Disney World sparks backlash as it changes classic 'boys and girls' greeting to 'dreamers of all ages' in its latest woke move

  • Disney World has changed its the 'Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls' greeting with one that says 'Good evening, dreamers of all ages!'
  • The new greeting made its debut during the 'Happily Ever After' fireworks show
  • It sparked negative reactions online from Disney World regulars 
  • The Jungle Cruise ride at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland California was updated after claims the ride was racially and culturally insensitive
  • When Disneyland reopened the park debuted a revamped version of the famed Snow White ride but faced backlash for featuring the 'true love's kiss' scene
  • Disney+ streaming service has slapped racism warnings on some of its most iconic movies including Peter Pan and The Jungle Book 
  • Some content on Disney+ now has a disclaimer that  reads: 'This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures'

Disney World has changed its classic 'ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls' greeting used during one of its fireworks displays with one that says 'good evening, dreamers of all ages'. 

At a preview for the theme park's 'Happily Ever After' fireworks display at the Orlando theme park on Wednesday, cast members noticed the greeting had been changed. 

One cast member posted a video of the new greeting, and said they preferred the original. They tweeted: 'Disney removes 'Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls' from Happily Ever After pre show announcement. Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls FOREVER!' they tweeted. 

The classic greeting is voiced by Jack Wagner, also known as 'the voice of Disney,' and it is estimated that over the last 20 years the park announcer for Disneyland, Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland has uttered the phrase more than eight million times.  

This is the latest politically correct move for Disney after it revamped some of its rides, including Splash Mountain and Jungle Cruises, after they were criticized for promoting racial and cultural stereotypes. The entertainment giant has also slapped warnings on Disney+ shows like The Muppets, Dumbo and Peter Pan for the same reasons. 

Earlier this year, after its reopening in Anaheim, the theme park was slammed by reviewers for its revamped Snow White ride because the prince kisses her while she is asleep and she's unable to give consent. No changes have been made to the ride or the film.

Twitter Privacy Policy
The new, inclusive greeting made its debut during the 'Happily Ever After' fireworks show

The new, inclusive greeting made its debut during the 'Happily Ever After' fireworks show

After a cast member posted the new greeting online, it sparked backlash among with some slamming the move as 'utter garbage'.  

One person tweeted: 'Okay sorry Disney but that's absurd!!!! I honestly didn't see anything. NOT a single thing wrong with that saying before. Like what the hell is wrong with saying ' Ladies and Gents????' Or boys and Girl????' PLEASE!!! somebody TELL ME. SMDH.'

Another person simply tweeted 'Utter garbage,' in response to the new recording. 

'People and companies really need to stop changing everything that was originally made, discussed or founded on just because people cry and moan. These things were in place way before the new gen of babies were, there is no way in hell to cater to everyone who whines.....' someone else tweeted. 

And one person tweeted they had enough of the changes.

'Seriously? Pirates, Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruise, now this too? I just wish the pendulum would hurry up and swing the other way...I'm so tired of this extremist way of thinking and being overly sensitive to everything!' the tweet said. 

Guests ride the Splash Mountain attraction at Disneyland on Friday. That ride was overhauled to remove its associations with black stereotypes in the 1946 film 'Song of the South'

Guests ride the Splash Mountain attraction at Disneyland on Friday. That ride was overhauled to remove its associations with black stereotypes in the 1946 film 'Song of the South'

Disney's Jungle Cruise ride has long been criticized for its depiction of natives as savages and cannibals, including this portrayal of a man carrying shrunken heads

Disney's Jungle Cruise ride has long been criticized for its depiction of natives as savages and cannibals, including this portrayal of a man carrying shrunken heads

In the 1937 film (above), the Prince, believing Snow White to be dead, kisses her, breaking the Queen's curse that had put her into a deep trance. When Disneyland in Anaheim, California reopened in May the park debuted a revamped version of the famed Snow White ride but faced backlash because Snow White can't give consent

In the 1937 film (above), the Prince, believing Snow White to be dead, kisses her, breaking the Queen's curse that had put her into a deep trance. When Disneyland in Anaheim, California reopened in May the park debuted a revamped version of the famed Snow White ride but faced backlash because Snow White can't give consent

The tweet referred to Disney parks updating the Jungle Cruise ride at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida and Disneyland California after claims the ride was racially and culturally insensitive. 

