Disney in the dark: America's Most Famous Park Celebrates

"Gay Days" (CBN - June 8, 1998)

They're called "Gay Days." The city of Orlando is rolling out the red carpet in honor of gay pride month. Symbolic flags adorn light posts throughout downtown Orlando, and Waft Disney World kicked off the month with a week of "Gay Days" events at its four theme parks. But many Orlando residents question whether gay pride is something worth celebrating.

Kim Ferrall, reporter

This is the Walt Disney World that Disney officials don't want you to see:

men holding hands, women kissing each other... in the world's most famous theme park, "gay pride" is on parade.

Why are Disney officials keeping this a secret? Because on Saturday, the wholesome image of Mickey Mouse and his entire Disney family took a radical turn as Disney opened its doors to an estimated 120,000 homosexuals and lesbians for the eighth annual "Gay Days" at Waft Disney World. Although the media was not allowed in the park, but some undercover video taken by CBN News was too graphic to show.

The four-day event featured more than 50 parties, including theme park activities like "Beach Ball '98" in Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and a "Night of Pleasure" on Disney's Pleasur~Js1ani

Calling it just another "great day" in Waft Disney World, Disney would not confirm how many people were in the park, nor would officials agree to an interview with CBN News. Visitors to the park received no warnings or explanations about the event. All they said was that "it had the feeling of a very normal day."

Disney officials say that Waft Disney World isn't supporting "Gay Days," but they're quick to point out that the Waft Disney Company doesn't discriminate against any group. And why should they? Over 100,000 gays and lesbians turned out to show their financial support of The Magic Kingdom.

Controversy has engulfed the city of Orlando as well. Earlier in the week, the city council voted to fly rainbow flags all over downtown throughout the month of June. Supporters of the muti-colored flags say they represent freedom and unity through diversity. City attorney Scott Gabrielson says that Orlando has a responsibility to be fair to all groups.

"You've got to treat different viewpoints equally," he says. "You cannot suddenly cut somebody's message off because you don't like the message. And the courts, I feft, would issue an injunction if they perceived we were doing that."

Bu Gabrielson admits that City Hall was receiving calls nine-to-one against flying the controversial flags. Opponents accused the city of promoting homosexuality.

"I think that Orlando, being the kind of city that's the world's #1 tourist destination -- what kind of message does that send?" asks local pastor Randolph Bracy. "It's not the flag -- it's what the flag represents."

Operation Rescue, which showed up to protest both at City Hall and Waft Disney World, says most Americans think of Orlando and Disney as being synonymous with wholesome family entertainment, not perversion.

"They are pushing this down the hearts of our kids," says Operation Rescue president Flip Benham. "And who better than Disney World to push this acceptance of what God calls an abomination on our children?"

Sheriffs deputies in riot gear showed up along World Drive, Disney's main gate, on Saturday, as some 150 Christians stood holding anti-Mickey signs and waving at motorists entering the park, many of whom honked in support. Others made obscene gestures.

Gay rights advocates were also on hand touting gay pride flags, calling this a "controversy over ignorance."

"They [protesters] are about hate," said one gay rights advocate. "We're about love. We're about freedom. We're about individual personal rights."

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for the gay community to come together with the bisexual and heterosexual communities," says Bob Kunst, the president of a group that calls itself The Oral Majority. '1And Disney, which is a role model for corporations, opening it up to everybody, and saying, 'hey, this is a microcosm in Orlando for the rest of the country."

Several protestors with Operation Rescue paid the $42 one-park admission to spend the day ministering to homosexuals who were attending Gay Days. Their message: homosexuals can be set free.

"Everything that Mr. Waft Disney taught about, I mean, I'm sure he's rolling over in his grave if he knew what was happening right now," says protestor Emmanuel Yates. "Disney World is a big fake lie. It's all about money, and that's what they're saying. As long as you pay them enough, you can do whatever you want in Disney World."