Disney’s Gay Days are not officially sanctioned or even recognized by the Walt Disney Company. But it seems that they’re happy to have us there, and in the twenty years the queers have taken over the parks with red shirts, there’s never been a situation I’m aware of where Goofy and Donald strong-armed us toward the exits. But one thing I did not know about Disney’s ten-foot-pole participation in the annual event: They’ll refund your money if you’re a hetero who unwittingly and unhappily finds himself in a sea of gay.
“A former Disney employee who was at the park on June 5,” writes John Cloud, “told me that every year, Disney issues refunds or free next-day tickets to angry moms and dads who don’t want their kids exposed to gay couples or gay-themed shirts. Some families don’t get past Main Street U.S.A. before turning around and taking the monorail back to the parking lots.”
Part of me wants to scream: HOW DARE THEY! How dare Disney give in to families who can’t deal with a bunch of homosexuals proudly on display, in the same manner heteros and their families own the park the other 364 days of the year.
But then I got to thinking: Disney is in the business of pleasing the customer. A Disney park employee will never tell a guest “no.” They don’t even kick you out of the park when it’s closing time; they kindly usher you to the exits in the friendliest of ways.
How about we take this to the next level?
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So when bitchy parents from Alaska or Arkansas or, yes, even that liberal-y New York complain at Disney’s City Hall that they’re not having a good time — whether it’s because Splash Mountain is offline or because they don’t want to explain to their kids why that boy has two mommies — Disney will go out of its way to please them. Even if that includes giving them a pass on Gay Days.
(Watch the video, around the 1:00 mark, and give that little girl an e-high five.)
Dave
Stupid breeders.
Scott from CA
I do think it’s a bit ridiculous that Disney feels like they need to refund tickets to uncomfortable heteroes on Gay Days though, especially because Gay Days isn’t an officially sanctioned event at Disney so the park should not be held responsible for who decides to come into the parks on any particular day.
However, I can’t blame Disney here. Like it stated in the article, the folks at the parks are all about customer service and they really don’t force you out even when it’s closed, they just kindly try to move you toward the exits without throwing you out. When it comes to ensuring brand reputation and continued customer loyalty then a business must do whatever it can do within reason to ensure a customer’s happiness.
Kyle
I LOVE the bear yelling “I love you Tinkerbell!” (1:53)
rf
So according to this article, Disney will be happy to refund my money if I’m offended by too many black people at the park. Or fat people. and if I don’t get a refund because disney gives preference to homophobes over racists or antifatties, can i sue?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Do we get to demand a refund when we are at Disney properties and we have to be exposed to 500 pound straight breeder famlies????
Aaron
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Hahahahaha:) Good one, my friend. That gave me a good laugh 🙂
Seriously, give me a freakin break! No, they should not give them a refund! This is beyond ridiculous!
[email protected]
Where are the refunds for the white people who are disgusted by all the black people in Disneyland?
Cam
I’ll give Disney a pass on this just because when the Baptists boycotted them because of Gay Days etc.. Disney basically told them to F off. But still, I just love the fact that anybody goes to Disney and is SURPRISED that there are gay people there.
Chris
RF hits it dead on. By offering refunds, Disney is endorsing the discrimination. This becomes more obvious when we substitute race for sexual orientation: Would Disney refund the ticket price of a family who complained because a large African-American group was in the park at the same time?
It would be different if Disney endorsed or planned Gay Days, but as they have said many times, they don’t. Gay Days visitors are the same as any other large group who all plan to visit the theme park at the same time.
Furthermore, unless Disney has an across-the-board policy of issuing refunds to guests who are offended by the minority status of other visitors, then Disney itself is discriminating by saying large groups of gays (and not other minority groups) are worthy of a refund.
I confess to a personal love of Disney, and their customer service policies are pretty top-notch. Their hearts are in the right place here, but the policy is shitty.
TommyOC
I can tell you that this article doesn’t do a good enough to highlight one very distinct Disney characteristic: They will refund you for anything… if you press hard enough.
A couple years back, while attending school, I worked at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.
