What do you think of when we say “Disney adults?”

Granted, if you’re reading this, you probably ARE a Disney adult, and you get it. You aren’t going to judge someone for how many times they go to Disney World or Disneyland, you understand Disneybounding (even when you’re not in the parks), and you probably have your own collection of things like Disney pins, Loungeflys, Funko Pops!, and more. But so many folks think that Disney Adults are cringe. Well, we’ve done some research and we’ll just let you know now: Disney adults are ELITE.

So we’re not saying that without bringing in the receipts, so we’re offering proof that being a Disney adult is where it’s at (yes, that’s a partial Aristocats quote…).

Disney Adults can easily suspend disbelief

The beauty of being a Disney Adult is that when we walk through the park gates and we find ourselves on Main Street, U.S.A., we suddenly believe in magic because we’re surrounded by it. Yes, we know that’s a person in a Mickey costume, but we’re able to forget that for a little while and tap into our inner child and just believe that Mickey is real (because he is).

You know what? Being able to believe in magic makes us happy, and everyone should strive to be happy, right? That’s what makes us so special. We believe that glitter sprinkled on us is actual pixie dust and we believe that life can end with a Happily Ever After, just like the end of a day at Magic Kingdom.

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It’s kind of like a religion

So that ties into our next point: being a Disney Adult is sort of like a religion. No, really! Religion scholars have been studying Disney fans since the 1980s. According to NBC News, the idea is that religion isn’t just about a belief system, but also about a “network of relationships between heaven and earth involving people of all ages as well as the different sacred figures they hold dear,” at least according to religious studies scholar Robert Orsi. Hmmm…that sounds like what we’re doing, right?

But there’s also this, religions indulge in practices that “intensify joy and confront suffering.” Well, that happens in Disney Parks all over the world, on our TV screens, on the movie screens, and even in games for Disney Fans EVERY day.

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Disney Adults are healing their inner child

Not ALL Disney Adults had rough childhoods, but many did. Some just didn’t have the opportunity to visit Disney World when they were kids and are making up for lost time. Others are living out a childhood that they never got to experience. We’re not joking when many of us say that Disney is therapy for us. According to Bustle, Disney offers safety and innocence, and for many of us, we need more of that in our lives. “When in childhood we don’t get our needs met, it’s not uncommon for us to try and meet those needs in adulthood,” Amber Sargeant, a registered psychologist, said.

Sometimes it’s about capturing the pure bliss of youth, without worrying about the world, bills, and all the other hassles that come with adulting. Disney is a coping mechanism that helps many of us stay sane in a world that often is not.

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Disney Parks are a nostalgic refuge

The world is constantly changing, sometimes way too fast for us to ever keep up. But Disney Parks are built with things that (more or less) stay the same, according to the L.A. Times. Erica Hepper, a lecturer of psychology at the University of Surrey in England, says that “Visiting Disney parks allows people to indulge their nostalgia by immersing themselves in this reliable world filled with familiar colors, characters, smells and music.”

This creates a “nostalgic refuge” that we can revisit over and over when we need some stability in our lives. Of course, Disney knows this and uses this in its marketing to keep us coming back. According to Melanie English, a licensed clinical psychologist in Seattle, “Disney is absolutely special in creating smells, foods, experiences and merchandise that pair very well together. Collectively, this brings people back to their parks — and with joy.” Yep, we’re totally okay with this. Think about it: we can just say “Pirates of the Caribbean” and we BET you can smell that bromine in your imagination.

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It makes us more human

To quote Sarah Gilliland, who wrote about being a Disney Adult for Business Insider, “Being passionate about something is part of the human experience.” If we didn’t feel passionate about things, how boring would life be? We are wired to crave something to be passionate about and to share that passion with others.

That passion can also bring us closer to our families and friends because we can engage in that passion with them. What’s better than being in Disney World with people you love?

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So the next time someone calls you a Disney Adult with ridicule, just smile and say “thank you,” because it’s a compliment. You are part of an elite group of people who know how to find joy in a world that’s often devoid of it. Keep dreaming, Disney Adults.

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What’s your favorite thing about being a Disney Adult? Let us know in the comments!

The post Is This PROOF that Disney Adults Are Elite? first appeared on the disney food blog.