Disney lost it’s magic: Families pay $8k to visit, ruined classic movies with woke warnings

A century ago Walt Disney started making cartoons for children, creating a world of magic that spawned blockbusters and resorts across the globe.

But ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ is now stripping middle-class families of as much as $8,000 to visit Disney World in Florida.

Classic movies such as Dumbo and Peter Pan which helped forge the studio’s identity are now tarnished by woke warnings over racism fears.

New movies are bombing at the box office and the woke ideology has left its board in disarray – on a collision course with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Bob Chapek was fired after taking on DeSantis over the ‘don’t say gay’ bill only to be sensationally replaced by Bob Iger – who resigned just three years before.

Since losing more than $10bn during the pandemic, shares in the company have dived by a third in the last year. 

Adding to its woes, the local sheriff has noted the continual appearance of Disney employees when pedophiles are busted in Polk County sting operations. 

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort where guests pay on average $729 per night.  Disney was forced to backtrack on an aggressive pricing strategy after families’ viral posts about paying more than $8,000 for a trip to Disney World. 

A one-day ticket at Disney World has rocketed from $85 in 2011 to $175 in 2023 - more than 40 per cent higher than the rate of inflation

A one-day ticket at Disney World has rocketed from $85 in 2011 to $175 in 2023 – more than 40 per cent higher than the rate of inflation

Racism warnings slapped on classics, first ever openly gay character bombs at box office and movies are remade with diverse casts 

Disney has slapped racism warnings on classics, suffered box office disaster with its first openly gay character and spent millions remaking old movies with diverse casts.

Viewer discretion is now advised on iconic movies that built the Disney brand – including Dumbo, Peter Pan and The Jungle Book – over sensitives around race.

Edits have even been made where lines are ripped out of beloved songs and changed to acknowledge the ‘harmful impact’ of racial stereotypes.

New movies are also accused of pushing this woke agenda, with Strange World tanking at the box office over Thanksgiving despite proudly introducing Disney’s first openly gay character. 

The studio is staring down the barrel of a $100m loss on the movie which made just $11.9m on its opening weekend – well short of previous releases like Encanto ($27.2m) and Lightyear ($51m).

New movies are also accused of pushing this woke agenda, with Strange World tanking at the box office over Thanksgiving despite proudly introducing Disney's first openly gay character Ethan Clade (pictured)

New movies are also accused of pushing this woke agenda, with Strange World tanking at the box office over Thanksgiving despite proudly introducing Disney’s first openly gay character Ethan Clade (pictured)

Film critic and author Christian Toto said of the film bombing: ‘Hollywood doesn’t fully grasp the ‘go woke, go broke’ mantra.’ 

Despite the enduring popularity of classics like Aladdin, Disney has decided to change its song lyrics, or in the case of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – remake it without the dwarfs.

Aladdin’s opening song, Arabian Nights, no longer features a line which referred to a land ‘where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face, it’s barbaric but hey, it’s home.’

In the live-action 2019 remake, they changed the line to: ‘where it’s flat and immense and the heat is intense, it’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.’ 

Movies that now come with an anti-racism warnings include 1970 musical comedy The Aristocats, 1955 canine love story Lady and the Tramp, and 1960 adventure Swiss Family Robinson.

The disclaimer added to these movies appears at the start of the movie and reads: ‘This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.

‘These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.’

In relation to The Aristocats, Disney explained in a press release about the warning that it contains a scene where one cat, voiced by a white actor, yelled out stereotypical Chinese ‘words’ while playing the piano with chopsticks.

Viewer discretion is now advised on iconic movies that built the Disney brand - including Dumbo, Peter Pan and The Jungle Book - over sensitives around race

Viewer discretion is now advised on iconic movies that built the Disney brand – including Dumbo, Peter Pan and The Jungle Book – over sensitives around race

It also noted that in Peter Pan, Native Americans Indians are referred to as ‘redskins’ and described a scene in which Peter and The Lost Boys dance in Native American headdresses as a ‘form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples’ culture and imagery.’

