5. Disneyana Enthusiasts

For some of us, the best time to visit Walt Disney World is right now — when things are new, thrills are at a premium, and there’s always something exciting to try.

For others, the Disney of yesteryear will never be topped, and it is the stick against which all other Disney Parks are measured.

These superfans have filled their homes with 1980s Epcot memorabilia. They own the entire run of Walt Disney’s original “Disneyland” television show. At least once, they have made an account on a website specifically for the purpose of pointing out a factual error.

For Disneyana Enthusiasts, the ultimate question for any new Disney Parks development is this: “What would Walt think?” It’s an unanswerable question, and yet, it’s the one these fans want answered more than anything.

Some people obsess over Civil War history. Some obsess over New York City history. Some obsess over Disney history, and god love them for it. 

6. The Art Critics

Disney isn’t just a fun vacation destination for these fans. It’s not an engineering marvel or a repository for American history. Disney is, at its core, art.

You can usually find these fans writing 10,000 word essays about the architectural inspirations for the Haunted Mansion, or arguing the popular artistic merit of something like Space Mountain. You’ll hear them suggest that maybe these attractions are something more than simple fun — maybe they’re important to our social fabric.

I count myself among this group, and because you’re reading this article, I’d imagine you’re at least sympathetic to this kind of Disney fandom. Because ultimately, for each of these groups of fans — which cross-pollenate and are ever changing — the unifying force is the idea that the Disney Parks are something worth taking seriously. They’re a part of our identities, for better and worse.

So whether your favorite part of visiting the Disney Parks is marveling at the attractions, popping a selfie in front of them, or already planning your next visit, being a Disney Parks superfan means you believe in one truth:

The Disney Parks are meant belong to us, and that is their greatest feature.