Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the MagicDisney fans used to bond over churros and castle selfies—now they’re arguing about everything from prices to princesses.
Walt Disney World is meant to bring people together. For decades, it’s been a place where families bond, friends make memories, and “Disney Adults” proudly show their love for the magic.
However, lately, that unity has started to crack. From rising prices to controversial movie remakes, fans are clashing over what Disney should be and what it’s becoming.
The Price Is Not Right (For Everyone)
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: cost. Disney has always been a premium experience, but these days, many fans say it’s crossed a line. Resort hotel rates are up. Park tickets fluctuate with demand. And add-ons like Lightning Lane access now cost extra, replacing the old FastPass system that was once free.
Some Disney Adults shrug it off. They argue that the higher prices justify inflation, demand, and the need to invest in new attractions. To them, Disney is still worth every penny—especially for the immersion and service you get.
But others? They’re fed up. These fans feel that Disney has priced out the middle-class families Walt once designed the parks for. Online forums are filled with complaints like “Walt would never have approved this” and “It’s becoming a luxury brand, not a theme park.”
And with Universal offering more affordable packages, some are choosing to spend their vacation dollars elsewhere.
Universal vs. Disney: The Theme Park Wars Heat Up
Then there’s the growing divide over Universal Orlando Resort. Once considered the edgier, smaller sibling of Disney, Universal has surged in popularity thanks to immersive lands like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Now, with the opening of Epic Universe in 2025, Universal is making a strong case as the new king of theme parks.
Disney Adults are split on this, too. Some remain fiercely loyal to Disney’s storytelling and theming, insisting that no other park captures the same emotional depth. Others are openly impressed by Universal’s lower ticket prices, newer attractions, and less convoluted systems.
It doesn’t help that Universal is leaning into thrill rides and fandoms that skew older—something many adult Disney fans crave. While Disney works on retheming existing attractions and refining its Lightning Lane system, Universal is debuting brand-new coasters, immersive lands, and top-tier hotel experiences.
Classic Rides Getting the Boot
Nothing splits Disney Adults faster than a ride closure. When Splash Mountain (1992) shut down to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (2024), fans were sharply divided. Some cheered the update and the inclusion of a beloved Black Disney princess. Others mourned what they saw as the loss of an iconic and thrilling original.
It’s a trend that’s only continued. The Great Movie Ride, Maelstrom, and Muppet Vision 3D were retired to make space for IP-based attractions. Disney has recently removed more classics: Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America, and the Liberty Square Riverboat. There are also multiple more classic attraction closures to come.
While many welcome new rides themed to Guardians of the Galaxy and Frozen Ever After, there’s still a nostalgic camp that misses the charm and originality of the classics.
Some argue that Disney is sacrificing timeless storytelling for franchise tie-ins. Others say that if Disney doesn’t evolve, it risks falling behind. Either way, longtime fans often wonder what the next ride on the chopping block might be—and if it’ll be one they grew up loving.
The “Woke” Debate: Magic Meets Culture War
This is where things get heated. In recent years, Disney has made efforts to become more inclusive in its storytelling and park experiences. Gender-neutral greetings replaced “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.”
Character meet-and-greets have expanded to include LGBTQ+ representation. And films like Strange World (2022) and Elemental (2023) leaned into more diverse themes and characters.
Supporters argue this is precisely what Walt Disney wanted—a company that evolves with the times and welcomes everyone. But not all fans see it that way.
A vocal group of Disney Adults feels the company is becoming too politically correct or trying too hard to appeal to modern sensibilities. Some have even vowed to stop visiting the parks or cancel subscriptions to Disney+. Others roll their eyes at the outrage, chalking it up to resistance to change.
Reimagining or Recycling?
A major flashpoint in this cultural divide has been Disney’s live-action remakes. The Little Mermaid (2023) and Snow White (2025) were meant to update the classics for modern audiences, but the effort fell flat for some fans.
The choice to cast Halle Bailey as Ariel sparked both celebration and controversy. Many applauded the inclusivity and representation, but others felt Disney was repackaging legacy characters instead of creating fresh stories for underrepresented communities. They believe Disney was taking the easy way out instead and disguising it as “inclusivity.”
Then came Snow White, which drew criticism from both sides of the aisle. Between the decision to remove the dwarfs and Rachel Zegler’s comments about the story, longtime fans felt like Disney was trying too hard to score points rather than craft meaningful new narratives.
The sentiment among many Disney Adults is simple: reboots and remakes don’t automatically equal progress. They want new characters with authentic cultural roots—not just modernized versions of the past.
Can We All Just Agree on Churros?
At the end of the day, Disney is still trying to balance nostalgia with progress—a tricky task when your fanbase spans every generation. Fans may argue over prices, politics, and park changes, but plenty of shared love for the magic remains.
We might not agree on everything, but at least we can all get behind a classic churro.