitter.com/mDsnIUsm00
— Jack N. Armstrong (@JackNate08) July 6, 2025
One of the most common comments was that Disney adults are typically the people complaining about the changes coming to the parks. They prefer to keep the parks the way they are because those are the parks they fell in love with.
It should also be noted that Disney’s prices have gotten so high that many guests with young children say they simply can’t afford to go to the parks anymore. With prices getting so high, many of the people who can afford to continue to go to the parks are Disney adults, so it makes sense that Disney might spend more time focusing on an older audience.
It was also pointed out that Disney is focusing more on intense rides and attractions due to an increase in competition. In May, the Universal Orlando Resort opened its third theme park, Epic Universe. Epic Universe is much more focused on an older audience, with extreme roller coasters, and memorable meet and greets.
Universal Orlando Resort has always seemed to cater more to an older crowd, while Disney has long been considered more “family friendly.” Disney has been open about the decline in attendance at its parks, so the company may be focusing more on an older crowd so it can compete with other theme parks and entice more visitors through the gates.
Of course, Disney is not entirely removing focus from younger crowds. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, two new shows — The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains – Unfairly Ever After — recently debuted, and guests are loving them.
And over at Disneyland Resort, Disney is preparing to break ground on a new Coco (2017)-themed boat ride. So, younger guests are still a key focus, but now, Disney is balancing that with catering to older audiences.
Do you think Disney adults are to blame for the controversial changes being made at the theme parks? Do you think Disney adults have become an easy scapegoat for annoyed guests? Why do you think Disney is making so many changes that a lot of people don’t like? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
The post Disney Adults Slammed for “Horrific Changes” at Parks, Spark Online Backlash appeared first on Inside the Magic.
