I am a disney fan. To be honest I am such a dorky disney fan that for as long as I can remember I have wanted to have my ashes scattered in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride- this was wayyy before you came to love pirates with the help of mr depp. This is the closest, save new orleans, I have ever come to feeling at home- once again I know, dork. Of course many of these hometown feelings came with the help of one bar in the disneyland hotel and a monkey which hung off the side of the boat and gathered treasures for me in the dark. Anyhow I recently returned to the disney company my annual pass for the following reasons. As of yet I have not received a reply- I dont really think I will but I sleep better knowing I said my peace. For shame and sad what mankind does once it aquires hoards of money.
read on:
To: Robert Iger
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cc: Kerry D. Chandler
Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, The Walt Disney Company
Dear Robert Iger,
First, I am a life long fan of Disneyland. My love affair with Disneyland began before my birth, as my parents met while working at your theme park in the 1960’s. They celebrated their 20th anniversary along with us kids at your park. When my younger sister passed away around Christmas in the early 80’s we went to your park on Christmas to bond once again within the familiarity of the happiest place on earth. In short, Disneyland has always been a part of my family.
However I write to you now both as an upset member of the Disney family and a concerned human being. Enclosed is my annual Disneyland passport. It was given to me as a Christmas present by my parents so that we could continue building family memories. However, building family memories for me will no longer occur at your theme park. The consideration to boycott your theme park has been building ever since the Disney Corporation became an avid supporter of its own agenda and not a supporter of the many low-income people who live and work in the city of Anaheim.
To me, Disneyland has become another example of a corporation who only cares what happens within its own walls. I have read about big public donations you have made, however when you truly had the opportunity give back to the community, you chose to further alienate them and turn away from social responsibility. There is no argument that employees in your park and in the surrounding hotel businesses have assisted you in your profit making, all the while making less then a livable wage and when you had the opportunity to assist them with their economic and housing challenges you chose to not only turn a blind eye to their situation but also create an image detrimental to them. When I read that Disney referred to affordable housing as slum housing for pimps, prostitutes, and drug dealers (Los Angeles Times, August 2nd) I became so angry and disappointed in the ‘happiest place on earth’ I knew I could no longer attend your park and feel happiness without anger.
Please take this letter seriously. As a professional Social Worker, I have worked with the homeless for several years. As an advocate for affordable low income housing I will make it my mission to be certain other Disneyland fans like myself know who the Disney Corporation truly is. Shame on you, you had the opportunity to truly make peoples dreams come true, a life long Disney motto, and you not only took away these dreams but you added the inaccurate and harmful image of who these people are and what affordable housing actually is.
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