These Are the Top 15 Disney Searches of 2023
Throughout the year, people grab their phones and beg Alexa, Siri, Google, and/or TikTok to tell them what they need to know.
For many years now, Google has proven the gold standard of the bunch, as it publishes some of its data annually for informational purposes.
We can find out a lot from these topics, as they reflect which Disney topics entered the pop culture zeitgeist and which ones proved forgettable.
Here are the top 15 Disney searches of 2023.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
You’ll notice a lot of these are quite obvious. When Disney releases a new movie, people check to learn what it’s about.
So, five of these searches, a full one-third of the list, are 2023 Disney films, and another arguably fits in that category.
I shied away from a couple of celebrity results this year, as Olivia Rodrigo largely exists beyond Disney these days.
Similarly, we’ll always associate Dick Van Dyke with his Disney classic, Mary Poppins, but he has a rich, full career beyond Disney.
Other options are pretty much automatic. For example, early in the years, Marvel fans excitedly wondered about the events of Quantumania.
The film promised to open an entire new universe of adventure…several of them, in fact.
Sadly, Quantumania missed the mark, though. Its search engine interest dwindled during the second half of the year.
Avatar 2
Notably, Avatar: The Way of Water performed similarly, which makes sense for a 2022 theatrical release.
Many of the early 2023 queries asked the same question: Wen Avatar 2 on Disneyplus. And let me just say that my editor is gonna hate me for typing that verbatim.
Anyway, once Avatar 2 debuted on Disney+, its search engine interest diminished. Fans got what they wanted, and they were satisfied.
Disney Cruises in 2024
There’s almost something psychological about being told you can’t do something.
As a reminder, the societal obsession with the pandemic started with a cruise ship incident.
Not coincidentally, tourists spent the body of 2020-2022 being told that the cruise industry was dead.
So, in 2023, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear how cruises enjoyed a truly spectacular comeback.
As for 2024, interest appears higher than ever. At Disney Cruise Line, next year marks the debut of the Disney Treasure, the most luxurious vessel to date.
Presumably, many fans were searching to discover when Disney is accepting bookings…and the answer is now.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
The premise of Dreamlight Valley is similar to other sims games like The Sims, Animal Crossing, and the like.
However, there’s one vital difference that makes it catnip for Disney fans.
You get to interact with beloved Disney characters. It’s a hodgepodge of recognizable faces.
You never know who will show up with a quest. For this reason, fans are constantly searching for tips on how to maximize their Dreamlight Valley playing time.
Elemental
The presence of this one makes me happy, although I must level with you.
Some of the early searches were likely negative ones, as Elemental faced a rough opening weekend of historically low box office for a Pixar film.
Over time, fans warmed to the charms of this sweet romantic comedy.
I jokingly called it a K-Drama after I saw it in theaters.
Then, I watched in bemusement as it became the most successful Pixar film ever in South Korea. I rest my case.
Galactic Starcruiser Closing Why?
Three of the most popular searches were questions, which I also find amusing.
I actually hear this search query in Comic Book Guy’s voice. And now you probably do, too.
Anyway, when word came down from Disney that the Star Wars Hotel was closing, fans searched around to learn the details.
Short answer: money. Slightly longer answer: Disney charged waaaaaaay too much.
There, I just saved you a click.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
This was among Disney’s most popular searches of the year, which makes sense given what it represents.
Director James Gunn and multiple members of the cast indicated that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 would signify their current call in the MCU.
For his own part, Gunn had taken a job as the head of DC Studios, which is, like, the competition to the MCU.
The whole thing was super-weird, and Dave Bautista sounded kinda miserable and completely over the whole Drax thing.
Not coincidentally, people kept googling for additional details. We all want the tea.
Hulu Disney?
This one definitely reads better as a question mark.
Think about the matter from the perspective of someone who doesn’t keep up with the inner workings of streaming services.
Suddenly, lots of people are talking about Disney paying a lot of money to Comcast.
