Hey there fellow Disney Millennials! We’ve gotta talk!
Magic Kingdom
Other generations, ya’ll can leave the room for a minute. I’ve gotta have a quick heart-to-heart. Now, that it’s just us, we’ve gotta talk about some of those trends we’ve grown up with. They’re starting to get a little…well, dated. And before you throw your churros at me, know that I’m one of you and feel the pain just like you. But there comes a time when we’ve gotta let Disney do what Disney does and that to keep things fresh, so let’s chat real quick about a couple of our millennial trends that just gotta go.
As we were saying, since Disney’s all about keeping things fresh and magical, it’s about time for a few updates. Specifically, here are five of our millennial trends that Disney needs to retire ASAP!
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin Needs a Glow-Up
Okay, let’s start with the space elephant in the room: Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. We all love Buzz. He’s a classic! But this ride is giving “retro arcade” in a way that’s not quite charming anymore. The slow-moving lasers, the dated graphics, the “is my blaster even working?” frustration, let’s just say it’s just not giving the Infinity and Beyond energy it once was.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
And then when you compare it to newer attractions like Rise of the Resistance or even Toy Story Mania for that matter, and Buzz feels more like Star Command Lite. Hey Disney! How about we dream big for our space ranger.?Maybe give him a tech overhaul? A VR element? Or maybe even replacing the ride altogether with something equally nostalgic but way more epic.
Minnie and Mickey Ears Might Be Giving Us Headaches
I’m sure this one’s going to hurt, but we’ve got to talk about Minnie and Mickey ears. Yes, they’re cute. And yes, we all wore them proudly for Instagram pics circa 2014. But what about now? It kinda feels like it’s mostly us Millennials who are rocking them while Gen Z is looking at us like we’ve just hit the geriatric ward.
Mickey ears!
Also, let’s be honest: are the ears really that comfortable? The headache by hour three says no. Plus, I don’t know about you, but they don’t always fit with our “I need to look effortless but chic” Disney park fit these days. Maybe it’s time to pass the baton to the next trend. Maybe something that lets us keep our Disney vibes without squeezing our heads into oblivion.
PhilharMagic Is Nostalgic (But Maybe Too Nostalgic)
Look, the 90s hits in Mickey’s PhilharMagic are timeless. There’s no argument there, but the attraction itself is giving CRT TV. The visuals, the theater effects, and the overall vibe is a bit like stepping into a Disney Channel Original Movie from our childhood.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
While the nostalgia factor is strong, Disney’s known for keeping up with the times, so maybe this show could get a refresh with some modern animation or nods to newer classics like Encanto or Frozen II. We can keep the 90s magic, but how about we add a little sparkle from this century, yeah?
The “Instagram Walls” Era Is Fading
Raise your hand if you’ve taken a photo in front of the Purple Wall, Bubblegum Wall, or any-other-wall at Disney. I know I’m guilty as charged, but lately, that whole “Instagram wall” trend feels like it’s been losing steam (and fast). Maybe it’s because we’ve all moved on to reels and TikToks, or maybe it’s because a blank pastel wall just isn’t cutting it anymore.
EPCOT’s Iconic Bubblegum Wall
Now, you can’t deny that Disney’s got so many iconic backdrops we can work with like castle shots, character meet-and-greets, scenic ride moments, etc. I’m not sure that we really need to spend precious park time anymore hunting for a wall that, let’s face it, no one outside of Disney circles recognizes? It might just be time for us to let the walls fade back into…well, walls.
Live-Action Remakes Are Too Much of a Good Thing
Sure, the live-action remakes are fun and all, but do we need every millennial classic to get the live-action treatment? At some point, it starts to feel like they’re just mining our nostalgia instead of creating new magic.
©Disney
Plus, these movies hold such a special place in our hearts because of their animation. The original Lion King is absolutely unbeatable, and while the live-action version is gorgeous, it didn’t quite hit the same. How about we give the remakes a rest and let the next generation fall in love with their own animated classics?
©Disney
Look, Disney will always be the place for us Millennials. I mean, it’s where we grew up, where we make memories, and where we’ll probably drag our kids someday. But part of keeping the magic alive is knowing when to let go of trends that have run their course, and I think we’ve hit that point already. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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These live action films just show that Disney’s well of original ideas has dried up.
A trend that we’d love to see end is replacing attractions rather than genuinely expanding. We’re all for new attractions, IP-based is fine with us, but stop taking away things in order to do it. Another trend we’d love to see change is the lack of focus on the full spectrum of Disney guests. We have yet to see how the Fort Wilderness cabins (our favorite ‘hotel’) going DVC will really impact us long term, maybe we’ll go DVC, maybe we’ll rent points, maybe we’ll have to stay elsewhere. But the blatant focus on appealing only to the very wealthiest guests is an ugly look to most people, regardless of what they can personally afford. Disney is not instilling the loyalty in the newer generations that it instilled in previous ones (largely because Disney has no respect for what guests love), and people who can afford to go anywhere for vacation are not going to choose Disney over and over, regardless of what Disney does. It won’t replace destination and event travel for people who can afford those things. Disney needs to take a closer look at where their bread and butter are really coming from. If too many people feel priced out of the parks, the rest of the loyalty (movies, Disney+, merch, etc.) will go. Knowing that they can’t afford the ‘full’ DIsney fandom experience will lead people to take their entire focus elsewhere. I see it happening with the Millenials and younger people whom I know…