I worked at one of the on-premise Disney hotels and during the Gay Days (first Saturday of October), we were told specifically, in no unminced words, to deny any Guest demand for compensation based on the presence of teh gays and their ruining of the heteros expensive holiday.
When pressed, we were to tell Guests that we welcome Guests of all stripes to the Park and that we have no control over the concentration of any type of guest on any type of day – just like we have no control over the weather being too hot or too cold.
And that’s exactly what I did… with a hidden sense of satisfaction, of course.
I will note one thing I was surprised by: We get letters from Guests all the time telling us how much they enjoyed their stay (or, conversely, how much they didn’t). One year we got a letter from a Guest who went on about how Cast Members made their stay enjoyable and how their visit, once thought ruined when they found out it coincided with Gay Days, was made that much more enjoyable! Teh Gays, this Guest had written, were some of the nicest, friendliest, and most cordial park-goers she and her family had ever encountered. They were friendly to his kids, they let the family cut in front of them, shared tidbits of Disney lore with them, and – most importantly – kept an upbeat attitude that made long lines in the sun an enjoyable experience.
Gay Days are a great opportunity to show thousands of worried heterosexuals that the great majority of us are normal people… people with manners, with consideration, and, when given the chance, filled with lots of happiness that we’re more than willing to share. It’s a chance for us to show them that we’re not a threat to them in the least.
Cam
@TommyOC:
That was a great story! Thank you!
James
Although I cannot speak for Disneyworld, as a former employee of Disneyland (that old theme park on the West Coast), I can assure you that policy was to NOT refund tickets in such instances. Yes, Disney will bend over backwards to make someone’s stay pleasant — but, unless you are bleeding or covered in vomit (sitting behind a kid whose just eaten on a roller coaster, for instance), a refunded ticket is almost always out of the question.
Both parks do have a policy of “comp”ing new shirts for those families who’ve unwittingly dressed in red shirts, as families often do in order to keep track of each other. This is, given the amount of money the Gays bring into the Resort, a small concession to the straights. The employee periodicals have a blurb about Gay Days a week or two before the actual event, acknowledging that Disney knows about it (something they did not do until the mid-2000s), and that employees are to treat all guests with respect and the utmost courtesy.
Furthermore, I can say that, even for most of the straight employees, Gay Days and Bats Day (Goths) tended to be the most fun events to work. Yeah, it’s crowded — but the Gays (and the Goths!) were usually the most civil folks in the park.
Sam
@ Nos. 4 & 5: Right out of college, I lived in Los Angeles and worked with a friend who had moved there from the middle of the country. She always complained about how even though she was well on the thinner side of average, and had never worried about her weight at home, the universal skinniness of Southern California women made her feel like a whale.
Then we went to Disneyland for a work-related event. Five minutes in, she leans over to me and whispers “THIS is where they keep all their fat people!”
orlando
By writing this as “Disney’s Gay Days” you infer still again (just as the homobigots like you to) that Disney is associated with Gay Day.
Disney never has or never has done much to support Gay Day. It is the employees favorite day we know, but they don’t do anything much to assist in growing the weekend. (Similar to our pathetic Orlando tourism group which still refuses to recognize one of its biggest groups of the year)
Disney may want to get on the ball some day – Universal WANTS and is actively pursuing the Gay Days business for the future.
-A Disney Fan in Orlando.
ps: We still call it Gay Day here in Orlando out of respect to the actual Founder of the weekend – Doug Swallow
Jerrold
Cruise lines (or the majority of them) do not give refunds if you see something that makes you uncomfortable onboard the cruise, even if it is taken over by bears in speedos for sex parites at the pool. (Yes, it rudely, sadly happens and leaves a bad impression on people. No, these aren’t chartered events I’m talking about.) I sort of understand why Disney does though, not sure how I feel about this one. Part of me agrees with RF, but another part of me wonders if I complain about straight couples making out if I can come back another day. (I hate when couples make out in line at Theme Parks.)
alex
I will give Queerty a pass for the inaccurate reporting, since they did quote Time magazine; but, James and TommyOC are correct in stating that Disney does not give refunds due to Gay Days. For many years, I worked for the Disney Reservations Center, both as a phone agent and a trainer of those agents. We had access to hundreds of lawyer-approved responses to guest complaints. Agents are to read them verbatim. The Gay Days one was indeed “we welcome everyone”.
