The Disney Park Fan Iceberg
We are SO obsessed with the idea of these “iceberg” lists! We’ve decided to make our own all about the Disney Park Fans and the quirks, traits and habits of a Disney fan ranging from the newest fan to the most obsessed!
The idea is that obviously the top of the iceberg is the least complex, the most baseline surface level Disney Parks fan. Maybe they’re brand new and are going on their first trip or have gone on one or two. Then as you may know, most of an iceberg is below the surface, so as we get deeper down the Disney Park Fan Iceberg we’re getting deeper into the Disney obsession and Disney love! Basically it’s a spectrum or scale for how deep of a Disney Parks lover are you aligning with the idea of an iceberg. So we’ve brainstormed and created our list for the varying level of Disney fan from the tip top of the iceberg to the deep depths of the ocean! Let’s get into it!
Our Disney Parks Fan Iceberg!
Starting from the tip top of the iceberg down to the depths…here is our scale of Disney Parks fans!
Has gone on one or two trips and knows how to make dining reservations and use Lightning Lanes
This person has been once or twice and they’re kind getting the lay of the land and they’re like “Okay I get it, I know why people love it here and I’m one of them!”
Won’t shut up about Dole Whip
This person is obsessed with this treat. If someone brings up Walt Disney World they are going to bring up Dole Whip and how much they love it.
Tells everyone about Utilidors and Main Street Windows
This person has started to learn a bit more about the park and some of the “hidden history” and loves to share what they’ve learned about things like the Utilidors and Main Street Windows.
Wears matching shirts
This one could have been a little bit higher on the list because sometimes for first trips guests love to match but you’ll see this a lot in this surface level area. These people love to wear celebratory shirts, matching t-shirts, couple shirts etc.
Knows the best fireworks viewing spots and parade spots
This person knows the routes for parades, knows the best spot to see fireworks and they are planning their viewing to make sure they get the best views!
Hidden Mickeys
This person has recently learned about Hidden Mickeys and loves to search for them! Maybe they’ve bought the book with the unoffical guide to Hidden Mickeys and loves to tell other people where to find them.
Collect pins to have - not trade!
This person loves the pins that they can buy in Disney but doesn’t want to give them away. They are all meaningful to them.
Has ongoing list of things to try on their next visit.
This person knows they love Disney Parks, they’ve been bitten by the bug and they have a running list of things to try on their next visit!
Plans out their Disney outfits
This person has collected enough Disney gear to plan out their outfits for each day. Or maybe they’re Disney bounding and are dressing on theme each day but either way they are planning out each outfit based on their park schedule.
Resort Hopping
This person has seen enough of the parks that they are willing to go explore the resorts to see what else Walt Disney World has to offer at all the resorts.
Poop River
This person has learned about the brown cement in Liberty Square and that it represents the excrement being tossed into the street during this time period and loves to share this fun (and gross) fact! They also are diving a little more into the other details and seeing how the Imagineers planned out everything.
Listens to Disney podcasts or watches Disney vlogs
This person wants the vibes at home, they want to watch videos of the parks and listen to people talk about them so they can get that Disney magic at home while they’re waiting for their next visit.
Wont shut up about spring rolls
This person has recently discovered the incredible spring rolls at the Adventureland Cart and loves to talk about them to anyone and everyone! (We are guilty of this, they are so good!)
Uses cast member lingo
This person has started to pick up on cast member lingo and sprinkles it into conversation about the parks or while they are at the parks.
Has read Kingdom Keepers
This person has discovered this series which is definitely geared for youger, middle school aged kids BUT they’re super fun because they’re set IN the Disney parks. We didn’t get through the entire series but it was fun to read a few!
Listens to Disney Parks music while they drive
This person is pulling out the original recordings of songs like “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” and “Fantasmic” or “Wishes” plus some ride through soundtracks and are belting it all out while they drive.
Spends more time at their resort than the parks
This person is more willing to use their precious park time to spend more time enjoying their resort and all of the amenities that are offered at the resorts!
Drinks Joffrey’s coffee at home
This person is ordering specific Disney parks coffee to have a little bit of Disney magic at home. But not just any Joffrey's, the specific resort or restaurant blends that have been designed specifically for different areas of Walt Disney World!
Collects pins to trade
This person has started to trade some of those pins they’ve been collecting. They are now buying trader specific pins are collecting based on category!
DVC
This person has started thinking about DVC - Disney Vacation Club. If you’re a DVC member or considering being a DVC member than you are spending A LOT of time at the parks and are deeply invested!
Complains that Figment is “too mainstream”
This person is mad because they loved Figment before anyone else loved Figment and now he has become a cult classic and it drives you nuts but also you’re excited because he deserves the fame.
Only wears “deep Disney” merch
This person likes really subtle Disney nods with a tiny detail or a specific reference to a ride or film that only other deep Disney fans would get.
