What's Up with the MU Hats at Disneyland

[Dan Schuck]

Since earlier this Spring and going strong through the summer, almost every other teen girl at Disneyland is wearing a Monsters University or "MU" ball-cap. Decent enough movie, but a few years old now (and I don't recall this kind of mass appeal of

Couple of Clues: It looks to me like these are almost all "Orange County" AP kids.

I even asked one this weekend "What's up with the MU Hats?" and she said "Ball-Caps are back In Style" (to which I though "Didn't know they had gone 'out.')

I was also out in Orlando a few weeks ago (humblebrag) and I didn't see this at all there; purely a Disneyland phenomenon from what I can tell.

Any ideas?

 

[tlovesdis]

LOL my 10 year old niece said the same thing a few weeks ago when we were there! Seemed like everyone had one and she kept pointing them out! I asked her if she wanted one and she as like UM NO!!! LOL

 

[AustinTink]

I saw some in the airport in San Francisco. So not just an Anaheim/ Disneyland thing maybe.

 

[amyg1975]

We live in Northern CA, and all my high school seniors who went to Grad Nite all came back with that hat! Ha ha!

 

[Kirbie]

We live in Northern CA, and all my high school seniors who went to Grad Nite all came back with that hat! Ha ha!

Interesting! I wonder if Disneyland gave them the hats? (I've never been to a grad night so I have no idea if Disney gives the attendees anything.)

Maybe because it's a piece of Disney merchandise that has to do with college/universities? I remember when the University of Oregon mascot was clearly Donald, even though his official name is Puddles. I think the mascot still makes appearances at games, but I haven't seen any UO merchandise with Puddles on it in years. I think it's partly Disney saying no and partly Nike taking over UO that are making Puddles unavailable. My dad has a bunch of shirts and hats since he's an alum, I wonder how much they're worth on eBay?

 

[amyg1975]

Interesting! I wonder if Disneyland gave them the hats? (I've never been to a grad night so I have no idea if Disney gives the attendees anything.)

No, they all just bought them. It made me laugh to see all my kids upon their return, wearing the same hats!

 

[hlbtimes2]

My childrens dad noticed the same thing, and commented on it, when we were there last month. Our almost 18 year old daughter, who just graduated said that in her opinion it was because Monsters, Inc, came out when she was a very young child. It was the movie she grew up with. She was born in 98, it came out in 2001. Now, she has graduated and is about to head off to college, she can relate to the MU.

As others mentioned its really that age group that its popular with, so I'm guessing she's on to something. She, however, did not buy the hat!

 

[Jajone]

I took my daughter and her 3 friends last summer (all 15 y.o) to WDW. They all bought and wore this hat all week. I think its just an appealing souvenir item for teens.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I just came back from Disney World yesterday and I noticed a ton of teens and young adults (20's) wearing the MU hats. I didn't know it was so popular either.

 

[luulu1999]

ha I noticed a ton of them wearing it when we were there also, it was weird to me of all of the things to get at disneyland that is what they are all picking

 

[dsny1mom]

I too noticed the popularity of the MU baseball cap. When I asked my 30 yo daughter why so many young teens would want that cap, she felt it could be because of the distressed look on the bill. Distressed is still very popular with that age group, so maybe it is a fashion statement of sorts.

 

[mich311e]

Our almost 18 year old daughter, who just graduated said that in her opinion it was because Monsters, Inc, came out when she was a very young child. It was the movie she grew up with. She was born in 98, it came out in 2001. Now, she has graduated and is about to head off to college, she can relate to the MU.

This is what I was thinking too!

 

[GenGen22]

My DD19 who was 18 then and her BFF the same age both got them when we went for the 24 hour Diamond Celebration party. They also got the black ball cap with the diamond castle on it which is 60th merchandise. I believe it's just the style they like. They're not obsessed with the movie is anything.

 

[offwithyourhead]

I'm gonna bet a lot of teens/young 20s are wearing them because it's a prequel-sequel to a movie we grew up with (I'm 23 now), which came out right as we were all finishing high school/heading off to college, so it was superb timing for Disney to release that movie. It's not unlike the mad rush of people of the same age group going insane for Finding Dory right now, another one we grew up with! The Incredibles sequel is going to be the same, with a large portion of the merch-buyers being young adults who grew up with the first one.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

My DD bought one last summer, and then when she went with her friends last week, they wanted one too (she had brought hers, but she wears her sparkle mouse ears while in Disneyland). I don't think her friends ended up buying them, but they really wanted to.

 

[Nonsuch]

Mutual Understanding

 

[mousefan1972]

We've been in DL since Saturday and those hats are everywhere. Don't get it.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Mutual Understanding

Hmmm....so I went straight to the experts....Urban Dictionary.

Mutual Understanding
A term used mostly by Filipinos for two people who obviously like each other, but have not yet committed to a relationship. So both parties are still free to go out on dates with other people.

It's a vague area between being friends and boyfriend/girlfriend.

Basically, it's like an open relationship.

(Shortcut: MU)
Guy1: Dude, is Jess your girlfriend?
Guy2: Nah, we just have a mutual understanding.​

Doesn't sound very Disney-like.

 

[jcarwash]

My son and I passed the time waiting for Soundsational and Paint the Night parades by counting MU hats as they passed by. Great game! Kept us really busy.

 

[chrisaman]

I think it is because they are really nice lookin Disney hats that aren't too Disney if you get what I am saying. My wife has one because she liked the hat so much and my cousin is the same way. Side note, last year when we were at Disneyland, they didn't sell them anywhere. I had to get her one online. Not sure if this is still the case.