Some people also felt that the 1994 movie Lion King had racist undertones due to its overwhelmingly white voice cast.

However, the hyenas – portrayed as low-life gangsters who are outcast from the rest of the community – were voiced by people of color. Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin famously played the animals.

When a live-action version of the movie came out in 2019, it featured more black actors.

Aggressively priced extras and soaring ticket costs whack families for as much as $8,000 

Disney was forced to backtrack on an aggressive pricing strategy after families’ viral posts about paying more than $8,000 for a trip to Disney World.

Resorts have been accused of ‘money grabbing’ with the prices of extras such as overnight parking at hotels, ride photographs and hopping between different parks hammering wallets on top of soaring ticket prices.

A one-day ticket for Disney World has rocketed from $85 in 2011 to $175 in 2023 – more than 40 per cent higher than the rate of inflation.

Middle-class families are feeling priced out of the magic, with one family of four from New Jersey stung with a bill of $8,480 – rising to more than $10,000 including their airfare – after a trip to the resort last year.

A family of four reported shelling out $8,480 on the trip - and when counting airfare, that number increased to over $10,000.

A family of four reported shelling out $8,480 on the trip – and when counting airfare, that number increased to over $10,000.

The mother, who asked not to be named, said: ‘My kids thought Disney was magical and so for me, the cost was worth it, but it’s not the same Disney it was,’ the 39-year-old said, noting that she had been taking trips to Disney World since she was six.

She said they had to spend $200 for private transportation to the park because the airport shuttle no longer exists, and they spent $2,550 for Park Hopper tickets for five days.

DISNEY ROLLS OUT LOWER PRICES AND BETTER PERKS

Disneyland in Anaheim 

– $104 one-day passes will be available around 60 days of the year from February 4

– Visitors with a Park Hopper ticket to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be able to switch parks at 11am, as opposed to 1pm 

– Complimentary photos on rides

Disney World in Orlando

– Annual passholders who arrive after 2pm will also no longer be required to make reservations Monday to Friday

– Free photos with attractions with the purchase of Genie+ 

– Hotel guests will get free overnight parking – which can run up to $25 a day 

The four nights of lodging inside the theme park cost them another $3,780, and once inside the park, they spent another $300 on Genie Plus passes – which let them skip the line at some rides – and $950 on sit-down meals.

They also spent another $700 for souvenirs – opting not to purchase gold-plated Mickey ears which cost $1,000 each.

Last week Disney’s reinstated CEO Bob Iger was forced to offer lower ticket prices and more bang for buck through added perks.

At Disneyland in California parkgoers will now have more days throughout the year where one-day passes will cost $104 – a special ticket price which was usually limited to some school days in winter and spring. A regular ticket on other days will still set people back $179.

Parkgoers will also get complimentary ride photographs, and park hopping rules have been relaxed – allowing guests to explore from 11am as opposed to 1pm.

At Disney World in Orlando, parkgoers will get photos with attractions with the purchase of Genie+, and hotel guests will get free overnight parking – which can run up to $25 a day. Annual passholders who arrive after 2pm will also no longer be required to make reservations Monday to Friday.

In a memo to staff, head of parks Josh D’Amaro said the adjustments reflect ‘things that might need some change’ based on feedback from employees and guests.

‘We want to make sure our fans are feeling the love,’ D’Amaro said. ‘We’re listening to them, and we’re trying to adjust.’

Guests ride the Dumbo ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Friday, April 30, 2021

Guests ride the Dumbo ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Friday, April 30, 2021

The change, which will take place on February 4 allows visitors who buy a Park Hopper ticket to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to switch parks at 11am, as opposed to 1pm.

At Disney World in Orlando, reservation rules for annual passholders instated in the COVID-19 pandemic have also been relaxed to the excitement of parkgoers.

