Fans Consider Staying Away From Disney World Due to “Florida’s Anti-LGBTQ Policies”

Walt Disney World Resort is a place of magic and dreams; the Disney Resort has well-earned its moniker, “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” whether because of the wonderful attractions and rides Guests can enjoy while at any Walt Disney World Theme Park or even because of what a fantastic destination it makes to celebrate a milestone, and have that quintessential Disney vacation. However, most news surrounding Walt Disney World has recently focused on the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis feud.

Read More: “Off the Rails”: Journalist Slams Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Disney vs. DeSantis

Much has been said about the Disney vs. DeSantis feud. Both parties have gone back and forth to gain the upper hand. Earlier this year, after Governor Ron DeSantis dissolved the board for the Reedy Creek Improvement District and put in place his hand-picked board of the newly-minted Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Disney came back with an ingenious move that voided much of the power the board held with their “King Charles clause”—invoking King Charles III and his heirs to protect their self-governing status. But this didn’t go down well with DeSantis and his board, and they moved to void the agreement the board signed with Disney. Disney, in turn, sued DeSantis, and the board retaliated by suing Walt Disney World.

It’s been a whirlwind of events.

Disney, Florida, and LGBTQ-identifying Fans

But in the midst of this, there’s one detail that has one section of Disney fans apprehensive about visiting Walt Disney World Resort again—many LGBTQ-identifying fans are concerned that Walt Disney World may not be the safest Disney location for them and are considering going to other Disney Resorts across the globe.

NBC News reported on the matter. As the outlet shared, due to “Florida’s anti-LGBTQ policies,” i.e. the expansion by Florida lawmakers of the “Don’t Say Gay” law and the “passing and proposing several anti-LGBTQ bills that target issues such as pronoun use in schools, transgender bathroom policies, drag shows and gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth,” some fans are concerned Walt Disney World may not be the right Disney vacation.

Related: Disney vs. DeSantis: Did Governor DeSantis Send the National Guard to Block Entrances to Disney World?

Gays Days CEO Joseph Clark shared with NBC News, “Not just with last year’s ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ but obviously everything that’s happened in the past few months, in the past year…I know that there is some fear in guests of how welcoming Florida as a state is to the LGBTQ+ audience.”

Another Disney fan from San Antonio, Uriel Diaz shared, “I do believe that it will be a safe space, but everything around it, everything else you have to do to get there is scary right now.”

It’s important to note that while some Guests have expressed fear regarding going to Disney World, others did note they were “pleasantly surprised” by how comfortable they felt at the Florida Disney Resort, crediting Disney with the accepting atmosphere.

Travel bloggers Steph and Katie Burlton of Vancouver, Canada, shared, “We were pleasantly surprised by the public opinion.” Steph Burlton added, “The rules set by Disney kind of inform the public opinion on it because people go in there knowing that they can’t just say things to people or they’ll get kicked out.”

It’s certainly a polarizing time for many Disney fans who love the Central Florida Disney Resort.