When Walt Disney decided to build a brand-new theme park in Central Florida, he knew he had to be secretive about it. Walt’s Disneyland Park was seeing massive success, and the ingenious creator knew that if people knew he was the one looking to buy land, the price he would pay would skyrocket. In order to keep things on the down-low, he created a number of shell companies to buy the land. Those shell companies would then be united as part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District with the passing of a government act in 1967.
Reedy Creek is technically its own little government. It has its own electric grid, its own medical services, and even its own Wi-Fi service. It has been nearly completely independent since 1967. During that time, things have been going well for both Disney and the state of Florida. Disney is one of the largest employers in the state, and Florida rakes in millions of dollars every year in Disney World tourism.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Disney and Florida has recently become incredibly strained. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law the Parental Rights in Education Bill — which Disney was very vocal about being against. Disney has said they will work to repeal the bill, and DeSantis has said that Disney does not run the state.
Every day, it appears that the relationship between Disney and Florida falls apart a little more. It is now being reported that several Florida legislators are looking at repealing the Reedy Creek act that granted Disney its own government. According to ClickOrlando:
“In effect, they’re their own city out there. They can zone the way they want. They can do things the way they want. They can even build a nuclear power plant if they want,” News 6 political analyst Jim Clark said.
Those rights are now being discussed among some Florida lawmakers who are thinking about repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement Act of 1967.
“I think that this is a feud that is escalating into a war between Florida Republicans and the Disney corporation which is the largest single-site employer in Florida,” Clark said.
Richard Foglesong, a retired Rollins College political science professor and the author of Married to the Mouse, said he believes talks of revoking the act is just a way of the Republican party showing what they stand for, but no real change will come out of those discussions.
“If you ask me whether it’s politically possible to take these privileges away from the Disney company, I don’t think so,” Foglesong said. “I think that cooler minds will prevail and that this is really a shot across the bow to try to bring the Disney company, Mickey Mouse if you will, into line with Governor DeSantis. I thought it was more of March Madness of the political kind, the thought that the Republican Party, which used to be the party of business, would want to take on of their biggest donors.”
If Republican legislators try to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, it would most likely only make the relationship worse. Disney is currently planning to move thousands of employees to the state. Lake Nona, Florida is set to be the new Imagineering hub. Disney will receive major tax breaks for doing so, but Florida would also get millions of dollars. It is already rumored that Chapek is being pressured to stop the move, and if legislators try to follow through on their threat, that rumor could become reality.
Disney has not commented on the possible repeal at this time.
In recent weeks, Disney has been struggling when it comes to its image with both Guests and Cast Members. Many are upset with the company and its handling of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill. Many felt that Disney’s condemnation of the legislation came too late and didn’t say anything of substance. Cast Members were so disappointed in Disney that they planned a number of walkouts in protest. Disney, and CEO Bob Chapek, have tried to make things right in the eyes of those Cast Members, but nothing seems to be working.
However, there is another group of Cast Members who have different feelings on the matter. Those Cast Members believe that Disney should not say anything more on the bill. More than that, they feel that Disney should remain politically neutral. They have remained relatively quiet about their feelings for fear of reprisals and being considered “villains” to those who do not support the bill.
Those Cast Members have created a public petition, asking Disney to stay neutral when it comes to political matters. They noted that, several months ago, Disney sent a survey to Cast Members, asking if they felt accepted. The petition states that a number of more conservative Cast Members did not feel comfortable answering the questions. They believe that Disney leans more progressive and, if they answered the questions, they would be targeted and potentially lose their jobs.
The petition asks that Disney should not “be a vehicle for one demographic’s activism.” They feel that the current environment within the company is one of fear for those that do not lean along more progressive lines.
Bob Chapek has not commented on the current petition. He has, however, been repeatedly letting LGBTQ+ Cast Members know that he stands with them as an ally and will ensure that the company fights harder to protect them. He also announced that Disney has paused all political donations in Florida. Unfortunately for Chapek, Cast Members and Guests do not seem to be the only ones upset with him. The Florida Democratic Party has announced that a gala they had planned to hold at the Walt Disney World Resort has been canceled and will be held elsewhere.