The move to expand the number of days at lower ticket prices and offer more perks comes as Iger works to turn the company around after taking back the reins from ousted Chapek in November.

Ron DeSantis battles Disney’s special tax status in feud sparked by ousted CEO’s opposition to his ‘don’t say gay’ bill

Ron DeSantis has set Disney’s special tax status in Florida in his sights in a feud sparked by the the now-ousted CEO’s opposition to the governor’s ‘don’t say gay’ bill.

DeSantis launched the effort to upend Disney’s self-governing powers after the company’s former boss, Bob Chapek, condemned the legislation which limits teaching about sex and gender identity in the state’s classrooms. 

Disney said it would suspend political donations in the state and that it would support organizations working to oppose the education law.

DeSantis and statehouse Republicans slammed Disney, saying the entertainment giant peddled woke ideologies that are inappropriate for children.

Chapek’s mismanagement of the ‘don’t say gay’ scandal led to him being fired in November with former CEO Bob Iger making an astonishing return to the top spot three years after stepping down.

DeSantis (pictured at an election night watch in Tampa in November 2022) launched the effort to upend Disney's self-governing powers after the company's former boss, Bob Chapek, condemned the legislation which limits teaching about sex and gender identity in the state's classrooms.

DeSantis (pictured at an election night watch in Tampa in November 2022) launched the effort to upend Disney’s self-governing powers after the company’s former boss, Bob Chapek, condemned the legislation which limits teaching about sex and gender identity in the state’s classrooms.

Chapek's mismanagement of the Don't Say Gay scandal led to him being fired in November with former CEO Bob Iger (pictured at Vox Media's 2022 Code Conference) making an astonishing return to the top spot three years after stepping down.

Chapek’s mismanagement of the Don’t Say Gay scandal led to him being fired in November with former CEO Bob Iger (pictured at Vox Media’s 2022 Code Conference) making an astonishing return to the top spot three years after stepping down. 

FORMER DISNEY CEO BOB CHAPEK WALKED AWAY WITH $20M SEVERANCE PACKAGE

When Bob Chapek was ousted as the CEO of Disney last year, he walked away with an enormous $20million in severance. 

That was in addition to the generous $24million compensation package he received throughout the year. 

Chapek was ousted following a disastrous two-year period, during which the company turned off many consumers with its woke new tone.

Under Chapek’s rule, the company’s stock price fell. 

He also battled with Florida lawmakers over the so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’, which Gov. Ron DeSantis championed.

The company claims it has excelled financially without him, and says Iger – who was brought back after the disastrous and brief tenure of Bob Chapek – is the right man to lead. 

Iger – who caused upset by also criticizing the bill shortly before he resigned – handed the keys to Chapek after a slew false starts that saw him continue to steer the company for more than two years after airing plans to retire.

It followed a litany of failings under Chapek, including disappointing financial results and losses in the streaming business. 

Since losing more than $10billion during the pandemic, shares of the company have fallen by a third in the last year.

Under Chapek, Disney also faced a backlash over a lesbian kiss in children’s movie Lightyear and a transgender man buying tampons in TV series Baymax. Those productions were likely signed off during Iger’s tenure.

Iger has worked for Disney for more than four decades, with 15 of those years coming in the company’s hot seat – which is now hotter than ever.

Last month the Financial Times reported that lawmakers were considering allowing Disney to continue with its self-governing district in the Orlando area following the return of Iger.

DeSantis’s office slammed the claims in a statement to DailyMail.com saying: ‘Governor DeSantis does not make “U-turns.”‘ 

Since 1967, Disney has been responsible for the governance of an area known as Reedy Creek.

The district is governed by its 19 landowners, the biggest of them being Disney World.

The creation of Reedy Creek district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando.

Having a separate government allows the company to provide zoning, fire protection, utilities and infrastructure services on its sprawling property. 

DeSantis has vowed to overhaul its self-governing powers and wants to force Disney to pay $700m in unsecured debt that might have otherwise been offloaded to taxpayers.