That said, Guest Services in the parks is a tricky area. I’m sure the man quoted in the Time article was right that he saw concessions made. After all, any smart manager would offer a ticket refund to some who just came into the park and ended up yelling homophobic comments in the Guest Services office. But, they’d never give a cash refund; only new tickets to come back another day.
Bill
I wonder what the mouse would have to say about this?
Joe
Can someone link the video? It won’t load on my page.
Taylor Siluwé
My first gut reaction was – WTF! Of course not!
But after reading everything I realize its in the best interest of everyone to send ‘phobic, foaming-at-the-mouth Soccer Mom’s and Dad’s on their way.
There must be peace in the Magic Kingdom.
Sam
What do they give “guests” who compplain about all the queens working at the park?
James
@ No. 20: If they want their visit to include the likes of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Peter Pan, the Mad Hatter, et al, they best not say anything. In spite of Walt’s [historically airbrushed] biases, the Parks are largely run by gays and Jews. Call it poetic justice. 🙂
tazz602
@TommyOC – That was awesome – thanks for sharing!!
Devil's Advocate
I know I’ll be attacked for this but I have a different opinion on the matter.
I worked for Disney and guest service is the number one priority. Unfortunately that often means rewarding guests for ridiculous behavior. However, I’d change how Gay Day is celebrated every year.
Several people have commented that no one would complain about too many black or fat people. But I’ve never seen anyone walking around with a “I love both my fat parents” or “Black Day @ WDW 2010” t-shirts. Why? Because the tees would be redundant. So why do people have to broadcast who/what they are with a tee on Gay Day?
Why do those attending have to be marked and identified? That’s the fastest way for homophobes and bigots to be tipped off with a massive sea of red shirts! It’s like a big red stop sign that says:
STOP! Gay People have surrounded you! RUN!
Tolerance and acceptance are achieved when people no longer see us as “the others”. What better way to make a difference then by enjoying the magic of the parks as a unified community. I think that would result in more people like the woman in TommyOC’s comment.
mb00
Who fucking cares. I hate disney just as much as I am annoyed by any adult without kids that loves going there.
And why are some people here comparing being gay with being black?! That’s so stupid.
mconyc08
Wow. Those guys at 0:15-19 on the video are INSANELY tall.
Goofy probably asked them if it was going to rain the next day.
The people around them look tiny in comparison. :-p
WiseUp
Is it just your racism or hatred of sports that gets you to say such stuff, Taylor Siluwe?
OrchidIslander
@rf: Based on at least 3 of your comments – I could understand why folks would want their money back if they found themselves in the same vicinity as some of you – I probably would as well. As usual, you can’t deal with you-being-discriminated against without injecting race and specifically black people into your parallels. So what if whites were/and there were (1) “offended” )2)” disgusted” and (3) “a large group of African_Americans”…in the park. You could substitute bar, club or the gay ghetto and it would be just as likely that the ones offended and disgusted if subjected to large numbers of black people would be white gays. You can’t use us as a supporting example on one hand and practice those same race based actions on the other. It never fails to amaze how that works.
Michael
Your source for citing Disney’s policies is from interpretation of a Time Magazine article written by John Cloud, who got his information from an unidentified park visitor claiming to be a former Disney employee, who is not credited with a quote. That’s irresponsible. Anything wrong with including the paragraph which precedes the one you paraphrased, to wit; “The drugs and overt sexuality at Gay Days are one reason some lesbians and gays are opposed to the event.” “It hurts the cause to gain equal rights,” says Alex Wall, 24, a test-prep teacher and lesbian activist who has been called an Uncle Tom because of anti — Gay Days comments she posted on Facebook. “I’m all for having a good time,” she wrote, “but not at the expense of people’s family vacation.” A day at the park is expensive, and it’s truly unfortunate for anyone, gay or otherwise, to be be compromised to the point of having to request a refund over the incivility other park patrons.
Taylor Siluwé
No. 26 · WiseUp
Is it just your racism or hatred of sports that gets you to say such stuff, Taylor Siluwe?
