A Disneyland visitor, identified as Christina 'Toni' Kulusich, has defended her interactions with the Peter Pan character after a video of their encounter went viral and drew criticism. Kulusich, who identifies as a "Disney adult," argued that the online backlash has taken a toll on her mental health and that the video was taken out of context.
In the video, Kulusich is seen giving the Peter Pan character a custom-made gift, engaging in a conversation lasting over two minutes, and then following him through the park. The footage sparked a debate among Disney fans, with many viewers claiming the actor portraying Peter Pan appeared uncomfortable. Analyzing the actor's facial expressions and body language, commenters suggested he seemed uneasy.
Kulusich told Wired that she believes people have misunderstood her "special friendship" with the character. "People really just took a five-second video of me with Peter Pan out of context and ran with it," she said. She emphasized that she would never intentionally put the actor in a situation that could harm his role, career, or character integrity. Kulusich, a crochet artist from Harbor City, California, attends Disneyland regularly and frequently shares her experiences meeting characters, particularly Peter Pan, on social media. She stated that seeing Peter Pan and dressing up makes her happy, contributing to her weekly visits to the park.
"If people are going to hate on me, I’m not going to let it stop me. Because I know I’m not doing anything wrong," Kulusich stated. She explained that her visits to Disneyland allow her to "release my inner child and the kid who doesn’t want to grow up," aligning with what she perceives Peter Pan to represent.
Disney adults, a term for older individuals who frequently visit theme parks, often without children, and engage in character interactions, costume, and merchandise collection, have become a notable phenomenon. Kulusich also told USA Today that people can "take something really small and turn it into something big without even knowing what it's truly about."
Her affinity for Peter Pan began in 2015 after a memorable park interaction. "He just made a really magical experience for me the first time," she recalled. Kulusich expressed pride in being a Disney adult and in embracing her inner child, insisting she always acts appropriately with characters. "I always ask them, 'Can I hug you?' ... I allow them to lead the interactions," she stated. She confirmed she has not been banned from the park.
One video shared by Kulusich, showing her interaction with Peter Pan and presenting him with a crocheted duck keychain with a Peter Pan hat, garnered over 20 million views. The video depicted their conversation before she followed him through the park.
Dylan Gadeke, who portrayed Peter Pan at Disneyland from 2014 to 2021, commented on the viral video. While he was not the performer in Kulusich's video, Gadeke stated he had "many interactions" with her and acknowledged that her behavior could make him "feel a little awkward and uncomfortable." However, he defended Kulusich against online harassment, asserting that her actions never crossed the boundaries of a typical character interaction at Disneyland. Gadeke added that Kulusich was "acting within all the guidelines of what a guest should do at Disneyland," describing her enthusiasm as "a little extra, a little more than most."
Public reaction to Kulusich's video was divided. Some users criticized her behavior, calling it akin to stalking and inappropriate for an adult. Others defended her, noting that Disney parks are not exclusively for children and that adults should be able to enjoy the park and connect with characters to heal their inner child. They argued that paying guests are entitled to their experiences.