As employees of the Walt Disney Company, we believe in the dignity of all people. This is why we do what we do. We write stories. We make costumes. We act in parades. We run cruises. We stream movies. We make magic. We do this because our work contributes to a fountain of wonder that inspires joy, awe, and delight in guests and audiences of all ages. We are proud employees of the Walt Disney Company. We love our jobs because we get to share the wonder of life and human experience with millions of people worldwide.
However, over the last few years, one group of cast members has become invisible within the company. The Walt Disney Company has come to be an increasingly uncomfortable place to work for those of us whose political and religious views are not explicitly progressive. We watch quietly as our beliefs come under attack from our own employer, and we frequently see those who share our opinions condemned as villains by our own leadership.
The company’s evolving response to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation in Florida has left many of us wondering what place we have in a company actively promoting a political agenda so far removed from our own. TWDC leadership frequently communicates its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where cast members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and being their authentic selves at work. That is not our workplace experience.
Over the last few weeks, we have watched as our leadership has expressed their condemnation for laws and policies we support. We have watched as our colleagues, convinced that no one in the company could possibly disagree with them, grow increasingly aggressive in their demands. They insist that TWDC take a strong stance on not only this issue but other legislation and openly advocate for the punishment of employees who disagree with them.
An internal poll within the company went out a few months ago asking us if we felt accepted in the company. Many of us didn’t complete it because the nature of the questions made us worry that the results of the poll could be used to target us for quietly holding a position that runs against the progressive orthodoxy that Disney seems to promote. TWDC has fostered an environment of fear that any employee who does not toe the line will be exposed and dismissed.
Much has been made of our internal efforts to Reimagine Tomorrow, but as much as diversity and inclusion are promoted, the tomorrow being reimagined doesn’t seem to have much room for religious or political conservatives within the company. Left-leaning cast members are free to promote their agenda and organize on company time using company resources. They call their fellow employees “bigots” and pressure TWDC to use corporate influence to further their left-wing legislative goals.
Meanwhile, those of us who don’t align with this vision keep our heads down and do our work without bringing our personal beliefs into the workplace. We’ve done this without complaint because we don’t want to rock the boat, but the boat is being rocked, and our leadership seems compelled to reward those who are rocking it.
Employees who want TWDC to make left-wing political statements are encouraged, while those of us who want the company to remain neutral can say so only in a whisper out of fear of professional retaliation. The company we love seems to think we don’t exist or don’t belong here. This politicization of our corporate culture is damaging morale and causing many of us to feel our days with TWDC might be numbered.
Furthermore, as this politicization makes its way into our content and public messaging, our more conservative customers will feel similarly unwanted. You can only preach at or vilify your audience for so long before they decide to spend their money elsewhere.
Working for The Walt Disney Company is a dream come true. We love being part of creating the magic that so many people around the world enjoy. Our storytelling is second to none. It resonates with people from all walks of life across the political spectrum. Our parks are the source of joy and inspiration that Walt hoped they would become. Every year, millions of guests escape an increasingly divided world to a place where they can relive fond memories of the past and savor the challenge and promise of the future. They do this alongside thousands of other guests that might not have anything in common with them other than a shared love of Disney.
The unique brand of family entertainment that Disney is known for is an objective good in this dark world. It brings people together and provides cultural touchpoints that even the worst enemies can unite over. At the height of COVID lockdowns in the Summer of 2020 when the country was fiercely divided over a range of issues, Hamilton provided us something to collectively celebrate. At the end of an incredibly contentious election year, The Mandalorian was there to soothe a weary nation with non-political entertainment we could all enjoy no matter who you voted for. When Disney takes sides in political debates, they deprive the world of a shared love we all have in common. TWDC is uniquely situated to provide experiences and entertainment that can bridge our national divide and bring us all together.
