Brocation Ten Years Later

In 2016, my husband, Scotty, and some friends went on a trip to Disneyland. Lovingly deemed "Brocation," it has become an annual tradition. 

You can read a little about the history of Brocation in this post, but I think it's time for a little update about what Brocation has become. When I wrote that post, the largest group to attend Brocation had been 12 bros. This year they had 26. 

Brocation 2026

Here are some updated facts about Brocation:

-They now wear matching shirts. But not just custom t-shirts. They wear button-down collared shirts that make them look like a giant troop of Boy Scouts. Everyone has a nickname and a number on the back of their shirt, and they sew patches on their shirts. Some patches representative of who they are. They have all sorts of Disney character patches but also things like NASA, military, sasquatch, and more. They also earn a star for every year they go on Brocation, so every bro has a row of stars showing their Brocation history. 

-The hotel they stay at knows who they are and has notes and treats waiting for them in their rooms when they get there.

Welcome goodies from the hotel

-They have a long-standing tradition of trying to fit as many people in a seat on a ride as possible, and the Disney cast members are very accommodating on this (surprisingly!) They basically say if your butt is on the seat and the lap belt locks, you can ride! 

Three bros on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

-This year they had some firsts: first time riding the carousel, first jazzy chair rental, and first legally blind attendee (cane and all!)

An "Incredible" day at DCA!

-They have a mission statement and bro code of conduct. Since they are such a large group and stand out a bit, the Founders felt it was important to encourage good behavior, so they came up with some guidelines and expectations that they make sure everyone understands when they join the trip.

-Some of the cast members remember them from year to year and ask for photos

Some cast member from Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

(and Mark with his jazzy)

-The week before the trip, all of the bros get together for the Brocation Feast (they can bring a +1, so a lot of the wives come too). At the Feast, they eat dinner, sew patches on their shirts, and watch the slideshows from past years. This event feels like being part of the weirdest cult on earth. But it’s a blast! This year they also reviewed the bro code. 

Bros at The Feast 2026

-They have several "sewing nights" during the weeks leading up to the trip so they can get their shirts up to date. 

-They get some perks for being well-behaved and noticeable. People venmo them churro money. Sometimes a cast member will hook them up with Lightning Lane passes or set them up with their own boat or train on a ride. People love taking photos with them, and they have gotten shout outs from Getaway Today two years in a row. They also met Gwen Stefani. 

Shout out from Getaway Today

Scotty with YouTuber Chris Provost

-The men who go on this trip are randomly pieced together. It started out with four men who were friends from church. Then it expanded to a few more guys from church and a few brothers. Then it went as far as "My boss wants to come!" "My friend from high school wants to come!" "My bishop wants to come!" They've even had people fly in from other states. Some guys have joined knowing only one other person, but by the time they go home, they have more best friends than they can count on two hands.

Three to a seat on Big Thunder

It's now been ten years since Brocation started! It's kind of trippy (no pun intended) to think about how the bros are all an entire decade older now than they were on that first vacation! It's been a really fun tradition for all of them. A bit ridiculous in some ways, but a very uplifting and unique thing to be a part of!