The Big Bad Wolves and the Tigger Army: Meet the Disneyland social clubs that look like biker gangs
Patch-covered vests, tattoo-covered arms — and cinnamon sugar-covered faces?
Groups of Disney-loving adults with the aesthetic of biker gangs and the demeanour of Mickey Mouse are making waves at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.
These Disneyland social clubs roam the park in packs, wearing matching vests, swapping trading pins, and stopping for churro breaks.
But a recent lawsuit against one of these clubs paints a darker picture. The plaintiffs in the case are alleging that the White Rabbits social club used gangster-like tactics against them, including intimidation and demanding protection money.
The Big Bad Wolves — not involved in the lawsuit — are one of around 100 clubs that roam Disneyland on a regular basis. Jesse Cosio is their vice president, in charge of handling prospective members.
"We currently have 20 to 30 members in our club," he says. "My job is making sure that any upcoming member knows the history of the club, and making sure that each member we bring aboard is qualified. We do test on your Disney trivia. We'd like to see how big of a Disney nerd you really are."
As for Cosio's take on the lawsuit, he's not sure it's something to be taken too seriously.
"It's very hard to believe a statement that says, 'Hey, if you don't pay me a certain amount of money we can't protect you,' or whatever. I mean, protection from what? From Mickey Mouse?" he wonders.
"We're clubs, you know? So there is going to be disagreements and there is going to be sometimes conflict within clubs, but not to the extent that you would think of as gang-related," Cosio explains.
That conflict, he says, never goes beyond asking other clubs to ensure their members aren't cutting in line or hindering other park-goers' experience.
"Some guests that come to Disneyland, this is their life savings and they come here to Disney on one trip only. Giving them a bad experience is not okay. So those are the only disagreements that I can tell you that I've dealt with," Cosio explains.
"It's not a Disney gang; we're not fighting for turfs, we're not fighting for colours," he says.
However, Cosio explains he is sympathetic to how the group might come off a little scary.
"You see these guys, he has tattoos, he has a vest. It happens to be what exactly some biker gangs wear," he says. "The name 'The Big Bad Wolves' could sound intimidating. I mean, it has the word 'bad' in it. But there's nothing really bad about us," he says.
"Once you start talking to the guy or the girl, you're going to realize, 'Oh my god, this guy's a big teddy bear.'"
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