CEO, Bob Chapek had the right idea in his original statement that he has since walked back. In Chapek’s own words, “As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds. … Instead, they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame.” Disney is far more important and impactful to the world by avoiding politics than it will ever be by embracing a political agenda. By focusing on entertainment that inspires us with stories of universal appeal, we are doing good in the world.
Disney shouldn’t be a vehicle for one demographic’s political activism. It’s so much bigger and more important than that. More than ever, the world needs things that we can unite around. That’s the most valuable role The Walt Disney Company could play in the world at this time. It’s a role we’ve played for nearly a century, and it would be a shame to throw all of that away in the face of left-wing political pressure. Please don’t let Disney become just another thing we divide over.
Walt Disney World Resort in Florida reopened to Guests on July 11, 2020, following a nearly four-month closure in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.
Since that time, Disney has been following a meticulous plan for a phased reopening that includes the reopening of dining venues, attractions, live entertainment offerings, and more, and Guests are thrilled every time one of their favorite experiences or restaurants reopens. But many Guests have been asking when Disney International Programs will bring back Disney Cultural Representatives.
Disney announced that the Disney Cultural Representative Program will begin a phased return in August 2022, as the program welcomes its first new participants since the closure of its parks. The international program is vital to Disney‘s commitment to diversity, among other things.
Disney‘s Cultural Representatives play a vital role in Disney‘s legacy of storytelling. They help to create experiences for Guests as they draw from their respective countries’ cultures, heritage, and traditions that have inspired Disney Parks Resorts, pavilions, and theme parks.
According to Disney, Guests and Cast Members alike have looked forward to the return of this important program, and Disney has just been waiting for the perfect time to bring it back. As public health continues to improve, and international travel has resumed, the cultural program can be more valuable than ever!
“Right now, we are reaching out to participants from select countries whose program was shortened, canceled, or waitlisted in 2020, as well as those who had an offer and had not yet arrived, and offering them the first opportunity to reapply,” Disney announced in a press release. “We will then invite others to apply soon.”
Disney says that initial recruitment will begin with cultural representatives for the following countries at EPCOT’s World Showcase: Germany, Norway, Italy, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
“[The Disney College Program and Disney‘s Cultural Representative Program] provide a great pathway for career development as they offer participants the opportunity to learn, grow and develop and as they stay at Flamingo Crossings Village, a new state-of-the-art housing complex,” the press release from Disney explained.
Just when we thought we had heard it all, we learn about a couple who visited the parks and endangered the life of their baby, and all in the name of . . . nostalgia?
Millions and millions of Guests make their way through the gates at the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort in California each and every day of the year. Some are old Guests, some are young Guests, some are in-between Guests. There are short Guests, tall Guests, and . . . the list goes on.
And because so many people visit the Disney Parks every year, it’s not uncommon to hear of some less-than-mature, less-than-appropriate behavior. Despite rules developed by the Walt Disney Company for Guests visiting a Disney property, there seems to be no shortage of Guests whose behaviors at Disney Parks would likely bring shame and embarrassment to their mothers.
We’ve even reported on some of the most dangerous Guest behavior at Disney. Some Guests have tried to bring toy guns into the parks. That may sound harmless to some, but to Disney Security, it’s a problem. There have been incidences of Guests fighting with other Guests, Guests wearing inappropriate clothing in the parks, and Guests arguing with Cast Members who touch their baby’s strollers.
A so-called “urban explorer” was caught by Disney Security and Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies as he was trespassing on the abandoned Discovery Island near Magic Kingdom. (Sadly, it didn’t stop him from continuing to breach the gates at the Walt Disney World Resort and enter backstage areas where no Disney Guest is permitted.)
We’ve even seen and heard reports of Guests base-jumping off of moving ride vehicles to retrieve cell phones near dangerous animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Guests inappropriately touching character Cast Members, and more.
A young Disney Guest once climbed out of the boat at the Splash Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort when the boat stopped mid-way through the ride and refused to get back into the boat for an extended period of time.
