As the culture war feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Walt Disney Company wages on, something else is starting to become clear. Social media is constantly showcasing angry people who are upset over live-action Ariel’s race or the fact that Disney participates in Pride month. These voices scream for the mouse’s demise, telling each other to stop giving Disney money and celebrating when it suffers setbacks. Conservatives may call for a boycott on what they deem a “woke” company, but quitting it is much harder than it looks. No matter how hard they try, some staunch DeSantis fans can’t seem to quit Disney.
The Ongoing Legal Battle
The battle between Ron DeSantis and Disney has been ongoing for over a year. The spat started when former Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek criticized Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act (better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill). Since that day, the Republican governor has waged war against Florida’s biggest employer. The back and forth has gone on for a long time, with DeSantis eventually replacing the Reedy Creek municipality board meant to oversee Disney property management with his own hand-picked members. Disney is now suing DeSantis with the argument that he has infringed on their right to free speech with political retaliation.
Many conservatives have been DeSantis’s biggest cheerleaders over this entire debacle. However, are they really as invested in the cause as they have been letting the world believe?
DeSantis Supporters Visiting Walt Disney World
Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is quite a hilarious experience for those who keep up with the Twitter storm of DeSantis lovers who campaign against the company on social media. While many of these people viciously attack Disney on their platform, it is a common sight to see them at the Parks still.
How do you know they are there? The simple answer is that a lot of them will let you know by displaying it proudly. The parking lot of the theme park will contain the occasional “DeSantisland” bumper sticker. This term has become a nickname for Florida by those who support the governor and his cause.
Saw a pickup truck with a “DeSantisland” bumper sticker while parking at Disney tonight. Which means this idiot gave money to Disney…
— Evan Weston (@EvanLWeston) June 9, 2023
Other DeSantis fans just love to wear clothing that publically labels them for Guests to see. DeSantis apparel that resembles Disney logos is not an uncommon site in the Parks.
https://twitter.com/hearthayleyy/status/1541186087422496769?s=20
The crux of seeing all of this at Walt Disney World is trying to figure out why these people are actively supporting DeSantis’s cause and yet are still giving Disney money in the meantime. If their vendetta is so justified, you would think they would steer clear of dropping money on the mouse.
Greatest brains in the world
— Evan Weston (@EvanLWeston) June 9, 2023
It is still unclear as to how the war between Ron DeSantis and Disney will end. The governor has now thrown his hat in the ring to be the Republican nominee for president, but some people wonder if this feud with Disney will jeopardize his chance of winning. Disney claims Park attendance has not been affected by the ongoing battle, and there are hints that DeSantis’s polling has suffered because of it. Even his own wife and child love Disney.
The moral of the story here is that sometimes people will thrive as anti-Disney keyboard warriors, but quitting it for real is not as easy as typing on a computer.