Upcoming roller coasters Guardians of the Galaxy and Tron are just two projects in Disney World’s pipeline that could be delayed if employees protesting the company’s response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law prevail.
Protesters have urged the company to stop making donations to politicians involved in passing the law, such as Gov. Ron DeSantis – but they also want Disney to halt all “construction and investment in the state of Florida” until the law is repealed .
The law, expected to go into effect in July, would ban teaching about sex, gender identity and sexual orientation “in a way that is not age appropriate”. Critics say the open language, which also prevents “class discussion” of the issues, would prevent children from confiding in teachers when they feel insecure about their identity.
However, Gov. Ron DeSantis says the goal of the bill is to “empower parents” in their children’s education and get teachers to see the difference between “teaching” and “discussion.”
Disney employees have called on the company not to take stronger action against the legislation. On Monday, CEO Bob Chapek said it was a “mistake” not to oppose the bill sooner.
He also pledged to put together a task force to create more LGBTQ content for kids.
Despite these concessions, workers were still taking part in a company-wide strike on Tuesday. About 60 employees gathered at a park outside of Los Angeles, Reuters reports, and dozens of other employees left their jobs at the company’s Burbank studio.
The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is slated to open at Disney World’s EPCOT Park this summer, Disney says. The Tron Lightcycle/Run ride doesn’t have an opening date yet, although the park says it has now started testing the ride vehicles on the tracks.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is slated to open this summer at Disney World’s EPCOT Park near Orlando, Florida. Above a promotional poster for the project
A planned Tron Lightcycle/Run ride doesn’t have an opening date yet, but the company says rides are currently being tested. It is set to open in Magic Kingdoms Tomorrowland
Dozens of employees marched through the company’s theme parks and offices in front of Disney headquarters in Burbank, Calif., Tuesday as part of a day-long strike to protest the company’s slow response to Florida’s Don’t Say Gay law
Protest organizers are calling for an end to all “construction and investment in the state of Florida until the hateful legislation is repealed.”
Cosmic Rewind will be Disney’s first-ever reverse launch coaster. It will also have drivers rotating in their cars as they hurtle down the track.
According to the company, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly adventure with a whole new breed of roller coaster experience that we’re developing just for this attraction – it’s a story coaster that rotates 360 degrees so you’re always focused.” all the action as you help the Guardians save the galaxy.’
The semi-enclosed Tron ride is a version of the Lightcycle Power Run ride that opened at Shanghai Disneyland in 2016, according to Disney theme park blog Inside the Magic.
It is operated in the Tomorrowland section of Magic Kingdom.
“This roller coaster-style attraction allows riders to board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for an exhilarating race across the digital frontier,” the company says.
The ride was first announced in 2017 and construction began in 2018, though it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Inside the Magic.
Both roller coasters are based on the films of the same name. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana, will hit theaters in 2023.
In addition to the two roller coasters, Disney’s recent planning permission application shows other projects on Magic Kingdom Drive to be built by New Horizon Construction Services.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek told employees during a virtual town hall that he regrets not publicly speaking out against Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law and that the company will set up a task force to investigate will focus on more LGBTQ content
Disney has reportedly reintroduced a gay kiss in its upcoming Toy Story spinoff amid criticism. Hawthorne (voiced by Uzo Aduba), a character in the film Lightyear, has a relationship with another female character in the film
It’s unclear what the projects will be – although the addresses listed are used by restaurants Gaston’s Tavern and Be Our Guest in the parks.
Disney, protesting the company’s response to Florida’s Don’t Say Gay law, is calling for an end to “construction and investment” until the law is repealed.
In a March 11 statement, CEO Bob Chapek said Disney needed to use its influence to “encourage” inclusive stories, adding that the company would “fight similar laws in other states.”
On Monday, Chapek said Disney will set up a task force to be led by film executive Paul Roeder and Disney Parks marketing director Lisa Becket. The task force would be responsible for ensuring that more LGBTQ awareness content is available to children.
Reports surfaced last week that Disney was reintroducing a kissing scene between two women in upcoming Toy Story spinoff Lightyear – after Pixar employees accused the parent company of cutting gay characters from films.
Pixar employees released an open letter this month claiming that “almost every moment of overtly gay affection is being cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when both the creative teams and Pixar management protest.”
Since then, protests and strikes have increased in the company.
On Tuesday, dozens of employees marched in front of Disney’s Burbank, Calif. headquarters, shouting “Say Gay!” in a day-long strike through the company’s theme parks and offices.
Disney employee Tiffany Cooper holds a sign in Glendale, California on Tuesday to protest the company’s stance on LGBTQ issues
Employees gathered in Griffith Park held signs that read “#DisneySayTrans” and “Disney Rejects Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Law.”
Disney employee Nicholas Maldonado holds a sign while protesting outside Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday
Others gathered at a Glendale park with signs that read “#DisneySayTrans” and “Disney Rejects Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Law.”
Outside the grounds of Walt Disney World near Orlando, Disney employee Nicholas Maldonado was a lone protester Tuesday, carrying a rainbow flag and holding a sign that read “Trans rights are human rights” and “#DisneyDoBetter.”
“Where was Chapek when the bill was introduced?” said Maldonado, who had a day off from his merchandising job at a Disney Orlando store and, while disappointed by Chapek’s initial reaction, said he felt Disney executives were beginning to address the concerns of employees at the store company to hear.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Disney said the company “opposes any legislation that violates basic human rights” and stands “in solidarity” with LGBTQ employees “who make their voices heard today, every day.”
Half a dozen Disney employees gathered at an Orlando LGBTQ center Tuesday morning to write letters in support of queer students. ‘You’re unbelievable. You Matter and We Care” and “It Gets Better” can be read next to a drawing of a rainbow.
“We’re creators, and we felt like we could be creative and productive and write letters of encouragement to LGBTQ youth,” said Gabe, a product development manager at Walt Disney World, who declined to use his last name for fear of his privacy intrusion.
In Burbank, employees marched in front of the company’s studios.
“We had a great group out here to show our support for our queer employees and their families,” said Nora Rogers, executive producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios.