Jodi Eichler-Levine, a professor of religion at Lehigh University, researches Disney and its connection to religion: how world religions intersect with Disney and how Disney itself functions as a religion.
One of the ways that Disney is like a religion to some, Eichler-Levine argues, is as a pilgrimage of sorts.
“People see their trips to Disney in a very reverent light,” she said. “People will go there and talk about being transformed or making crucial memories. And they’ll go to mark particular lifecycle events, like announcing a pregnancy or after they’ve gotten through treatment for an illness.”…
Hill’s childhood memories are tied to Disney movies, which were more affordable for her family than trips to Anaheim or Orlando. Hill, who has a chronic health disorder called hidradenitis suppurativa, said watching Disney movies brings her great comfort when she’s stuck in bed with pain.
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