What the fuck are you talking about? I said “there must be peace in the Magic Kingdom.”
You’re clearly talking to someone else, off your meds, one of my mad stalkers, just speaking from your dank gaseous hole, or a crazed mix of all of the above.
Disgusted American
well Id love to go to DISNEY world..but I refuse to spend my money in such a Hatin,Bigoted state as florida…so until florida changes its policies and treats ALL its citizens equally – I refuse to give them my tourism money.
Brandon
Ummm The video won’t work for me either.. Anybody have a link???
chris
No. On a moral level it’s just plain wrong and really unfortunate. Personally, I keep hoping that these people will figure out just how many cast members are gay (hello, first major company in the US to extend partner benefits) and run screaming from the parks, never to return. But on a business level, I can see why they do it. It doesn’t make it right.
matt
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,91380043001_1995999,00.html
this article is from time magazine
Lamar
This is disgusting, if I went to Disneyland with my black friends and they suddenly started handing out refunds to everybody around me I would definitely feel offended because the action suggests somehow having too many black people there ruins the experience or traumatizes people. That is why this is so wrong and intolerant.
Jimmi
What the attraction of Disneyland holds is beyond me. It is nothing but a place that promotes bland conformity and suburban banality. They are willing to take your money and then stuff coffers of the Republican’s. They own ABC who was more than willing to rubber stamp the Iraq War and the entire Bu$h administration–featuring cuddly interviews with the Bush Family by that schlocky Baba Wawa and Diane Sawyer. No thanks.
MackMichael
Beyond whether the article can be substantiated or not, all I do know is that this is exactly why my partner and I hold hands on all the Non Gay Days at Disneyland; and as of late, we notice others do too. This make everyday we visit Disneyland a gay day, indeed.
jason
Why on earth are the gay people wearing ridiculous red T-shirts? I find this to be the most frightening aspect.
B
No. 34 · Lamar wrote, “This is disgusting, if I went to Disneyland with my black friends and they suddenly started handing out refunds to everybody around me I would definitely feel offended because the action suggests somehow having too many black people there ruins the experience or traumatizes people.”
Well, Disney could require that to get the refund (really a ticket for another day), they’d have to sign a statement that they are an avowed member of the KKK, show a membership card and a picture of them in their sheets, with their exit (escorted by security guards) shown on youtube together with a list of their names.
I have a feeling that most people would think twice, even Klan creeps, before signing up for that.
Hawkeye
@orlando:
I went to Universal in what was it? 2005? Guess what? It sucked. There was lack luster interest. Gay Day at Disney happens because its at Disney. The people that go to The Magic Kingdom on that particular Saturday go because they like Disney and that park. Universal sponsored in that flop of a year. Nothing is going to change it. The first Saturday of June it will be all about going to Magic Kingdom. Its happened for 20 years now … oi, 20 years, and I’ve done 9 of them … I can only hope it will be another 20 years.
Michael
Gotta agree with you there, Jason. Just because the park is designed with children in mind, there’s no reason to show up looking like you under twelve, unless of course, you’re trying to score entry at kid’s prices.
Lamar
@B: LOL
Sam
Any Ticket Agent worth his or her pay is going to gently point out to potential Guests at the Park just why all those people are wearing red shirts, thus giving potential guest the option of going in or not. If they choose at that point to buy a ticket anyway, NO REFUND or other compensation should be made. Just as if I were to go to Magic Mountain, I know it’s gonna be overrun with teenies. Do you think they would give a refund to anyone who was bothered by all the screaming girls chasing after Justin Bieber?? NO WAY!!
ewe
I want all my money refunded for parking, hotels and theme park fees for having to watch blatant displays of heterosexuality all day long. It completely ruined my vacation and is shocking to my sense of a good time. I should not be subjected to these types of heterosexual deviant degenerates flaunting their orientation so openly. That is if i ever have the desire to go to Disney.
ewe
So gay people can demand that straight visitors get booted out of the park as well right?
