Who could have predicted, a few years ago, that the names Disney and DeSantis would be paired together so often — or, more accurately, positioned against each other? Disney fans (particularly Walt Disney World Resort fans or Florida residents) have watched in shock as Florida’s supposedly “conservative” leader, Governor Ron DeSantis, wages a political war of sorts against Disney World and its Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The list of grievances between DeSantis and Disney has grown long, but now tensions have just been heightened as Disney World has, in a way, fired some teasing shots in the Florida governor’s direction.
One of the most well-known points of contention between the Walt Disney Company and Governor Ron DeSantis involves LGBTQIA+ rights, which many Disney fans or Florida residents know, and Disney just made a tongue-in-cheek gesture that seems to mock DeSantis and his most recent hostile comments about Disney!
On Monday, shortly after the governor’s recent negative comments, Disney ‘just happened’ to post an in-depth Tweet about its upcoming Disneyland event that focuses on LGBTQIA+ rights.
The event is called Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite, and it is described in the Disney Parks Blog post from last week as “a separately ticketed event [from the rest of Disneyland After Dark] which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.”
This event will take place on June 13 and 15 within Disneyland, and Disneyland Guests will be pleased by the “themed entertainment, Disney characters, one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, specialty menu items, event merchandise and more” — but plenty of Disney Fanatics who dislike Governor Ron DeSantis and his policies will probably also be happy about Disney’s suspect timing when it comes to Pride Nite event-related announcements or promotions!
One Twitter user described the Pride Nite event and Disney’s timing as some “next-level trolling of DeSantis,” applauding the strategy that seems to mock the Florida lawmaker, and many other Twitter users seemed to agree with their praise.
Disney Land Hosting Its First Ever After Dark Pride Night… is Next Level Trolling Of DeSantis.
I’m Here For It 🌈 pic.twitter.com/2z6z2Xk1DM— M-A.Stay’Legit™️🇨🇦 (@BagdMilkSoWhat) April 18, 2023
Are you going to be attending Disneyland’s Pride Nite in June? Have you been keeping a close eye on news relating to the Florida legislature, the Walt Disney Company, and Disney-related individuals like former Disney CEO Bob Chapek or current Disney CEO Bob Iger?