Most people have seen some Disney adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan,” but the opening line of the original 1911 novel remains one of literature’s most iconic and underrated for its ability to capture an entire plot in a single sentence: “All children, except one, grow up.”

That line still describes a thriving cottage industry with a cult-like following, one geared toward children but increasingly embraced by adults who seem unwilling to grow up. The Walt Disney Co. reported nearly $95 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025. Not bad for a brand whose supposed target audience – children – typically lacks jobs, credit cards or bank accounts.

In fact, that refusal – or inability – to grow up might explain much of what’s gone wrong with Disney adults and, increasingly, older members of Generation Z, born from 1997 to 2012.

Going into debt as a Disney adult is a choice

As a millennial who grew up on Disney movies and a mom of four, I understand the nostalgia tied to the brand. Most of my kids are past Disney’s prime target age now, though I couldn’t have afforded Disney World when they were younger anyway.

In 2026, a week at Disney World is projected to cost a family of four more than $6,000. Still, I don’t begrudge parents who choose that kind of vacation to bond and create lasting memories.

But there’s another........

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