Taylor Siluwé
LOL @ EWE
Fuckin’ heteros think they own the world. Who knew? 😉
ewe
@Taylor Siluwé: I know. I went into a bakery today and saw a christian nuclear family unit ordering hard rolls and a few black and white cookies. I want all my food for free because of it. No charge. I find them offensive.
jeffree
Can I state or re-state the obvious? The % of men working at most theme parks who are GAY is higher than that of the general population?
I spent one miserable hot sweaty summer working at a Sïx F(l)ags theme park amid lightning storms, numerous mullett haircuts & rabid mosquitoe attacks—BUT I have **never** felt so comfortable being a gay man in any workplace in my life since then !
We actually jokingly suggested that the “poor str8 guyz” start a support group. For their credit they didn’t ever say anything bad or mean vs. us, because they knew what they were getting into prob. before they were signed on as “cast members.”
I miss Gurnee! (thats in Illinois, to the left of Indiana! in case u were wondering!
jason
I’m all for gay people going to Disney but do we really need to make it a particular day? It has this tokenistic air about it as if we’re saying “oh, you know, we gays are going to be there on such and such a day but the rest of the year is for you straights”. Puhhh-leeease.
For Pete’s sake, we’re still adhering to the segregation paradigm in how we go about our liberation. Don’t we realize that we are simply building a different type of closet around ourselves?
As for the red shirts, hideous to say the least. Gay people shouldn’t be dressing in a way that suggests a herd mentality.
jeffree
Jason:
You may be Jêsse Helms.
Textual analysis shows that your vocabulary, punctuation, syntax, register and typography match Jêssë Helms by about 74%.
You also have not responded to him or voted him down.
Highly questionable.
jason
Jeffree,
I’m a very independent person. I don’t believe in herds. Herds are for cattle and sheep.
I despair at how the gay community has turned into a self-segregated community. It’s weakened us as a cultural force. We can’t even coordinate a decent protest these days.
jeffree
@jason: Jason: your hatered of Black people and women is well documented. You have yet to reply to Jason Helms, click down on his posts, and your writing style is very similar.
Get out of your Mom’s basement already.
scott ny'er
@jeffree: I think they’re different people. The Helms person is just hateful of all LGBT things. Jason is not. IMHO.
james_from_the_great_city_of_cambridge
@scott ny’er: I think Jason created Jesse Helms because Jason was getting so much shit for being racist. By creating Jesse, he makes himself look moderate. And Jesse started posting right after everyone started giving Jason shit and downgrading his comments for his beliefs about Black people.
Bernie
Whatever it takes to send them home….
Jesse Helms
My two trips to Disney World taught me that obesity runs rampant. Never have I seen so many people waddle because their thighs chafe when they try to walk. I’m not talking “a little heavy,” no, we’re talking poundage that in a vehicle would require an audible BEEP BEEP BEEP when moving in reverse.
Disney has never revealed, publicly, that Minnie Mouse has same-sex attractions. I have seen the video footage as proof!
Oh, Prince Charming? Major screaming bottom, but he sure smells good. Unlike Joe Solmonese of HRC fame, who has notoriously sweaty palms.
Do not shake hands with him, the taint lasts for days!
Katy Rainbow Runyon
Are people really that more profil-ish these (if that’s even a word)? I am obese, bisexual and disabled and is sick of way people hate each other or a certain group of people. Even, if I was straight, I would be cheering the LGBT community with my spirit and voice.
I love people who can be themselves.
I have one more thing to say: Be who you are!
Thank you for all who read this.
ScottHouston
No, they need to learn to bend and stop thinkign their way is the only and right way.
At the same time there needs to be respect. If I’m at a park with a child, regardless if I am gay, I don’t want my child seeing improper behavior from any kind of people. They are not raised to think that is the norm behavior for a gay couple.
THere are many proud Gay parents who have children or have opened their homes and hearts to children who have no family. Typically we raise them to be respectfull, understanding, compassionate, and in a different light. Disney acepts Gay couples and we typically go any tiem of the year.
On “Gay days” there needs to be rules that apply to everyone for a “Family” park wiether a straight family or one with gay parents. I would hate to avoid “Gay Days” because soem feel the urge to be flamboyant and drama queens rather then realistic.