Disneyland has become an American institution. The Magic Kingdom is one of the most visited tourist destinations year after year and is steeped in decades worth of traditions, memories, and family fun .
Recently, one of the park’s most long-held traditions, the nightly fireworks display, went through a bit of a revision. Now, people are beginning to voice their displeasure at Disney for making their pre-show fireworks greeting more gender-neutral .
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Disney is truly one of the most magical places in the world.
Whether you’re in Flordia or at any other one of the parks around the world, chances are, you’re having a great time.
Especially if you’re watching any of the shows or fireworks.
Disneyland fireworks shows are some of the best in the world.
The very first fireworks display at Disneyland took place in the late 1950s . Walt believed that this was the perfect way to say thank you and goodnight to his cherished guests, and a nightly fireworks tradition has been upheld ever since.
Before the show starts, a welcome greeting traditionally plays over the park loudspeaker and opens with “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…”
But in an effort to be more inclusive, Disney has decided to switch things up.
During the first fireworks display, after the park’s forced closure due to COVID-19, fans noticed that the message was now different.
Instead of the longheld greeting that begins “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” the message now simply states “Good evening, dreamers of all ages.”
It’s a subtle but effective change that Disney feels reflects a more fluid and accepting attitude toward gender.
But as you no doubt may have already imagined, certain people didn’t feel the same way. In fact, a large number of ultra-conservative Disney fans seem to be downright outraged.
This Disney diehard posted a video of the classic opening line, compared with the new revamped version.
They also made sure to tweet out “Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls FOREVER!” What’s interesting to note, however, is that this video shows how Disneyland really didn’t change anything.
If you listen to the older intro, the phrase “dreamers of all ages” immediately follows “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.”
All the park has done this time around is simply omit the opening line. Not that big of a deal, right? Wrong.
According to Twitter user @soapsfreeman, people were in the official Disney Facebook Group were up in arms.
“Talking to boomers about the nuances of gender and sexuality in Disney Facebook groups is next level,” @soapsfreeman tweeted out.
“Disney changed a pre show[sic] greeting from “Ladies and Gentlemen” to “Good evening, dreamers of all ages” and they are loosing[sic] their minds lol.”
Other Disneyland zealots took this opportunity to voice their displeasure with how the iconic theme park had handled similar instances regarding racial insensitivity and prejudice in the past.
“Seriously? Pirates, Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruise, now this too?”
Twitter user Mary Woolford (Twitter handle @mmwsd) goes on to say “I just wish the pendulum would hurry up and swing the other way…I’m so tired of this extremist way of thinking and being overly sensitive to everything!”
What Mary is referring to is the depiction of indigenous peoples in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
And the fact that Splash Mountain is actually based on an incredibly racist Disney film called Song of the South .
Some people’s gripes were harder to follow than others.
I just can’t really seem to follow the logic here. Is this Twitter user saying that if we don’t use the terms “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” that it somehow implies that the guests are morally depraved?
Are we all either ladies and gentlemen or perverts and molesters? That seems a little confusing.
Thankfully, there were still those who applauded Disneyland’s efforts at gender inclusivity.
“Another thing I’m entirely unbothered by: Disney parks not saying “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” before the fireworks show anymore,” @EliteslayerX tweeted out.
They continued by saying:
“It’s a small change made with good intentions that literally doesn’t affect me in any way, shape, or form when I go on vacation.”
Now, we want to hear from you.
What do you think about this whole situation? Who do you think is in the right?
Let us know down below in the comment section! We would love to hear from you.
