Orlando Unplugged: Life In Living Color
Unplugging Pride Month at Theme Parks, Love is Universal, and Unofficial Disney Gay Days
Join us as we navigate the colorful celebrations, heartfelt stories, and amusing personal updates from Ashley's hilarious tech mishaps and "boomer" moments to Dustin's recent travel back home. Our journey through Universal Studios Florida's "Love is Universal" pride merchandise and their year-round commitment to LGBTQ+ representation showcases both creativity and inclusivity. We explore the impact of themed food and drinks, like the Pride Roll and Pride Smoothie, and discuss Disney's historical support for the LGBTQ+ community, spotlighting influential figures such as Imagineer Bob Gurr and writer Howard Ashman. Dive into the historical significance of Gay Days at Disney World, starting as a response to the AIDS pandemic and evolving into a beloved community event.
Resources
Orlando Unplugged Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297840/share
Orlando Pride: https://thecenterorlando.org/
Rose Dynasty Foundation: https://www.rosedynastyfoundationinc.org/
Pineapple Healthcare: https://www.pineapplehealthcare.com/
Join us as we navigate the colorful celebrations, heartfelt stories, and amusing personal updates from Ashley's hilarious tech mishaps and "boomer" moments to Dustin's recent travel back home. Our journey through Universal Studios Florida's "Love is Universal" pride merchandise and their year-round commitment to LGBTQ+ representation showcases both creativity and inclusivity. We explore the impact of themed food and drinks, like the Pride Roll and Pride Smoothie, and discuss Disney's historical support for the LGBTQ+ community, spotlighting influential figures such as Imagineer Bob Gurr and writer Howard Ashman. Dive into the historical significance of Gay Days at Disney World, starting as a response to the AIDS pandemic and evolving into a beloved community event.
Resources
Orlando Unplugged Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297840/share
Orlando Pride: https://thecenterorlando.org/
Rose Dynasty Foundation: https://www.rosedynastyfoundationinc.org/
Pineapple Healthcare: https://www.pineapplehealthcare.com/
Today's episode contains information about Pride at Universal Orlando Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort Orlando Unplugged podcast and its hosts do not speak for the brands or the companies.
Speaker 3:We've never had a free show guys. Contains information about universal.
Speaker 2:Becoming social media account holders. You're listening to Orlando Unplugged, celebrating life in living color with Dustin and Ashley. Grab a cocktail or a mocktail and let's get unplugged Orlando and let's get Unplugged Orlando. What's up? Orlando Unplugged fam? I'm Dustin, I'm Ashley and this is episode 24 of Orlando Unplugged podcast Life celebrating life and living color. Why?
Speaker 3:are you ruining our intro? You, because you're dumb ass you said a dirty word I'm going to say a couple of them I'm gonna bleep you out every time beep, you can't. You didn't bring the ipad today I'm gonna do it in post oh wonderful, yeah, you're gonna crop all this out too yep, oh beautiful, not really well, on today's episode, we're going to be unplugging pride month at theme parks we're gonna be unplugging pride month again, for the third time in a row fourth? No, this is our third pride. Is this the?
Speaker 2:fourth how many weeks are there four then? How are we doing a pride episode next week?
Speaker 3:we're not because pride is over.
Speaker 2:Next week is it over we had this whole conversation lined up in the past yeah, no, it's over, because next next wednesday is july 3rd.
Speaker 3:Yeah, this is the last pride episode today gasp, it's not all about me anymore no, also, it's never been about you. It's actually awareness appreciation.
Speaker 2:What do we got going on?
Speaker 3:Any whozles. So we're going to look into Universal Studios' Pride Blowout and Walt Disney World's Pride Appreciation and we're going to talk about our opinions and our views. As always, we're also going to kind of give you some updates on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Speaker 2:We, the people, in order to form a more perfect union, more perfect podcast established justice and ensure domestic transquility.
Speaker 3:You know I hate that you know that.
