Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and the Disney studios have struggled with a major identity crisis these past few years. In the wake of 2020, various social movements, and media backlash, many Disney fans have claimed that the magic is gone.
After a season of flops at the theme parks and the box office, Disney is finally starting to wake up and smell the Joffrey’s. 2022-2023 might have been an experimental era for The Walt Disney Company and the studio, but audience reception has not been what the higher-ups expected.
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It can be so easy to blame the go-woke-go-broke crowd and just as effortless to say that Disney needs to return to the traditional/conservative values set by Walt, but the real source of the problem is that Disney has forgotten who its primary demographic truly is. Now, the studio is seeing the error of its ways.
Reestablishing the Magic for Disney World and Disney Studio
Many die-hard Disney buffs would argue that the studio, films, and parks haven’t been the same since roughly 2018, and some of the changes made during the past few years have left a bad taste. While some of Disney’s latest creative choices might have been made in the name of inclusivity, critical and financial failures took more than a bite out of Disney’s wallet.
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With films like Strange World (2022), Lightyear (2022), and Wish (2023) failing to live up to expectations and forcing Disney out of its usual billion-dollar territory, the “Flop Era” ultimately tarnished the studio’s previously magical reputation. However, the problems didn’t end there.
After the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, the Disney Imagineers had the opportunity to completely reshape and reimagine how we experience Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort. Instead, the parks were assaulted by problematic allegations, a Star Wars hotel that went belly up, and deteriorating attractions that were absolute nightmare fuel.
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Fans were appalled and outraged at the closure of Splash Mountain over “racist caricatures,” Disneyland’s Pride Nite drama, the Fantasmic! dragon bursting into flames, and a political battle royal with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, just to name a few. After all of that, many have been left wondering if Disney can ever find its magic again.
The Healing Begins
So many people have taken to social media with outcries of “That’s not what Walt would have wanted,” but the issue goes far beyond that. Disney has indeed strayed away from its core value, which is appealing to the massive family-friendly and family-oriented demographic that Walt Disney built his empire on.
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In truth, there’s no way to know what Walt would want without a seance or an Ouija board, but there’s a place for experimenting and appealing to alternative audiences just as much as there is appealing to the traditional family unit.
All companies should strive for inclusion, but inclusivity, by definition, means there should be no room for exclusivity, and families with traditional values have been more than vocal about their position. However, Disney is making efforts to change that.
The Walt Disney Company has seen success with Pixar Animation Studio’s Inside Out 2 (2024), which is still climbing the box office and shattering records with each new viewing. This is because Pixar has chosen to tell a more universal story instead of one that tries to push some sort of message or be a mouthpiece for a minority group.
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On the park side, Disney is slowly returning to the FastPass+ program with an updated Lightning Lane system. Doing away with the controversial and complicated Genie+ might be just the start, but it’s a step in the right direction.
The point is that Disney is slowly realizing that it’s been playing to the wrong crowd. That’s not to say viewers or consumers of different cultures, ethnicities, or beliefs shouldn’t be represented, but pushing millions of dollars into properties that only appeal to one audience is by no means a smart business decision.
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Disney will get its magic back, but it will take some time. It might be a long while before Disney is at its peak again, but the right decisions are being made.
Do you think Disney is on the rebound? Let us know in the comments down below!
I respectfully disagree. The right choices are not being made. The choice to financially exploit guests with disabilities to force their newly redesigned paid FastPass on people is not the right decision.
The recent changes in the DAS system was a HUGE mistake for Disney! How can you discriminate against the disabled community in this manner and continue to DENY access to people who’ve had this pass for years!! And then offer the solution to purchase Genie+….WRONG!!! Disney needs to provide resonable accommodations that aren’t paid for. Then you have to cry and plead your case to some hourly Cast Member via Zoom who has ZERO empathy for your daily struggles?? Wow Disney…DO BETTER!!
Disney has been doing nothing but money grabs and this DAS change is absurd. The new system will not be addressing disabled folks more so force them to spend money that is against the ADA in having to purchase to get accommodated. Massive miss Disney!
DAS should just be for people in wheelchairs that REAL disabilites. Autism is NOT a disability. If a member of your family cannot wait in lines due to mental problems, please leave them at home for their safety and safety of people around them
Rockstar, I pray that you will never be beset by an invisible disability. This includes veterans with PTSD, which they gained fighting for your freedom. You’re going to tell them that they have no right to be at the parks? It’s pretty obvious you’ve never known anyone with this type of problem, nor do you have a special needs child. Be really happy that you’re able bodied and that your family is too.
Wow Rockster, does putting down the disabled make you feel bigger in life? I’ve got news for you; it makes you look like a fool. Wheelchairs do not define a disability, the person inside defines the disability they have. There are visible and invisible disabilities, each warranting their own accommodations, but I guess you failed that class when you earned your fake medical degree. Get a life and quit speaking of things you know nothing about.
Your a jerk to say something like that some kids can’t wait a long time in one place so they shouldn’t be able to enjoy doing things other regular people can do.
Ignorant and wrong. Wheelchairs needsl acceptable lines and for the most part Disney provides them that. DAS should be for ALL invisable disabilities. And if anyone should stay home it’s people like you.
The discrimination towards the disabled with the new DAS changes is outrageous. Denying those with true disabilities. Let people submit medical documentation! Disney is all about being inclusive when it comes to LGBT issues but certainly not the disabled.
Disney is starting to make baby steps…are they the right steps?….No! I think Disney needs to back to the BASICS. Truly identify who their customer is then focus on Quality first. A quality immersive experience in the parks but not at the cost of their employees.
How about forming a Customer Advisory Board of people and not major stockholders.
Good to hear ! All this wokism was a big turn off!!! Everyone wants traditional Disney one of the beautiful magical considerations re the disabled wad wonderful! Not so much with new changes . It’s not the same caring,safe feeling it was before when a disabled person knew that a Disney vacation was going to top all others in making it a positive experience. But still glad to hear you acknowledge certain negative woke changes . Glad you’re doin better !
If this were true, it would be a start…paying to cut ahead in line is atrocious, and the band of idiots that go through the parks looking for things to tear down because they might offend someone is insulting.,I’ve taken my family on multiple vacations at WDW, but crap like destroying frontier Land in the guide of bringing in Cars is ridiculous…CARS?
I agree. I have had Das since 2017, my disabilities will never go away. Being forced to wait in liine or pay extra is obsurd. Bring back Das, make a dr note required, that solves the issues instead of trying to grab cash from us. We can’t afford all the increaes and extras every year it is getting to be too much.