What Makes a Disney Vacation Stress Free for LGBTQIA+ Families
“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past—and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America—with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
If you’re a tried and true Disney fan, you know these words were spoken by Walt Disney on the opening day of Disneyland on July 17, 1955. 70+ years later, these ideals remain true in an impactful area for LGBTQIA+ families, as The Walt Disney Company is noted by the Human Rights Campaign on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) as a top employer for LGBTQIA+ people in the workplace. So, what does this mean for LGBTQIA+ families and travelers headed to The Most Magical Place On Earth in Orlando or The Happiest Place On Earth in Anaheim? It might be more simple than you realize: There are thousands of Cast Members across Disney Destinations who are just like you, or someone in your family. The first step in having a stress-free Disney trip as a LGBTQIA+ family is allowing yourself to exhale, knowing that you’re not alone.
As we celebrate Pride Month this June, here are a few tips and additional “exhale” moments to help you navigate your Disney vacation, relax, and make incredible memories together.
Have a member of your party who identifies as non-binary or gender non-conforming?
Ask your Goofy Getaways Travel Advisor to choose the “Mx.” option to go along with their name on your reservation, which can be seen by the Cast Members who have access to your reservation details during your vacation. A potential concern for a family with trans travelers as well, it’s possible that you’re already thinking about public restrooms while traveling. While you won’t find any labeled as “gender neutral” on Disney property, but you will find single room companion restrooms, which are the same thing and serve the same purpose; you can locate these easily through the My Disney Experience app.
If there’s apprehension about the possibility of being misgendered while on vacation, consider wearing Disney Celebration Buttons throughout your trip!
These are complimentary buttons you can wear during your park visit and often receive special recognition from Cast Members. You can find them at Guest Relations, ticket booths, many merchandise shops, and the front desk at your resort. While you can personalize them yourself (I recommend a Sharpie), you can also ask a Cast Member to write something specific; for example, on the “I’m Celebrating” button, it could be personalized with “Being Me!”, then beneath that, add the name of the guest and their pronouns. In the case that a Cast Member greets you or a family member as Princess or Prince, King or Queen, and that doesn’t feel right - a simple “Royal Guest is great, thank you!” is a perfect decree.
Want to celebrate individuals rather than hetero-normative relationships while on your vacation?
Disney has a long history of storytelling with traditional boy-girl romances, but over the course of the last several years, they’ve also put strong, independent, and brave characters at the center of their stories, which means we see more of those characters and their IP in the parks than ever before. At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, if you’re catching the Festival of Fantasy parade in the afternoon, you’ll definitely see a lot of the Prince and Princess couples on display. However, the nighttime fireworks show Happily Ever After focuses a little more on following your dreams, friendship, and inner strength, and the Starlight Nighttime Parade focuses more on classic characters like Mickey and friends, and more recent, inspiring characters without romantic ties like Moana, Mirabel, and Elsa.
Wish to present as your best self?
Don’t be afraid to dress the part. Each summer, Disney Parks will launch a full Pride merch and apparel line with Spirit jerseys, rainbow ears, MagicBands, t-shirts, and more; year-round, you can find pins to display bi, trans, lesbian, and gay pride along with an array of rainbow-inspired options featuring Mickey and Star Wars icons.
However, “dressing the part” doesn’t necessarily mean all rainbows, all the time... or maybe for you, ever! Instead, guests who travel to Disney Destinations should feel comfortable presenting as their authentic selves. This might mean Disney-bounding: styling everyday clothing to represent a Disney character which can be a creative, subtle way of self-expression. Or, if a personalized experience is what you desire, for young visitors between the ages of 3 and 12, a magical makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique allows royalty-in-training the opportunity to indulge in a new hairstyle, polished nails, sparkles, a fancy dress, or even dapper knight attire; the best part is that the Fairy Godmother Apprentices are trained to provide a memorable and magical experience for every child, regardless of their gender and/or makeover choices. Your Goofy Getaways Advisor can help you make your reservation which opens 60 days before your check-in day.
Wondering when to head to Disney?
You’re celebrated year ‘round at every Disney Destination, so 12 months out of the year, the Cast Members at Walt Disney World and Disneyland are going to welcome you with the kind of service and compassion that you only get through Disney, while your Goofy Getaways Travel Advisor is there to support you throughout the planning process. So the answer of “when” is actually: “whenever!” If you’re still apprehensive about your Disney trip, consider the month of June. For the past few years, Disneyland has hosted a separate ticketed Pride Nite event, and on both coasts, you’ll see additional Pride elements throughout the parks. My favorite? Disney Parks celebrate Pride Month in June with exclusive, limited-time PhotoPass Magic Shots. Available at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, your photos may include fun effects like rainbow Mickey balloons, colorful photo props, and virtual overlays. You can request them directly from any PhotoPass photographer in the parks.
Thinking about how to best capture this moment in time for your family?
Get in the photo. All of you! And, your Advisor can help get you started. How? If you’re headed to Disneyland, you’ll want to add Lightning Lane Multi-Pass to your park tickets, which comes with all of your Photo Pass downloads from your visit. If your trip is taking you to Walt Disney World, be sure to add Memory Maker to your package, and consider booking a Capture Your Moment photo session; this 20 minute private experience is offered in each of the four parks and can be booked in advance. Your dedicated Photo Pass photographers will ensure that you have a variety of family photos that commemorate your trip and celebrate your unique, special family.
Finally, a bit of advice for every LGBTQIA+ ally traveling to Disney Parks and resorts who may be reading this:
YOU can be a part of the magic for others through simple actions. If you see a gay couple in the parks with “Happily Ever After” buttons celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary, say “Congratulations!!”. Buy a Disney Pride Pin and wear it on your park bag, shirt, or lanyard - it shows your support without ever having to say a word. If words are your thing, compliment fellow guests - especially young guests - when they look proud in their outfit(s) of choice. But the words that may make the biggest impact of all?
“You have a beautiful family.”
Happy Pride Month, dreamers of all ages! You belong in this- and every- happy place. If you are ready to start planning your next vacation, click the link below to get connected with one of our Travel Advisors like Noddea!
