“As he’s grown up, he has held on tight to those tender memories and now tries to incorporate the joy Disney has brought him into his everyday life.”
We’re Adults Who Love Disney
ABOUT MY ONE MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
By Andrea Vargo
This documentary is inspired by the wonderful world of Disney and the current Heroes and Villains and All that Glitters exhibit at the Arlington Museum of Art.
Oftentimes the Disney adult is judged and misunderstood. I wanted to feature someone who has shamelessly embraced this niche culture and attempt to shed some light on the reasons why so many grown-ups are now labeling themselves as Disney adults.
As it turns out, the explanation is quite simple. Nostalgic attachment, a yearning for simpler times, memories of family vacations, or the joy of being in a place filled with laughter are just some of the reasons Cory Cross names.
Cory describes his love for Disney as something he’s had since he was a child. He remembers watching the movies that are now considered classics and going to Disney theme parks with his family. As he’s grown up, he has held on tight to those tender memories and now tries to incorporate the joy Disney has brought him into his everyday life, with his fiancé by his side.
There’s more to this fascination for Disney than just loving the movies and parks. It’s playing video games, researching the lore behind the brand, and making new memories with the next generation, his nieces and nephews. The memorabilia that Cory displays around his apartment allows him to be transformed back to a happy memory in an instant and that brings happiness into his everyday life.
For the people who don’t understand the allure or go as far as to make fun of the Disney adults, Cory explains that they either have never been to the parks and experienced the excitement that surrounds a family, Disney vacation, or it just wasn’t for them. Cory goes on to say that he recognizes that not everyone is going to love what he loves but that isn’t a reason to discourage it.
For Cory, he embraces the term Disney adult and doesn’t let the negative perception dictate the thing he has always found so much joy in.
Meet Andrea Vargo
My name is Andrea Vargo, but everybody calls me Andi. I was born and raised in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism at The University of Texas at Arlington and have completed a certification of Fashion Journalism at the London College of Fashion. I am a mother of two beautiful girls and married to the best husband. I am passionate about fashion, writing, and photography, although it’s my lifelong dream to one day become a Disney Princess. I enjoy incorporating all my interests into writing and sharing the things I find joyful and exciting!
About AMA+UTA CreateCollab
Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art is partnering with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by the museum’s mission, values, and exhibitions.
Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and one-minute podcasts about themes as broad as creating detailed flower arrangements, a life saving cat cafe, everyday heroes, and environmental art.
Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith, who teaches the class, values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.
“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to reinforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”