Bob Chapek speaks at the Disney Legends Awards during Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, U.S. September 9, 2022

Bob Chapek speaks at the Disney Legends Awards during Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, U.S. September 9, 2022 

Since losing more than $10billion during the pandemic, shares of the company have fallen by a third in the last year.

Since losing more than $10billion during the pandemic, shares of the company have fallen by a third in the last year.

Disney’s pedophile problem: Child abusers continually gain employment within the company

Disney has a long-standing problem with child abusers gaining employment within the company.

A massive sting operation by police in 2014 led to at least 35 Disney World employees being arrested over alleged child sex offences.

In June, a Walt Disney World bus driver who allegedly sent a photo of his penis to an undercover cop posing as a 15-year-old girl was arrested.

And the summer before, three Disney theme park employees were among 17 arrested in Florida after they attempted to set up meetings with detectives posing as teens online.

In June, Zachary Hudson was in his Disney bus uniform when Orange County deputies arrested him at the Disney's Magic Kingdom. The 30-year-old allegedly sent images of his genitalia to an undercover cop he thought was a teen while on shift at Disney on June 4th and June 5th, officials said.

In June, Zachary Hudson was in his Disney bus uniform when Orange County deputies arrested him at the Disney’s Magic Kingdom. The 30-year-old allegedly sent images of his genitalia to an undercover cop he thought was a teen while on shift at Disney on June 4th and June 5th, officials said. 

Disney has previously insisted that Disney World is so large – with around 80,000 employees – that those arrested represent a tiny fraction of its staff.

But Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has argued for compulsory lie detector tests for staff because pedophiles have obvious reasons for wanting to work at the resort.

Animal Kingdom Lodge lifeguard Kenneth Javier Aquino of Orlando, 26, (pictured) and two other Disney employees were among a group of 17 suspects arrested in a massive child sex sting in Florida

Animal Kingdom Lodge lifeguard Kenneth Javier Aquino of Orlando, 26, (pictured) and two other Disney employees were among a group of 17 suspects arrested in a massive child sex sting in Florida

In June, Zachary Hudson was in his Disney bus uniform when Orange County deputies arrested him at the Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

The 30-year-old allegedly sent images of his genitalia to an undercover cop he thought was a teen while on shift at Disney on June 4th and June 5th, officials said. 

His arrest was part of a two-week undercover investigation called, ‘Operation Child Protector II.’

In a news conference afterwards, Sheriff Judd said: ‘What would an operation be, either a pornography investigation or a predator operation, or a human trafficking operation without a Disney employee.’

‘We always have a Disney employee. Sometimes more,’ he added.

In August 2021, three employees of Walt Disney World in Orlando were among 17 suspects arrested in a massive child sex sting in Florida.

Jonathan McGrew, 34, (pictured) and his girlfriend Sarah Lawrence, 29 - who are both custodians at Disney's Hollywood studios - allegedly tried to arrange a threesome with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl on August 1

Sarah Lawrence, 29, (pictured)  told police that she was just a 'follower' of her boyfriend, Jonathan McGrew

McGrew, 34, (left) and girlfriend Lawrence, 29, (right) both of Kissimmee and both custodians at Disney’s Hollywood studios, allegedly tried to arrange a threesome with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl on August 1. 

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests stemming from ‘Operation Child Protector’ at a news conference on Tuesday.

Three of the suspects – Kenneth Javier Aquino, Jonathan McGrew and Sarah Lawrence – stood out among the group because they are each employed by Disney.

Aquino, a 26-year-old Animal Kingdom Lodge lifeguard, was wearing his Disney polo shirt, swim trunks and crocs when he was arrested by undercover detectives on July 27, Polk County Sheriff Judd said at a press conference.

McGrew, 34, and girlfriend Lawrence, 29, both of Kissimmee and both custodians at Disney’s Hollywood studios, allegedly tried to arrange a threesome with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl on August 1. 

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