Has a favorite EPCOT festival
This person has been to EPCOT enough that they have experienced the festivals and has a favorite one. They also have favorite food items within that festival that they recommend to everyone!
Buying Disney scents/candles for your home
This person is purchasing specific Disney inspired candles or essential oils that are designed to smell like the resorts or certain rides so they can have even MORE of that Disney magic at home and feel like they’re in the parks even when they’re not.
Know about Pleasure Island, Disney Quest and Adventurers Club
This person has started diving into the way that Disney used to be like. You know what Disney Springs was before it was Disney Springs, and you’ve started watching videos and looking up articles and wanting to know more about the history of the parks.
Has a WDW Magazine subscribtion
This person has subscribed to this Disney specific magazine and wants to keep up with new things but also learn about history a littttle more!
Talks about River Country and Discovery Island
This person has gone beyond just knowing the history and changes that have happened in the parks with areas that are currently active but is started to learn about the defunct and extinct areas in Disney’s history.
Reminisces about Stacy
This person is DEEP into Disney history and remembers Stacy, the host who used to be on a program in the Disney resort hotels all about things you must do in the Disney Parks and all of the things guests can see and do on their Disney vacation!
Reads books by Jim Korkis
Jim Korkis used to work for Disney and now writes books all about Disney history, the parks and so much more and the person who is this deep into the Disney fandom is reading all these types of books to gather as MUCH info as they can!
Goes down Disney history rabbit holes
This person is going even further down the rabbit hole about Disney history. It’s not enough to enjoy Disney as it is today but they want to learn even more, they’ve heard about River Country maybe and that’s spurred them even further down this path!
Watches the Disney blue screen at home
For a long time at Disney parks resorts there was a blue screen with park hours listed, events happening at the resort and there’s Disney parks music playing. This person will search this out on YouTube and play it at home to feel like they’re in a Disney resort hotel!
Won’t shut up about EPCOT in the 80’s
This person might not have even been alive in the 80’s but they are OBSESSED with EPCOT during this time period! The old school retro vibes are top tier and they really wish that they could relive (or live for the first time) through this period at Disney.
Watches Disney Vacation Planning tapes from the 1990’s
Back inthe 1990’s into the early 2000’s people could order Disney Vacation Planning tapes/DVD’s to help them plan out their Disney trip, for FREE, and they would send them out in the mail. All of them are now on YouTube and this person has started watching them for a big dose of Disney nostalgia!
Hosts a Disney podcast and/or has a Disney YouTube channel
This person…is us. We are in the depths and loving every second of it!
From The Citizens of Disneyville
We asked our followers over on Instagram, @disneyvillepodcast, what are the surface level, new Disney fan habits, quirks or traits PLUS what are the deep, depths, seasoned Disney fans habits, quirks and traits and as always you guys delivered!
Surface Level/Newer Disney Fans
Matching their outfits to the vibe of each park (baby blue shirt in Animal Kingdom, no thank you)
Chef Mickey’s is a surface level thing! Everyone recommends it!
“Did you know you never have to get in a car if you’re staying in a Disney resort?”
Specifically refering to “the Epcot ball” by her government name - Spaceship Earth.
Mickey shaped food. It’s the excitement but after you try the pretzel you never go back.
The purple wall!
Dole whip!
Paper maps and starting in Canada!
Starts to leave during the ending speech of Happily Ever After (before the finale)
Well I watch Disney’s Can Do Disney with Stacy for fun, was obsessed with watching in the hotel!
I love that purple dragon at EPCOT.
Tower of Terror being painted/constructed to look like the Morocco pavilion for sight lines.
Deeper/Seasoned Disney Fans
Knowing what’s probably going to be announced at D23 three days ahead of time.
Check ride times when you’re nowhere near close to the parks.
Watching POV ride videos alot.
Knowing all the smells! The water rides, the lobby smells, the monorail stinkys.
Knows the ribbon choreography in Fantasmic!
Stand in like for 5+ hours for a FREAKING FIGMENT POPCORN BUCKET!
Knowing the best bathroom locations!
Edit their Mears bust PDF with Magical Express photoshopping.
Watching the VHS Sing-A-Long shows on YouTube.
Use a Cogsworth rubber spatula. Is it the best? Absolutely not. But it makes me so happy.
Decorating for each holiday the same day Disney does. That’s the calendar I follow.
Talk about the Imagineers and the rides they specifically created.
Not ride Runaway Railway in support of The Great Movie Ride.
Watch travel day vlogs to Disney over and over again.
Knowing about Club 33 and Golden Oak!
Crying/full body goosebumps over “Happily Ever After” on Spotify while driving to work.
Did you know that the amazing travel agents over at our partner agency People Mover Travel can help you plan your next Disney vacation completely free? That’s right, planning services are totally complimentary! Visit the People Mover Travel website for more information!