Disney drops ‘Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls’ from its park greetings in move to be more gender-inclusive
Disney Parks around the globe have made magical leaps to ensure that all guests and employees feel included at their parks.
And on Thursday, as fireworks returned to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, one move became exceptionally clear to guests.
The park’s automated announcements, which play before all performances, were missing the traditional phrase, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.” Instead, they began simply with, “Good evening, dreamers of all ages.”
Watch the clip below to hear the before and after, back to back.
Disney removes ”Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls” from Happily Ever After pre show announcement.
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls FOREVER! pic.twitter.com/joWLcYBgMf— Showcase of Wishes (@ShowcaseWishes) June 30, 2021
Similar changes in Disney’s language have already begun to roll out in parks around the world, including Tokyo Disney Resort, and will be added to all pre-recorded announcements in the original Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., effective immediately.
According to a Disney spokesperson, via Newsweek, the moves are part of the company’s effort to promote diversity at its parks as part of Disney’s Diversity & Inclusion policy, which was first announced in April.
"Inclusion is essential to our culture and leads us forward as we continue to realize our rich legacy of engaging storytelling, exceptional service, and Disney magic,” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, wrote in an April blog post on the company’s website.
"We want our guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions reflected in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interactions with Disney," he continued. "And we want our cast members—and future cast members—to feel a sense of belonging at work." (Yahoo Life has reached out to Disney Parks and is awaiting comment.)
Fireworks will officially return to Disneyland in Anaheim on July 4, Independence Day.
The fireworks had previously been put on hold in order to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of now, parks are slowly beginning to ease their safety protocols. Face masks, for example, are now optional in most areas for guests of the California and Florida parks who are fully vaccinated.
Of course, the changes have received both good and bad reactions from park guests. Here are just a few:
Wow what a difference, the guests at Tokyo Disney Resort didn’t have a problem with the removal of “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls”, back in March…
— Steven (@_steven_tapia_) July 2, 2021
I just saw that Disney World removed the phrase "ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls" from before the fireworks. And yeah it was a little odd to hear after all these years, but I'm just so happy to be included now.
— Levi's angel (@girl_who_fought) July 2, 2021
Today in Disney parks drama: they recently reintroduced fireworks shows and during the MK show they removed the phrase “ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” as a really basic inclusivity measure
And there are folks demanding refunds of their entire vacations over it— ein (commission hiatus) (@_knucklebone) July 2, 2021
Oh F you. Keep catering to the 666 psychos who hate civil society.
Disney is run by terrible people.
Disney World drops 'ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls' from recorded greeting as park pushes to be 'place where everyone is welcome' https://t.co/78SdCEyezH— NAME REDACTED (@ajroo) July 2, 2021
I’m about 99.99% positive no trans, binary,gay whatever the rest are ever came out & complained they didn’t feel “included” while at Disney bc of some “announcement”stating”boys and girls”. All of this “racist”& “inclusion” hype all of a sudden is gov made. To change our country.
— kaymarie (@kaymarie631) July 2, 2021
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