In recent years, The Walt Disney Company has experienced a significant shift in its corporate culture and business practices, embracing left-wing values surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in almost every aspect of its operations. From theme parks to video content, Disney’s woke agenda has become a prominent feature of the company’s identity, leading many American parents to avoid or boycott Disney’s services and products.
Bob Iger’s recent return as CEO seems to have accelerated this trend, with reports suggesting that DEI principles are being integrated into Disney’s operations at an unprecedented rate. This has been met with mixed reactions from customers and stakeholders alike. For instance, the blogmickey website has reported on a noticeable reduction in patriotic decorations and celebrations at Walt Disney World Resort, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Florida, during the Fourth of July holiday period.
According to blogmickey’s coverage, Disney has cut back on park hours and reduced the number of patriotic decorations displayed around the resort in recent years. The website also noted that while the US flag was prominently displayed throughout Main Street USA in a 1989 video, this year it is only present in Town Square – a significant reduction from previous years. This change in decorating practices may be due to the influence of DEI principles on Disney’s management team, as these values prioritize inclusivity and representation over traditional American symbols and themes.
Real Clear Education has identified a correlation between DEI ideologies and Marxism, which could help explain why US flags are being scaled back at Disney theme parks during national holidays. The blogmickey report on Disney’s reduced patriotic celebrations is in line with other recent reports about corporate America’s growing resistance to DEI initiatives (as discussed in “Backlash Is Real”: DEI Exodus Gains Steam Across Corporate America.
Further evidence of the impact of woke ideologies on Disney can be found in wait time data for popular rides at Walt Disney World Resort. Thrill Data has reported that this year’s Fourth of July holiday saw underwhelming wait times, with average wait times lower than any other year over the past decade. This suggests that Disney’s focus on DEI principles may have detracted from its core mission to provide entertainment and amusement for its customers.
In conclusion, the injection of left-wing DEI principles into The Walt Disney Company’s business operations has significantly altered the company’s identity and reputation among American consumers. While some stakeholders argue that embracing diverse perspectives is an essential part of modern corporate culture, others believe that putting woke ideologies ahead of entertainment value has led to the decline of a once-iconic American institution. The growing backlash against DEI initiatives across corporate America raises questions about the long-term viability of this approach and its potential impact on business performance in the future.
