Castle Suite on Gay Day

[CanadianGuy]

I gotta go with Conc on this one.. you had a bad experience.. that doesn't mean everyone does.

But I have personally known 10 or 12 gay people .. who worked at the parks, in imagineering, in graphic design and web development etc for the Disney corp.

I myself worked for them briefly in Burbank in Web Development. And they hired me knowing I was gay. It came up in the interview because of some stuff on my resume. In the end, I didn't stay there very long because my old employer (NBC) really wanted me back and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. But I can't complain at all about how I was treated in my brief employment.

Now.. Yes, I'm gay.. but the gay folks I knew in those other divisions loved it.. they were part of what convinced me to join the company. This is post 1995 mind you. And its worth noting that just because they had good experiences.. that doesn't mean that every gay employee does these days. I'm sure its a mix... just like any large company.

J

 

[yellowfish78]

AAA travel agents participated in a contest like this one during the month of January (because it's Disney Month with them) and Disney gave away three different nights to three different agents the week after Easter...which is still spring break for many people. I agree with quite a few people here that it's just the date they picked - probably two years ago at that when they were still dreaming this up.

 

[RickinNYC]

Like others, I fail to see the anti-gay sentiment to the OP's concerns.

As for exDS Vet's situation, I'm sorry you went through that. Homophobic individuals absolutely do exist. It's a sad statement of fact that we're in the 21st century and there are still shallow minded bigots walking this earth. They truly baffle me. I find them very sad little creatures quite frankly.

Nevertheless, I completely agree with Conc on his/her opinion in that Disney the company can't be judged by the actions of one pathetic individual. The same can be said for every progressive, forward thinking mega corporation that willingly and knowingly protects the rights of all employees. There is always going to be one sanctimonious person who will still use his/her authority to wield their "moral police" banner much like your own situation.

As for exDS Vet's mentioning of DL forcing a gay couple from dancing publically, that is indeed true, it happened. But it happened about 20-25 years ago. The couple in question sued and won, Disney the corporation made a public apology and has since moved forward from that mistake. They have grown and matured and are quite the advocate of equality in human rights. I wouldn't spend a dime on them otherwise.

 

[exDS vet]

I don't mind sharing my story if it sheds light on some of the inner workings at Disney. The company is huge, and who's to say what goes on in other business divisions. I am sure there are areas within the company that are inclusive. What is sad is that the company as a whole does nothing to embrace diversity of any kind. They may talk the talk, but they don't walk the talk.

I have never known the Walt Disney Company to have any real values. Another company that I worked for (before and after Disney) was Starbucks. This is a great company. They embrace diversity not just on a daily basis, but as a way of doing buisness, as it is stated in their Mission Statement. You can see it everyday as a customer or as a partner. Having values is what makes good companies great companies. Unfortunately in this area, Disney has a great deal to learn.

The OP on this thread questioned whether Disney was deliberately not giving away a castle stay on the busiest day during "gay days" because they didn't want to risk awarding the stay to a gay family. I think this is entirely possible. But perhaps Disney also doesn't want to catch grief for not picking a gay family during "gay days". This is a "damned if we do, damned if we don't" situation.

On one side you have the gay community who may react negatively if the average white, hetero family won the castle stay on "gay day". On the other hand you have the religious right, rednecks and other homophobes who would be furious knowing that Tom and Sam or Sherry and Mary and their kids spent a night in Cinderella's Castle. Imagine what Bill O'Reilly would say. So Disney does what is "safest" and decides not to give away the stay on that day, and everyone is happy. Right?

So maybe Disney is not anti-gay or anti-anything. Believe what you wish. I believe that they (Disney) would never select a gay family for this prize on Gay Day or any day. They won't risk the negative PR, which would mean to me that they don't support or recognize our community. I would love to be proven wrong on this. Especially if one of the earlier replies about the first castle stay being awarded to a gay family was true. Somehow I must doubt that though.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Wow, I had heard working at the Disney Stores was nothing like working for "real Disney," but I wouldn't have thought it would make someone so bitter. Disney does a LOT as a company to be inclusive and celebrate Diversity. At Walt Disney World they have several diversity resource groups that cast can join to meet with people who have similar backgrounds and interests, as well as to help educate other cast members. These groups are PRIDE (the gay group), HOLA (for people of hispanic heritage), PULSE (for people of african-american heritage), COMPASS (Asian-pacific), FAMILIES (for people with families), and CastABLE. Disney fully funds these groups, as well as any events they might have (like the PRIDE float in the Orlando gay pride parade every year), and to have special speakers from throughout the community (including the occasional celebrity) come speak about diversity.

