Disney’s embrace of artificial intelligence has accelerated quickly, and not every move has landed smoothly with theme park fans who expect obsessive attention to detail from the company.
Over the past year, Disney Parks have repeatedly become flashpoints in debates over AI use, particularly when technology intersects with guest-facing creative work rather than behind-the-scenes operations.
Theme park fans have criticized Disney for deploying AI-generated artwork in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion gift shop, Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond, as well as digital decor elements at Disney Newport Bay Club and a billboard on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris.
(Notably, that artwork in Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond was later removed, while the art was also updated at Disney Newport Bay Club – although the second version also appeared AI-generated.)
Disney has pushed ahead with AI regardless. Executives and Imagineers have framed AI as a tool that enhances storytelling rather than replacing it, arguing that technology can coexist with traditional creative disciplines.
That message was reinforced last month through an episode of the YouTube series We Call It Imagineering. The video explored how Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses — equipped with cameras, microphones, speakers, and AI — could eventually be used inside Disney parks.
The glasses were presented as an always-on, hands-free companion, capable of capturing reference material, providing contextual information, and supporting creative workflows without disrupting immersion.
Just a month after that episode first aired, Disney has found itself facing another AI-related backlash — this time tied to a seemingly routine merchandise preview.
A Merchandise Preview Sparks Backlash
A video shared by DLP Report from a December 13 press event highlighted upcoming merchandise for the reimagined Walt Disney Studios Park, soon to reopen as Disney Adventure World.
What drew attention was not the products themselves, but the narration. The voiceover sounded artificial — flat, unevenly paced, and noticeably strained when pronouncing several familiar Disney terms.
The merchandise video voice over is clearly AI, a monotone voice struggling to say Rapunzel. Please stop.
The merchandise video voice over is clearly AI, a monotone voice struggling to say Rapunzel. Please stop. pic.twitter.com/D3dcd8bTto
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) December 13, 2025
The clip spotlights items inspired by Tangled (2010) – likely to correlate with the park’s upcoming Tangled ride, Raiponce Tangled Spin – referencing the Kingdom of Corona and its heroine. Both names are mispronounced, a detail fans quickly flagged across social platforms.
“In one direction, light dances across the Kingdom of Corona with the Rapunzel collection,” the voiceover says as the merchandise is displayed.
Fans criticized not only the pronunciation errors but also the cadence of the narration itself.
“Oh damn the timing the pronunciation … they should’ve known better,” said one X, formerly known as Twitter, user.
Another fan focused on the delivery rather than the words. “Apparently, full stops no longer mean anything,” they wrote. “Every time they do this they never really learn.”
Others framed the moment as part of a broader pattern at Disneyland Paris, where cost-conscious decisions have occasionally clashed with expectations around polish and presentation.
“Fans always find excuses for these dumb choices,” one fan wrote, referencing prior AI-related controversies. “They won’t stop.”
Disney’s AI Strategy Moves Forward
That prediction is likely accurate. The merchandise video emerged just days after Disney announced a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, signaling a deeper commitment to artificial intelligence across its businesses.
Under the agreement, OpenAI’s text-to-video model, Sora, will be able to generate short-form social videos featuring more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. Some of that content is expected to appear on Disney+.
Beyond consumer-facing media, Disney plans to use OpenAI services internally to build new tools and experiences, including deploying ChatGPT for employees across the company.
Disney emphasized guardrails alongside innovation. “Disney and OpenAI affirm a shared commitment to responsible use of AI that protects the safety of users and the rights of creators,” the companies said in a joint press statement.
Still, the reaction to the Disneyland Paris video underscores the lingering anti-AI sentiment within the Disney parks’ fanbase.
How do you feel about Disney using AI?