Speaker 2:Provide for the common defense. Okay, I got ahead of myself you didn't know it.
Speaker 3:I'm really proud of you ordain. Stop, I have no established, don't look at me like I have a clue of what's going on here. I have no idea. I know it's the constitution, but that it's the preamble yeah, I have no idea what that is, but you know what it is let's not talk about the government, because that's not gay no, it's not.
Speaker 2:They also really don't like women hey what so you're not manic right now and you know what to do with your hands. Why is that, ashley? Oh, we're getting into life updates already I guess you're not manic and you don't know what to do with your hands.
Speaker 3:I am manic, but I do know what to do with my hands now because my phone is back no yeah, how'd that go?
Speaker 3:um, it was um a in the ass, to be honest with you, a big, big, giant, giant pain. But it's convenient and I got it done. So my insurance, because I pay an astronomical amount of money. I have insurance, so it covered my phone, which is pretty nice. So you and I went, we got me a new phone and then it got delivered the next day and then that was even more of a hassle.
Speaker 2:You cried like a baby for three hours while we tried to get it activated yep, I did.
Speaker 3:Had another panic attack there. That was fun, um, and then it took six years and a decade for my phone to come back and for me to log into everything, log myself out of the podcast. So sorry for all those who follow us on all social media social media social media and we went ghosty for a second because I I literally could not get into anything and I couldn't figure out how to um my, what did you call me last episode? The b? What's the b?
Speaker 3:the b yeah, you call me the b word, not the b word, not the b word, but the other b word, boomer no bisexual boomer. I'm now stopomer Boomer. That's it, thank you. My boomer ass had a hard time trying to figure out, like, how to log in and how to like post things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you had to. She had to change the password to our podcast account because she couldn't figure it out.
Speaker 3:Yep, and then I also had to take a couple online YouTube classes on how to post Facebook posts through online Facebook.
Speaker 2:I've showed you how to do that several times.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I forgot, and you were out of town. Hey, speaking of that, how was your trip? Did you bring me back a gift?
Speaker 2:Fantastic, I brought you back me.
Speaker 3:I came back. That's not a gift. That is your gift. That is not a gift. Did you bring you back, gavin? No, did you bring you back, gavin? No, did you bring you back a cool t-shirt no no, so you did not think about me.
Speaker 2:The entire trip no, I did bring you back a cool t-shirt. I'm just wearing it. It's for you to look at that's not a cool t-shirt.
Speaker 3:Do I get to wear that t-shirt? No then you brought me back. Nothing, you're welcome.
Speaker 2:So what are you drinking today, ashley?
Speaker 3:a diet coke, because I'm sober forever. What do you drink? Wait, you're not gonna talk about your trip. You don't wanna.
Speaker 2:You don't wanna give any I'm gonna talk about my drink first oh why? Because it's a part of our life.
Speaker 3:Update ashley oh, I guess it is. Yes, I am sober now. Thank you, person that stole my phone yeah, yeah, I just gotta be I'm drinking what are you? Consuming?
Speaker 2:um, it's that zarita beverage that we got from aldi's and clearly you guys are listening to us, because we went back to the same aldi's and all they had was the one regular, regular margarita and I thought I wasn't gonna like it, but it's actually kind of good we're happy for you um yeah, I'm loving it and I'm gonna be in a great mood by the time we're done with this episode.
Speaker 3:Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, you're loving it, nope.
Speaker 2:Hey, speaking of McDonald's though, did you hear that McDonald's is rumoring to do? What does that have to do with my update.
Speaker 3:Listen, because we're talking about McDonald's. Did you know that McDonald's is rumoring to be working on a Beyond Beef cheeseburger? They're only like 10 years late. Listen, I'm fine with it.
Speaker 2:If it's gonna taste and look like and smell like mcdonald's, I am here for it this is why our episodes are two hours long god, you're so mean to me, go to alaska, bring me back a souvenir I will, but first I'm gonna tell you about my, my trip, the trip that you didn't think about me. Yes, bring me back a souvenir.