When it comes to the Disney Guest behavior, sometimes we think we’ve heard it all.
But this may be the first report we’ve heard–at least in a while–of Guests misbehaving and endangering the safety and well-being of their own child.
People Magazine published an article titled, “Disney World and Disneyland Employees Share the Craziest Things They’ve Ever Seen at Work,” and the Cast Member communal confessional of things they’ve witnessed while working at the U. S. Disney Parks is astounding. This particular story was terrifying.
A Cast Member working at the Dumbo the Flying Elephant Attraction shared the experience of witnessing a couple putting the life of their baby in danger. A group of Guests boarded the ride vehicles at the attraction, and it was obvious to Cast Members that they were inebriated. Two of the Guests who were drunk got into the ride vehicle with their infant and buckled their safety belts.
Soon, Dumbo took flight as Cast Members put the ride into operation. Once the couple with the baby was soaring 18 feet off the ground, they unbuckled the safety restraint and suspended the baby mid-air, as though they were re-enacting the first scene from Disney’s The Lion King in which Baby Simba is held up by Rafiki so all at Pride Rock could see him.
“While I was working on Dumbo,” the Cast Member explained, “these drunk people removed their infant from the seat belt and held the baby like Simba outside of the carriage while the ride was up 18 feet in the air, so their other drunk friends could take pictures of them doing it. We had to emergency stop the ride. They were escorted away and arrested once outside the park gates. It was very scary to witness.”
Thankfully, Cast Members were extremely attentive, saw the dangerous situation unfolding before them, and immediately stopped the ride before anyone was hurt.
The couple was escorted to the front of the park and arrested outside the gates. Thankfully, the baby was unharmed, but it’s truly terrifying to realize what might have happened had the less-than-aware, less-than-responsible Guests been any less aware and less responsible.
After more than a year of being unavailable, the popular Minnie Van service will be returning to Walt Disney World Resort! The Minnie Vans are an easy way to get anywhere you want to go on Disney property without needing to wait for a bus. The Minnie Vans, in partnership with Lyft, can be ordered simply by opening your app anywhere around the Resort. Minnie Vans can even be ordered to whisk you away on your magical Disney vacation from Orlando International Airport.
It really works! Minnie Vans connected by @Lyft are rolling back in this #Summer at #DisneyWorld 🚗 #Disney #DisneyParks #MinnieMouse #ToyCars #MinnieVan #CarTok #Water #Lyft
Get around in a jiffy with this new, whimsical personal ride service―just use your smartphone to request a ride.
Need to get to a restaurant reservation at another Disney Resort hotel? How about a relaxing way to get back to your room after a busy day at one of the Walt Disney World theme parks or the Disney Springs area? Minnie Van Service is a great way to get around Walt Disney World Resort quickly and in comfort—all while in a Disney-owned, Disney-operated vehicle.
How It Works Our Minnie Van service works with the Lyft app. Simply open the Lyft app from anywhere within Walt Disney World Resort to access Minnie Van service, request a ride and pay for it through the app—or call (407) 828-3500 to request an accessible vehicle. Cars are usually minutes away.
To request a ride through the Lyft app:
Open the app and select your Walt Disney World destination
Confirm your pick-up location and tap “Select Minnie Van”; if Minnie Van service is not the default vehicle type displayed, you will need to swipe through your vehicle options until Minnie Van service is displayed
The app will display a map tracking the vehicle en route—along with an identifying vehicle number to help you spot your car
Need an Accessible Vehicle? Please call a Minnie Van Service Specialist at (407) 828-3500 to request an accessible vehicle. Requests can be made 45 to 60 minutes prior to needing the vehicle. Minnie Van vehicles can accommodate Guests with standard wheelchairs, motorized vehicles and electric conveyance vehicles (ECVs); however, an additional wait time may occur.
Pricing for Disney’s Minnie Van service while on property will vary depending on where you are and where you want to go. However, if you wish to book the Minnie Van to take you between Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney Resort, the cost as listed on the Disney website is $155 each way. Gratuity is not included in that price.
