Guests driving into Walt Disney World over the weekend witnessed Nazis protesting just outside of the iconic Walt Disney World sign.
On Saturday, September 2, many gathered near the Apopka Vineland Rd entrance, just outside Walt Disney World property, waving swastikas and DeSantis 2024 flags.
Protestors Spotted Outside Of Walt Disney World
Photos were shared by user elREALguille over the weekend, showing many protesters gathering outside of the Walt Disney World sign.
Because they were standing just outside of the Walt Disney World sign, they were technically not on Disney’s private property, and therefore, they couldn’t be told to leave.
More Protestors Take Over Disney World’s Sign
Another photo showed the protesters placing a banner over the Mickey Mouse sign, which read “Pedo World,” referencing Disney’s support of LGBTQIA+ individuals. “Pedo World” is a take on “Disney World” as the reference is to the false belief that people within the community are pedophiles.
The letter “o” on the banner is the Star of David, referencing Nazi conspiracy theories about Judaism.
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Initially, The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek was under fire after Disney’s initial statement and Chapek’s email to Cast Members was released regarding the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Disney stated that it understood the issue’s importance to employees and customers, but fans felt the statement was a “slap in the face” as it never actually took a stance on the bill itself.
Many dub the “Don’t Say Gay” bill because it targets the LGBTQ community. Specifically, it states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
When speaking to the controversial Florida bill, which was passed at the end of February 2022, the NPR states, “The legislation prohibits any instruction about sexuality or gender between kindergarten and third grade “or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students by state standards.”
Weeks later, during an Annual Shareholders Meeting, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said he wanted to address the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, saying that Disney was “opposed to the bill from the outset” and that Disney will pledge $5 million to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
“Many are upset that we did not speak out against the bill. We were opposed to the bill from the outset but chose not to take a public position on it because we thought we could be more effective working behind the scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” Chapek stated. “We were hopeful that our longstanding relationships with those lawmakers would enable us to achieve a better outcome, but despite weeks of effort, we were ultimately unsuccessful.”
Now, the Walt Disney Company has expressed support for the LGBTQIA+ community and condemned the Florida bill, which led to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis retaliating against Disney in several ways, including trying to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District in which Walt Disney World resides. Disney has also filed a federal lawsuit against the Board and DeSantis, calling their actions a violation of their constitutional rights.