Disney World slaps warnings on its classic movies  

Peter Pan (1953): Viewers are warned that Native American Indians are referred to as 'redskins' and that dancing in native American headdresses is a 'form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples' culture and imagery'.

Disney also takes issue with the reference to the 'unintelligible language' in which the 'redskins' speak.

The original also had a song entitled What Makes The Red Man Red, although this was later restyled What Makes The Brave Man Brave.   

The Aristocats (1970): A warning highlights a scene where one of the cats chants stereotypical Chinese 'words' in an accent while playing piano with a pair of chopsticks.

The cat in question, Shun Gon, is also voiced by a white actor, Paul Winchell.

Jungle Book (1967): Film highlighted for its perceived use of negative racial stereotypes. 

The character of King Louie, an ape, has been accused of perpetuating a racist stereotype as African-Americans.

Lady and the Tramp (1955): Movie placed on list due to its perceived stereotyping of Asians courtesy of Siamese cats Si and Am.

Similarly, during a scene at a dog pound the canines from around the world all portray stereotypes from the countries their breeds originate. 

For example, Boris the Russian Borzoi speaks in a thick Eastern European accent, while Pedro the Mexican Chihuahua talks in central American tones. 

Dumbo (1941): It comes under fire for its references to racist segregationist laws in the deep south, as well as its use of affected African-American voices. 

The lead crow in the film is also called Jim Crow - a reference to the segregation laws in late 19th and early 20th Century America. 

Advertisement

Jungle Cruise, which launched in 1955 and remains closed for updates, is being revamped to remove 'negative depictions' of native peoples that show them as savages or subservient, Disney confirmed earlier this year.

Disney said last June that its Splash Mountain ride was also being overhauled to remove its associations with black stereotypes in the 1946 film 'Song of the South,' on which it was based.

When Disneyland in Anaheim, California reopened in May the park debuted a revamped version of the famed Snow White ride but faced backlash for featuring the 'true love's kiss' scene. 

Two reviewers from SFGate slammed the ride and claimed it undermines lessons about consent by portraying the Prince kissing Snow White while she is asleep. 

'A kiss he gives to her without her consent, while she's asleep, which cannot possibly be true love if only one person knows it's happening,' reviewers for SFGate wrote about the revamped ride in May.

But the changes haven't just been made at the entertainment giant's theme parks. After launching the Disney+ streaming service in 2019, the media conglomerate, which acquired of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, The Muppets and The Simpsons among other properties, slapped racism warnings on some of its most iconic movies including Peter Pan and The Jungle Book.

Viewers are now shown a disclaimer before the films and shows start, which 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.' 

Movies that include the warning are 1970 musical comedy The Aristocats, 1955 canine love story Lady and the Tramp and 1960 adventure Swiss Family Robinson.

In relation to The Aristocats - a film about a group of musical felines - Disney warns viewers about a scene where one of the cats, who is voiced by a white actor, chants out stereotypical Chinese 'words' while playing the piano with chopsticks.

Meanwhile Peter Pan viewers are warned that Native Americans Indians are referred to as 'redskins'.

Disney claim scenes in which Peter and The Lost Boys dance in native American headdresses are a 'form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples' culture and imagery.' 

Disney said its Jungle Cruises ride would be updated to 'reflect and value the diversity of the world around us'

Disney said its Jungle Cruises ride would be updated to 'reflect and value the diversity of the world around us'

The Jungle Book, a 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's novel, has also been highlighted, namely for its depiction of the ape King Louie, which has been accused of perpetuating a stereotype of African Americans.   

Last week, Disney dropped the name 'Slave 1' from a new television show on its Disney+ streaming service based on the Star Wars franchise. 

The ship, which has been called 'Slave-1' in previous iterations of the Star Wars franchise, is character Boba Fett's. It will be renamed for the premiere of 'The Book of Boba Fett,' which premieres in December, according to fan site Jedi News. 

Meanwhile, Disney also has been holding monthly meetings with advocates from women and minority groups who comb through hundreds of hours of Disney-streamed content looking for potentially offensive material to flag on its Disney+ service.   

Disney World changes 'ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls' greeting to be more inclusive

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.