Jackson Olson: How My Disney Fandom Became Part of My Story

Long before I stepped onto the field as a Savannah Banana, Disney was a huge part of my world growing up. What began as childhood trips to Walt Disney World in Florida, filled with childlike wonder and a jolt of excitement, has turned into a lifelong connection rooted in creativity, community, and connection with Disney and Banana Ball fans around the world.

Today, you could say I’m a very proud “Disney adult,” and I’m happy to step up to the plate and share my love for the food, rides, characters, and key moments that have shaped my Disney journey over the years with fans on social media.

Curious how it all came together from first pitch to the present-day ahead of this year’s Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland Resort? Read on to discover how Disney became part of my story, and why this fandom keeps bringing me back inning after inning.

Like so many Disney-loving kids around the world, my passion for Disney began at a young age.

Woody was always my No. 1 favorite character, and as plenty of my family members can attest to, I dressed up as him for several Halloweens growing up.

When I was young, I visited Disney World with my whole family, carrying an autograph book filled with characters’ signatures and a little journal where I would write down my favorite moments from each trip. I rediscovered these notebooks a few years ago, and while my elementary school handwriting was very tough to read, the pages brought my early love for Disney magic to life, proving that it has been a major part of my personality from the very beginning.

During Bananas games, we see special moments created for fans every single day, whether we are traveling on the road or hosting a marquee matchup in Savannah. That same feeling comes to life throughout the Disney parks, where moments big and small are created for guests and serve as an authentic reminder of how special Disney truly is.

Of course, Disney is about the rides and the food, which I can point to on so many of my trips as an adult. But what always brings me back is seeing the parks through the eyes of a kid, taking me back to my own childhood. Watching one of the characters kneel down to hug a child, causing the kid to burst into happy tears while their parents’ hearts soar with happiness? That’s what it’s all about, and it’s why my love for these parks has only continued to grow stronger over the years.

My favorite thing in the entire world is to create fun content for our fans. My favorite place to be in the entire world is Disney. Bringing these two things together truly takes me to a happy place, and over the years, I have been lucky enough to pick up a few tips and tricks during my many visits to the parks.

When I’m playing in the parks, I love embracing a spontaneous sense of fun, while still making sure that I’m able to tailor and plan out my day if I have any content ideas. One tip that I encourage everyone to try on their next vacation: take it easy on your first night and head to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World or Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort before jumping into the parks. It builds a sense of excitement about going into the parks without being inside just yet, and it’s something that I do every time I visit Disney World or Disneyland Resort.

Interested in learning more? Check out some of my Disney Parks planning tips and hot takes to keep in mind on your next Disney vacation:

Believe it or not, pins have been a huge part of my life since I was a kid.

For those who don’t know, Cooperstown, New York, is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and Cooperstown Dreams Park, a must-do youth baseball experience for 12U baseball families across the country. Travel teams from across the United States compete in tournaments here every year, and every single team brings their own “team pin” to trade with players and coaches from all these different teams. The only problem? I never had the chance to play in that tournament.

To fill the void, I’d go to Disney with my family and start securing pins of my own, often featuring Mickey Mouse and some of my other favorite characters (looking at you again, Woody!). Fast forward all these years later, I began noticing so many of our fans wanting to trade things like bracelets and pins at games. That sparked my interest in Disney pin trading all over again and kicked off a newfound passion that I now get to share with fans.

How cool is that? It’s a super fun atmosphere to be able to hunt for the coolest and most exclusive pins, especially when they’re rare and hard to find. The world always needs more joy, and it is a blast to be able to make connections with pin fans around the world.

My North Star? A Mickey pin where he’s playing baseball with a “Go Bananas” printed across the top. It now lives on a small Disney pin pad that I have at home, and it’s staying there forever.

Follow your energy.

Our team talks about this heading into each of our games, whether we’re in Savannah, New York, Anaheim, or anywhere across the country. Our committed fanbase brings an incredible level of passion and excitement that helps fuel our squad, and that same infectious enthusiasm was certainly felt at last year’s event at Disneyland.

We were able to do a lot of cool things last year at Savannah Bananas Day but being able to cheer and dance along Main Street, U.S.A., last year was definitely a highlight. And yes, even though it’s only a year old, Celebrate Happy by The Jonas Brothers is already my favorite song of all-time after our music video was filmed at Disneyland last year.

Recently, our team had the chance to play at the Superdome in New Orleans, and it reminded me so much of my last visit to Walt Disney World, where I stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter. The attention to detail, food, and immersive feeling completely surrounds you, making you feel like you’re in the heart of the city.

That same energy is something that I feel every time I visit the parks, whether it’s experiencing an attraction like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (take a look above at our team picture) or sharing a special moment with fans along the way. Disney continues to feel like the perfect place to celebrate, connect, and let loose with the energy and passion of those around you, and the feeling never gets old.

Last year’s Savannah Bananas Day was unforgettable, but we took things to the next level this year with even more events, entertainment, and chances to connect with our loyal fans.

This year, we brought performances to Disney California Adventure park and Disneyland park, making sure people at both parks got the full Bananas experience. You may have even spotted us dancing or filming TikToks across the resort today.

Disney continues to hold a special place in my heart, from childhood memories as a kid who grew up loving Toy Story and Woody to the special moments like this that I now get to share with our fans. Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland Resort has been a highlight of this season and last, and I could not be more excited to celebrate the joy of Disney and the energy of this incredible community of fans in one unforgettable setting.