So you’ve decided to return to Disney. Maybe you grew up with castle days, character breakfasts, and memories of when a trip to Walt Disney World was about disposable cameras and who got to push the Dumbo lever. Now you’re coming back with your own family, ready to relive the magic. Except… brace yourself, because Disney Parks in 2025 are not the same beasts you left behind in the early 2000s. Somewhere between flip phones and the iPhone 15, the guests themselves became part of the show, and trust me, it’s not the kind of magic you’ll want to find on Main Street.
Here are five modern ‘guest trends’ you’ll run into on your nostalgic return, each one designed to test your patience and make you wonder if Walt saw this coming (spoiler: he didn’t).
1. Speaker Phone in Lines
Remember when waiting in line meant quietly complaining and playing ‘I Spy’ with your parents? Now, apparently, it’s everyone’s chance to broadcast their personal drama. Guests will plop into the queue for Peter Pan’s Flight and hit the speaker so the entire hallway can hear about Kyle’s break-up. And when they aren’t having loud, obnoxious conversations about private matters, they will probably flick over to scrolling through endless reels at full volume instead.
2. Amateur Vloggers Who Don’t Look Where They’re Going
Disney is basically YouTube with rides now. You’ll be dodging ring lights, walking straight into outstretched selfie arms, and watching in horror as someone narrates their every step to their four family subscribers while nearly bowling over a stroller. ‘Hey, fans, smash that like button‘ is not something you expected to hear 43 times in Fantasyland, but here we are. You’ll encounter a few pros who respect the environment, find the right location, and do their best not to disrupt fellow guests, but most will leave you shaking your head.
3. Teens Filming TikToks, Over and Over
That perfect family photo you dreamed of in front of Cinderella Castle? Good luck. First, you’ll need to wait for a pack of teenagers to nail their synchronized dance, and trust me, they’re not stopping at take one. Nope. You’re going to watch twenty takes of the same lip-sync before you even get a chance to line up your shot. By then, the kids are melting down, and you’re ready to photobomb just out of spite.
4. The Great iPad Fireworks Wall
Fireworks used to be magical. Now they’re blocked by someone’s Costco-sized iPad held aloft like it’s the torch of liberty. Congratulations, you just paid $150 a ticket to watch the back of a glowing screen instead of the show. Nothing says ‘unforgettable Disney memory’ like recording a video you’ll never actually watch while the people behind you miss everything. Classy.
5. Surprise! You’re in a Livestream
You finally sit down to enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean with your family, only to realize the person in front of you is live-streaming their reaction (and yours) to the whole thing. Now, not only are you in the background of some stranger’s broadcast, but you’re also stuck listening to their commentary of the entire ride. It’s like paying for Disney+ only to find out you’ve accidentally subscribed to ‘The Oblivious Guy Chronicles.‘
Disney will always have magic, the parades still sparkle, the rides still thrill, and there’s nothing like seeing your kids light up the way you once did when they see their favorite character. But let’s be real: the parks have also picked up some modern baggage, courtesy of guests who treat them like content factories instead of theme parks. So if you’re returning after a long break, just know the churros are still overpriced, the lines are still long, and now… you’re probably in somebody’s TikTok as an added bonus.