The average day guest might not see any of this, but trust me, diversity is a big part of Disney.

 

[OrlandoMike]

The average day guest might not see any of this, but trust me, diversity is a big part of Disney.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[RickinNYC]

I couldn't agree more!

Likewise. I have a handful of friends who work(ed) at Disney World, some gay, some not. I asked them about Disney's acceptance issues and they told me time and again that it wasn't any issue at all. I trust their answer.

I don't mean to diminish anyone else's experience at all. Just my own perception.

 

[exDS vet]

Wow, I had heard working at the Disney Stores was nothing like working for "real Disney," but I wouldn't have thought it would make someone so bitter.

Unfortunately there are two things wrong with this comment. First and foremost, I can't and won't allow Disney to make me bitter. What happened to me happened over 5 years ago. Was I bitter then? Of course. Who wouldn't be? But after my district manager and regional director lost their jobs, I was able to find closure. Fortunately that was six months after I was fired. I am no longer the fan of "all things Disney" I once was for a variety of reasons. I am also outspoken and at times, very critical of the company. This is because I am one of those "Disney purists" so many people like to flame on these boards. I would respectfully ask that you don't label my criticism of the company as bitterness. It is simply not the case.

Secondly, when I worked for TDS, it was the "real Disney". And it didn't get much more "real" than my store, which was only the second TDS built. This was before the stores fell apart and before TCP took them over. Part of my new "outlook" on Disney came from watching the path it began taking while I worked there. You can learn an awful lot about a company when you are in a management position AND you are a big fan (purist).

Finally, my store closed three months after I was let go. I can safely say that had I not been fired, and had I been placed in a different store after the Pier 39 store closed down, I probably would not have lasted another year at the company.

 

[cindysteve]

Good thinking!

Maybe this is to get travel agents to view Gaydays in a better light? I've met people who had travel agents tell them "Oh don't got then, it's Gayday!" Maybe getting a TA to go and see that the park is pretty much normal is Disney trying to give some good PR?

Let me start by saying I am not a TA, gay or anti-gay (just letting you know for perspective). I have been to WDW during gay-days, and will be there for 2 weeks with my kids again this year overlapping gay-days. The only thing I had an issue with, and may be what has sparked an issue with families and gay-days) was the number of couples that took the freedom of being in a gay-friendly/dominated environment too far and had "PDA's" that were beyond what my kids should be seing in any public environment (for example, you don't put your hands in someone's pants in an amusement park- gay or straight). There was a disportionate amount of "not in front of MY kids" kind of PDA going on. My kids are a bit older now (will be 11 and 12 for this trip) but still to young to be watching that activity from gay or straight couples.
We also had an isolated incident where a guy burned my kids hand (not badly) with a cigarette (walking back to the CR from the MK) and when my husband yelled at him to be careful, his BF went off about all the kids that were there and blamed my son.
I guess I'm trying to say that the problem for some families and TA's may be more complicated than it seems on the surface.

 

[cindysteve]

sorry, button cliced twice by accident

 

[bytheblood]

Just a small interjection/reminder to several of the posts here:

Disney does not sponsor gay days. This is not the same as Pop Warner, MVMCP or anything of the like.

This would lead me to believe that Disney isn't intentionally seeking out or not seeking out a homosexual couple to stay in the castle.

 

[mikelan6]

Just to update everyone, the award night for travel agents has been changed to July 21st, so now everyone in the park will have a chance!

Good luck everyone.

 

[Viki]

Just to update everyone, the award night for travel agents has been changed to July 21st, so now everyone in the park will have a chance!

Good luck everyone.

Is that right? Wow ...