What would Walt think about Gay Days

[DutchGuy]

This may have been discussed before, but I'm new here (well, new as a poster, since a few weeks, I do read the columns for about three years now). I was wondering (and I'm a gay gay myself) what Walt would think about Gay Days being held at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. I'm posting this is the Disneyland forum because Walt didn't get to see WDW operate himself. Would he approve?

(I am in no way trying to stir up controversy, I'm just curious)

[Chesire]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Walt Disney built his park for everyone and anyone- families, couples, the poor, the rich, etc. He wanted it to be a place where everyone could have a good time, and I believe that included gays.

[Pizzapants]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

He would think "Alright! The turnstiles are a-turning! Cha-ching!"

[produceguy]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Walt Disney built his park for everyone and anyone- families, couples, the poor, the rich, etc. He wanted it to be a place where everyone could have a good time, and I believe that included gays.

I agree completely!

[sir clinksalot]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Sadly I think he would have hated it.

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Who knows and why does it even matter?

[DutchGuy]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

That's cool! I wondered because you know, in Walt's days, it wasn't accepted at all. I was wondering if he ever said anything about the subject.

[calsig31]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Sadly I think he would have hated it.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. It was a much different time back then and much less understanding.

That's cool! I wondered because you know, in Walt's days, it wasn't accepted at all. I was wondering if he ever said anything about the subject.

That kind of thing wasn't talked about publicly back then.

[Witches of Morva]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

ORDDU: I believe the answer to this question is more complex than it might first appear. On the one hand I can't see Uncle Walt publically condemning the gay community by choosing to visit his park. On a more personal note, however, I'm under the impression that he didn't actually approve of the gay life style. I don't recall where I received this impression but I think it was something I read. I don't think he would have approved of any public public display of affection between gays at his parks. At the same time, he really wouldn't have been able to do anything about it since there is nothing illegal with anyone displaying public affection. It's probably a good thing he died before gay days became a regular event at Disneyland and WDW because I suspect he would not have been happy about it. Then, again, who knows for certain? It's one of those things we can only speculate about. We do know that society was very different back when Walt was still alive and I recall how guests were reacting to gay couples dancing at Videopolis for the first time back in 1987. They were not exactly greeted with open approval even at that time in Disneyland's history. By now things are very different. Even so there are still some people out there who will never accept the gay community.

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Unfortunately, I have to agree. It was a much different time back then and much less understanding.


That kind of thing wasn't talked about publicly back then.

It honestly depended on where you were in the world during that time.

[DutchGuy]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Who knows and why does it even matter?

It doesn't matter in a way if you think it doesn't matter the MK will be serving alcohol while Walt said no to that. I was just wondering if he had ever said anything about this, since Gay Days never stirred up controversy (as far as I know) the way alcohol in the MK does right now.

[sbk1234]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

Sadly I think he would have hated it.

While I'd agree with your feelings on Walt's views, I think that particular answer is based upon how a conservative man in 1966 would have felt. However, if we add to this another 45+ years of knowledge, and evolved thinking, his views may have ended up a bit more enlightened.

[Witches of Morva]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

ORDDU: This question actually DOES matter to anyone who is thoughtful enough to wonder about it. Obviously some of us do. There are many things about society that have changed that make us all wonder how people would react about certain things now as opposed to how they would have reacted way back whenever...

[DutchGuy]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

ORDDU: I believe the answer to this question is more complex than it might first appear. On the one hand I can't see Uncle Walt publically condemning the gay community by choosing to visit his park. On a more personal note, however, I'm under the impression that he didn't actually approve of the gay life style. I don't recall where I received this impression but I think it was something I read. I don't think he would have approved of any public public display of affection between gays at his parks. At the same time, he really wouldn't have been able to do anything about it since there is nothing illegal with anyone displaying public affection. It's probably a good thing he died before gay days became a regular event at Disneyland and WDW because I suspect he would not have been happy about it. Then, again, who knows for certain? It's one of those things we can only speculate about. We do know that society was very different back when Walt was still alive and I recall how guests were reacting to gay couples dancing at Videopolis for the first time back in 1987. They were not exactly greeted with open approval even at that time in Disneyland's history. By now things are very different. Even so there are still some people out there who will never accept the gay community.

Maybe Walt (and I agree with this) wouldn't aprove of any PDA at his parks. I sure know that when I visit Disneyland Paris with my boyfriend, we walk hand in hand like any straight couple does, but I wouldn't engage in any public kissing or worse (that's what the hotels are for, right?). The reason I started this thread is, that I was wondering if Walt (and I guess he would, given the times he lived in) would be more upset with gay couples engaging with inappropriate behavious than he would be with straight couples.

Having said that, I believe anything more than holding hand is inappropriate behaviour for any couple, gay or straight, at a Disney park.

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

ORDDU: This question actually DOES matter to anyone who is thoughtful enough to wonder about it. Obviously some of us do. There are many things about society that have changed that make us all wonder how people would react about certain things now as opposed to how they would have reacted way back whenever...

I'm gay and thoughtful, yet I do not think about how Walt Disney thought about homosexuals in the 50's or 60's. It doesn't change anything on how Disney is today. If we want to talk about a direct quote from Mr. Disney himself, then I'm all for it.

[Meville]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

There was an audio clip from an old interview that I heard on one of the Disney Podcasts that presented Walt in darker light when it came to that; however as a product of his time I do not fault him for it. The important thing is that in the present day, EVERYONE is comfortable enough to be themselves while at Disneyland.

[fifthrider]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

I would hate to speculate on what Walt thought. It's done too often, and even those who were close to him ( and wrote books about him ) have admitted everyone asked the question "what would Walt do?" after his passing but no one really knew. Even the question of what Walt would have thought of a gay-day stirs things up in a modern society. I'd prefer to just live not knowing or caring about the answer. I have no angle to validate, I'm good with the park and the people in it most of the time.

[DutchGuy]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

On another note: I'm a European, planning on going to visit the USA for a couple of times in the next few years. The first time I will be visiting WDW with my mother, so no problem there. The second time however, I would like to visit Los Angeles with my boyfriend. I would not be stupid enough to visit L.A. and walking hand in hand in the streets, but is it okay to do so in Disneyland on any given day? We're used to doing so in the Netherlands all the time, so I was just wondering how people would look at you? If it would mean people were shocked, I wouldn't do so, seeing as I'm a guest in the USA at that point, so... can we?

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

On another note: I'm a European, planning on going to visit the USA for a couple of times in the next few years. The first time I will be visiting WDW with my mother, so no problem there. The second time however, I would like to visit Los Angeles with my boyfriend. I would not be stupid enough to visit L.A. and walking hand in hand in the streets, but is it okay to do so in Disneyland on any given day? We're used to doing so in the Netherlands all the time, so I was just wondering how people would look at you? If it would mean people were shocked, I wouldn't do so, seeing as I'm a guest in the USA at that point, so... can we?

I do it with my boyfriend whenever I want and wherever. Disneyland is no exception. It's all about comfort level.

[DutchGuy]

Re: What would Walt think about Gay Days

I do it with my boyfriend whenever I want and wherever. Disneyland is no exception. It's all about comfort level.

Okay so people wouldn't be offended? I mean, I'm not an American, I don't want to be offending your social rules.