Over the last years, there has been an issue related to the Disney Parks that has made mainstream news. The idea of the so-called Childless Millenials visiting the Disney Parks.
A brief summary of the issue. People on social media and in the actual media have been shaming, attacking, and complaining about a group they call the Childless Millenials, essentially any adult who visits Walt Disney World or the Disneyland Resort without children in tow. They have been blamed for everything from Instagram Walls (warranted) to long lines (um...) and un child-friendly behavior in the parks.
Most of the complaints are completely baseless. Sure there are isolated incidents of adults without children getting drunk and wild, specifically in Epcot, but those are few and far between. The only things they can really be blamed for is the Instagram Walls and some social media friendlier food in the parks.
But honestly, families visiting with kids should actually be thanking the so-called Childless Millenials.
Why you might ask?
Because many of the recent expansions at the Disney Parks would not have happened without them.
Disney Parks attendance and revenue has exploded in recent years, and that is due at least in part to an increase in adults visiting without children. They often have more disposable income to spend when they get there, leading to higher food and merchandise sales that have fueled recent expansions at the parks.
Not only that, many of the recent expansions were more geared towards this demographic. Don't get me wrong, kids can have a great time in Pandora or Galaxy's Edge, but these lands were designed with older audiences in mind
It is not just kids who have benefited though. Many expansions to make room for increased crowds have been built with kids in mind. For every Galaxy's Edge that has been built, there is a Toy Story Land or a Pixar Pier.
This comes after over a decade without any significant developments in the US Disney Parks, specifically Walt Disney World outside of New Fantasyland. Now with the advent of these Childless Millenials, there are nearly countless projects currently in development that without them would never have gotten built.
Anyone can enjoy a Disney Park and that was always the intention. Walt Disney didn't say to all the families who come to this happy place, he said to ALL who come to this happy place, welcome. We should not shame anyone for doing what they enjoy as long as it is not actively hurting anyone.
(And no standing behind them in line does not count)
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