Interesting article in The New Yorker about “Disney adults” and going into debt:
So-called Disney adults have become a subject of online fascination, with many people now questioning how much it costs to be one. Almost two million people have watched a video, posted in November of 2025, in which a YouTuber asks Disney visitors how much debt they have. It’s a genre of content that has become more popular, recently, with critics seizing on it as evidence that the Disney-obsessed are not only culturally but financially bankrupt.
I guess I’m a Disney adult too? I do have a web page about Disney parks. Most of those trips were with family, and a couple were just me. But it’s nothing compared to folks with annual passes.
I don’t get super into the merchandise. I have a couple Disney-themed shirts, some Mickey Mouse LEGOs, and a pin. For my quick stop at Disneyland Paris last month, I bought lunch and ice cream but no souvenirs.
In terms of debt, the fact is Americans are more in debt for all sorts of reasons. My philosophy and something I’ve told my kids: vacations are priceless. We’ve put many trips on a credit card and have no regrets. Life is short and you will never regret seeing something new, especially with family.