Bob Iger
Yes, in case you’re wondering, people spelled his name right in the searches. Bob “Eiger” doesn’t appear to have trended.
Anyway, the CEO of The Walt Disney Company has become one of the most second-guessed jobs on the planet.
On the list, this gig probably falls somewhere between manager of the New York Yankees and head coach at Ohio State.
There’s just no way to please everyone. Even when you win, they’ll make you feel like you’re losing.
During 2023, people searched for Iger to learn about Reedy Creek and its successor, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
They also try to figure out why Iger was fighting with Nelson Peltz, Isaac Perlmutter, Elon Musk, and Fran Drescher.
By this point, Iger must be afraid to pick up his phone. He never knows who will attack him next.
Lorcana
Disney released a new collectible card game this year. Maybe you heard.
Well, I know that some of you did because I visited some gaming shops on the day of Lorcana’s release.
Those poor store clerks definitely looked like they’d seen some stuff.
Usually, to have a haunted look like that, you have to work at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district.
Anyway, fans wanted to know when and where to find Lorcana cards and boxes on sale.
Even now, those searches remain intense. Best Buy got some new inventory in stock during Christmas Week.
I could hear the herd thundering from here.
Pauline
Real talk: I had to google this one to remember what it was. That means I did a Google search so I could explain why people did a Google search.
I feel like a nesting doll.
Anyway, Pauline is a Disney+ release created in Germany about a teen girl who gets pregnant from a one-night stand.
Her lover boy turns out to be…the devil. So, yeah.
This series isn’t even out yet, as the Hollywood strikes delayed production.
Ergo, you’re probably like me and wondering why it garnered so many searches.
A cursory glance around the internet indicates that it became the focal point of one of those anti-Disney crusades.
As you’re about to see, it wasn’t the only one, either.
Reedy Creek
This is the subplot of what I mentioned above.
Casual observers noticed someone running for President of the United States of America by using a platform of “I got in a fight with Mickey Mouse.”
Even better, once everyone googled the story, they learned that Mickey Mouse wiped the floor with the dude.
Where Are Disney Stores?
The answer is that they’re all gone, at least in a technical sense.
Disney closed its own stores and then created a unique deal with Target.
You’ll find Disney merchandise in an exclusive section of some Target stores.
Otherwise, your only option is ShopDisney. And it sucks. We had the nicest cast members at our Disney Store. I miss them.
Wish
While Wish failed at the box office, it wasn’t for lack of trying on Disney’s part.
The studio’s marketing team did everything in its power to persuade potential movie-goers that Wish was the next great Disney story.
Alas, a talking goat and a dearth of jokes undermined the endeavor.
I can’t help but wonder whether this one would have done better if Disney had emphasized King Magnifico more. He’s an outstanding villain.
Rachel Zeigler Snow White
Disney recently delayed its upcoming live-action remake of Snow White until March 2025.
That wasn’t a rash decision by any stretch. Instead, it was a tacit admission that the negative buzz against the film had become a problem.
Rachel Zegler, whom I’m on record as adoring for her cover of Shallow, will portray Snow White in the remake.
The Gen Z actress performed a simple interview with her co-star, Gal Gadot.
They were clearly having a good time, and Zegler spoke from her heart about societal changes since 1937. You can watch it here:
I’ll never understand why, but a lot of people grew extremely upset by these comments.
Then, someone leaked set photos of the Seven Dwarfs, which didn’t help any. Somehow, that made people even angrier with Zegler.
Now, Disney finds itself in the odd position wherein the star of one of its most significant releases has alienated some potential viewers.
Honestly, I don’t know how many of these people were really gonna watch a Disney film anyway, at least based on their comments, but it’s a problem for Disney.
There’s a real chance this search result repeats as a Google Trend in 2024, which would be quite the rarity.
The same statement might apply to Pauline and Reedy Creek as well.
Feature Image: Anadolu/Getty Images
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