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gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:43 pm
by americawestguy
it seems like the majority of the men who work attractions in Fantasyland are gay. is this an accuarate assumption? are their straight guys that work in Fantasyland? do any work storybook, or do they feel uncomfortable working it?

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:14 pm
by Kwahati
I've heard that a fairly large percentage of all Disney park staff are homosexual (turns out, a large percentage of the world is too)...but I gotta ask: (a) why does it matter? They would be required to maintain professionalism, so they cannot (strictly speaking) respond favorably if you're planning on hitting on them at work. And (b) it's their own business to advertise, or choose not to, their own sexuality and I'm inclined to think most people here would be unlikely to "out" their friends to the internet at large...

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:19 am
by BirdMom
Kwahati wrote: I gotta ask: (a) why does it matter?.... (b) it's their own business to advertise, or choose not to, their own sexuality
Thank you. I don't think anyone's sexuality has anything to do with how good a job they are capable of doing.

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:38 am
by DLRFantasmic!Dan
Yes, the majority of CMs if Disneyland are gay!! Most of them are in Fantasyland. I was comfortable with this because I was used to it and work with homosexuals like all the time!! They are no different. They are just like everyone else and are treated like the same. I only knew one CM who was completely homophobic, but he is gone now.

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:39 am
by Main Streeter
americawestguy wrote:it seems like the majority of the men who work attractions in Fantasyland are gay. is this an accuarate assumption? are their straight guys that work in Fantasyland? do any work storybook, or do they feel uncomfortable working it?
This bothers me just a bit. Hope I can key with intelligence. I've worked FL often & certainly do not feel your assumption is correct. Odd but I don't think in this vein. FL CMs are both gay & straight now I think abt your question. The personality of a CM means much more to me than their sexuality. Book is like any other attraction I "assume." Possibly there are FL CMs who have accurate stats. You were in Custodial so I read. I know for a fact both gays & straights are in this dept. as many Custodial CMs continue to be friends of mine. IMO - Thank God we are all a bit different!

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:56 am
by mechurchlady
I knew CMs through pin trading and am pretty sure that the guys in Disneyland Fire Department would not be too happy with your remarks. No names but one guy was a former fireman from the east coast and was definitely not gay.

Why is this so important or of anyone's business?

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:14 am
by LittleDollClaudia
My fiancee worked routes in Fantasyland so I guess the answer to that question is yes. Straight men DO work in FL. But I am asking myself the same thing as "why is this such an important topic for you?" There have been gay people working there since Disneyland opened, they are just more noticeable now. Or maybe our eyes are more open.

I agree with Kwahati in the statement of how regardless of your preference it shouldn't affect the work performance. Besides, I bet that most of our fav. memories as guests when we were children were because of a gay CM's happy attitude, you just didn't know it then. You just remembered them as being very friendly and showing total Disney spirit, right? Not all CM's are gay of course, but there are some. It can't be denied though that gay CM's give their all and show a lot of folks just what Disney is all about..I have learned a few things over the years, believe me.

In the end, the ONLY thing that a guest (myself included) expects is that both of us have a magical experience. I would like to know that the CM enjoys working there as much as I enjoy visiting. And most of the time, it's true..

and the rest of the time, well, there is this website called SGT.com.. ;)

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:12 am
by leftcoaster
americawestguy wrote:it seems like the majority of the men who work attractions in Fantasyland are gay. is this an accuarate assumption? are their straight guys that work in Fantasyland? do any work storybook, or do they feel uncomfortable working it?
:rolleyes:

Since I am strictly a guest, I will tell you that I could care less if any of the CMs are gay. With all of my trips to WDW and a few to DL, I can honestly say that I have never had a bad CM moment. And, since joining two Disney fan forums, I have come to realize that yes, many Disney CMs are indeed gay. But when I am at any of the Disney parks, I am looking to enjoy the experience of being at Walt Disney World, or Disneyland. I am certainly not looking to count how many CMs are gay.

In fact, I have met a few CMs from a fan forum that I belong to, and a few of them are gay. In fact, one of these CMs sent me a set of gold Mickey ears, gratis.

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:45 am
by Buggy
I have a tangential reply that just filtered through my head. I live in Virginia, about a 30 minute drive away from where Disney's America would have been built. At the time, I was the only person I knew in favor of having a Disney theme park in our backyard.

But now, if we had a major Disney theme park here then there is *no* way that Proposition 1 (marriage is defined as between a man and a woman; secretly: rights of married people cannot be given to non-married people) would have even made it on the ballot let alone have passed. (Does Disney give benefits for domestic partners, because they can't anymore in Virginia?)

And that would have been worth all the traffic and tourists and stupid guests.

Re: gay men in fantasyland

Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:42 am
by bpgstudios
Not gonna say specifics about anyone else in my area (Fantasyland on the east coast) since it's not my place to say, however we have probably the same percentage of any other area, other than entertainment... not that it maters in terms of how well anyone works of course.