Disney opens weddings to gay couples - Political Forum

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 04-06-2007, 03:10 PM

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Disney opens weddings to gay couples
By GARY GENTILE, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - Same-sex couples who want to exchange vows in front of Cinderella's Castle now have the chance. The Walt Disney Co. had limited its Fairy Tale Wedding program to couples with valid marriage licenses, but it is now making ceremonies at its parks available to gay couples as well.

"We believe this change is consistent with Disney's long-standing policy of welcoming every guest in an inclusive environment," Disney Parks and Resorts spokesman Donn Walker said Friday. "We want everyone who comes to celebrate a special occasion at Disney to feel welcome and respected." The company said it made the change after being contacted by a gay couple who wanted to use the wedding service, which offers ceremonies at Disneyland in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disney's cruise ships.

The service offers flowers, dining, music and many optional Disney touches, from ceremonies in front of the parks' iconic attractions to having Mickey and Minnie Mouse in formal wear as guests. The packages start at $8,000 and can cost more than $45,000.

Groups not affiliated with Disney have held annual "gay days" celebrations at Disney parks for years. Company officials have taken a tolerant attitude to the weekend, allowing party promoters to rent out parks after hours and rebuffing religious groups that condemned Disney.

In 2005, Southern Baptists ended an eight-year boycott of the Walt Disney Co. for violating "moral righteousness and traditional family values."

I wonder if Disney will be boycotted again by some right-wing groups.

Izzibeth · 04-06-2007, 03:16 PM

No way Disney will pass up "between $8,000 and $45,000" per hit. It will definitely attract a LOT of gay couples to the parks now.. and they will definitely rack in the dough.

But, good that people can go there and partake in it anyway.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 04-06-2007, 03:29 PM

Well, I wonder how often gay couples would get publicly married in a ceremony like that anyway.

I also have to wonder how profitable that would be for Disney. If a random person is at the Disney Park with his family and he sees a gay couple on top of a huge cake getting married, what are the odds he's not coming back?

Izzibeth · 04-06-2007, 03:38 PM

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Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

Well, I wonder how often gay couples would get publicly married in a ceremony like that anyway.

I also have to wonder how profitable that would be for Disney. If a random person is at the Disney Park with his family and he sees a gay couple on top of a huge cake getting married, what are the odds he's not coming back?

Technically, the ceremony is just a ceremony at Disney unless the state recognizes the marriage... so I think many gay couples would take part in it just to have a "marriage ceremony" at Disney.

And as for the guy who may not come back.... yeah right. And even if he didn't.. I doubt Disney is worried. There will probably be plenty of people who say "I'm never going to Disney again because of this!" but it's tongue-in-cheek. It's Disney.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 04-06-2007, 03:45 PM

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Originally Posted by Izzibeth

Technically, the ceremony is just a ceremony at Disney unless the state recognizes the marriage... so I think many gay couples would take part in it just to have a "marriage ceremony" at Disney.

And as for the guy who may not come back.... yeah right. And even if he didn't.. I doubt Disney is worried. There will probably be plenty of people who say "I'm never going to Disney again because of this!" but it's tongue-in-cheek. It's Disney.

I wouldn't take it too lightly. I mean, who wants to go to Disney Land anyway? Seaworld, yeah ok, you gotta go to Seaworld. Where else are you gonna see manatees, Killer whales and whatnot? But people can do without Disney, especially since their movies suck now anyway.

It wouldn't be too hard to boycott Disney, IMO. Especially for right-wingers and church-goers. Just my 2 cents though. I could be wrong, or not.

Ygorl · 04-06-2007, 04:45 PM

Actually, disneys "gay friendliness" has been noted awhile ago by "right wingers" and "church goers" even just regular people with common sense values.

Like Ford motors, I think they're under a kind of silent boycott.

Troianii · 04-06-2007, 11:23 PM

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Originally Posted by Izzibeth

No way Disney will pass up "between $8,000 and $45,000" per hit. It will definitely attract a LOT of gay couples to the parks now.. and they will definitely rack in the dough.

But, good that people can go there and partake in it anyway.

Not as many as you would think. It gets alot of attention, but it hasn't happened that much.

And I don't think that this move by Disney is really about gay marriages, it's about publicity. The amount of publicity that they are going to get from this is worth far more than the amount of money that they are going to make from the weddings.

Stoner · 04-07-2007, 12:10 AM

Well Disney has always advertised "Fairy Tale" weddings.

Sorry. I couldn't resist. It was there for the taking and I went for it.

panteth4h2o · 04-08-2007, 03:06 AM

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Groups not affiliated with Disney have held annual "gay days" celebrations at Disney parks for years.

Well, I guess if this is the case, the acceptance of gay ceremonies is not anything unexpected from them. I've heard for a while, that the corporate culture of Disney has been kind of supportive on gay issues anyways.

Troianii · 04-08-2007, 08:06 PM

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Originally Posted by panteth4h2o

Well, I guess if this is the case, the acceptance of gay ceremonies is not anything unexpected from them. I've heard for a while, that the corporate culture of Disney has been kind of supportive on gay issues anyways.

As a group gays usually have more money to spare, so from a corporate perspective they're a very good group to try to sell to if you can attract enough of them, as they are a small group. I also find that they are quite supportive of gay issues.