A new dating app is helping Disney fans find love, or at least a park buddy who understands the obsession. “Single Riders” is being designed for Disney adults and other theme park enthusiasts looking to connect romantically or platonically.
A niche dating app with a magical twist
The name Single Riders plays off the concept of single rider lines at amusement parks, where guests can skip the wait and ride solo. But in this case, the goal is to skip to the good part — meeting someone who shares your love for all things Disney.
The app is the brainchild of TikTok creator Joe, also known as @JoeTheBeardedNerd, who said the idea came to him after a date stood him up two years ago.
“I did what any other Orlando local does — I went to Disney,” Joe said in a TikTok. “And I realized we needed a Disney adult dating app.”
The app will be available nationwide and not limited to those near Disney parks in Florida or California.
“It’s going to be available everywhere in the United States at first,” Joe said in a TikTok video from the app’s official account.
Fan input is shaping development
While the app is still in development, Joe said the team is actively collecting feedback from users. TikTok comments are already full of feature requests — from options for single parents to real-time alerts about singles at the park.
Joe said they’ve already received messages from potential investors, though they’re not quite there yet.
Not the first Disney dating platform
This isn’t the first app to try matchmaking in the world of Disney adults. MouseMingle, launched in 2015, offered a paid membership service for fans looking to date within the Disney community.
The site has had some success — including a couple who met on the platform and had a Disney-themed wedding, as The Los Angeles Times reported in 2017. However, users say it’s outdated.
“Please be better than MouseMingle lol,” one commenter wrote on Joe’s TikTok.
Another added, “That site was so hard to navigate.”
A lifestyle, not just a fandom
Joe isn’t the only one tapping into the magic. Some Disney fans are taking it a step further — buying homes in Golden Oak, a gated residential community inside Walt Disney World Resort.
The Wall Street Journal reported in 2023 that the community features about 300 homes, with prices ranging from the low millions to nearly $20 million. Many are filled with Disney-themed décor — from Mickey-shaped ceilings to bedrooms inspired by “Frozen.”
“I don’t want to say it’s like delayed adulthood,” as one Golden Oak homeowner described it to the Journal, “but it’s like another version of the fountain of youth.”
Where Disney adults came from
The phenomenon of adults loving Disney isn’t new — but the term “Disney adult” has only recently become part of the cultural lexicon.
According to a 2022 Rolling Stone feature, the term rose to prominence alongside Tumblr fandom culture and millennial internet humor. It’s closely tied to the rise of “Disneybounding” — a form of character-inspired fashion — and the early days of online fan identity.
Amanda Brennan, a trends expert and former meme librarian, told Rolling Stone that Disney adults were often part of the Tumblr wave of millennials who embraced playful nostalgia, sparkly visuals and unapologetic fandom. That coincided with a larger shift where millennials lean into experiences and identity-based spending, including frequent park visits and even fairy-tale weddings.
The demographic has been widely debated and defended online — but if the app and real estate trends are any indication, Disney adults aren’t just a niche, they’re a movement.
Coming soon to a park, or phone, near you
The Single Riders app will launch with English-only support and will be available on iOS, Android and web. Joe said it will also support connections for fans of other parks, including Universal, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags and more.
Beta signups haven’t opened to the public yet, but they’re expected to roll out toward the end of 2025 or 2026.