Speaker 3:I will, but first I'm going to tell you about my, my trip, the trip that you didn't think about me. Yes, bring me back a present.
Speaker 2:Yes so this past week I went back to my hometown, knoxville tell me about your hometown um and I got to see gavin and brad and diana and mercy and all of her friends and it was, uh, callie's 40th birthday, my friend Callie. So I went to her house on Friday and we got wild and crazy and there was a smut book there.
Speaker 3:I love smut. You know this A smut book from the 70s.
Speaker 2:We did the white t-shirt, we did the white t-shirt theme where, like you write something, a white lie on the t-shirt.
Speaker 3:What'd you write on yours?
Speaker 2:I'm not. Why not a white lie? On the t-shirt what'd you write on yours? I'm not why? Not because we're not talking about it. It was not an appropriate version of the white t-shirt game. Only those are there. Will ever know, or I'll tell you after we're done recording I do like that um so what do you think my white lie should be?
Speaker 2:and then on saturday. This is all about me. This is my last. This is the last pride month episode. It's all about me. Um, this is my last this is the last Pride Month episode. It's all about me?
Speaker 3:No, it's never been about you.
Speaker 2:On Saturday, we teamed up with Iams Nature Center and the Knoxville Horror Film Fest.
Speaker 3:Okay, before you start this, Iams, are you saying Iams, like is in the dog food?
Speaker 2:Spelled the exact same, but a completely different company.
Speaker 3:Okay, because that's what I was thinking. I was like, oh cool, they got like sponsored.
Speaker 2:That's I like to call it, I jams nature center but it's i'm's nature center named after the i'm's family. That, like it, goes all the way it did. It dates back to the 1800s. There's a whole thing, wow.
Speaker 3:So really not the dog food, yeah check out tennessee roads podcast.
Speaker 2:I talk about i'm's there um but plug your own podcast, I know right, um, but they they're a non organization, so they host every summer movies on the lawn where they show like two movies a night.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:And that particular night they do two horror films and this year was Vampire Inspired, so they watched 30 Days of Night and Fright Night and that's done by the Knoxville Horror Film Fest. And then Iams has vendors and stuff set up there and they provide the venue obviously and it's done out in this really cool lawn and then Iams has vendors and stuff set up there and they provide the venue obviously and it's down out on this really cool lawn. And then Frightworks we do a haunted trail. So we get there at like 11 in the morning and then we work on the trail all day long and then when the sun sets and the movie starts, you can actually get up and stand in line and watch the movie while you're in line.
Speaker 2:But then you get to go through a little haunted trail and I've always enjoyed it because it's it's so amazing to see we're a fully indoor haunted attraction and like we go out and we build this little haunted trail, um, in just a couple of hours and people absolutely love it and they have an absolute blast. And our friends from creepy con were there too, um to do some stuff. And this year we got to take like photos of people in front of the green screen before they went in, and then people had the opportunity to like buy their photos as they came out and it was a lot of fun, but it's a lot of work we didn't get done.
Speaker 3:Did you get to be his character?
Speaker 2:No, I sat in a chair all day long. Oh, was Gavin his character. This was my vacation trip, so I helped the girls put up the booth, the merchandise booth, and then I hung out the merchandise booth all night. Uh, gavin did trail work what is? That, setting everything up and then tearing everything down. He also stumbled across the yellow jacket's nest and got stung eight times oh, poor bubba uh, and then on sunday I went inner tubing with my dad and my mom and my brother and my sister for my dad's birthday and slash father's day.
Speaker 2:And gavin fell backwards out of an inner tube and cut his back open jesus um yeah, and we all got sunburned. Chris, our friend chris, was the only person that didn't get sunburned, which was weird because he's a redhead that's shocking yeah, it's very shocking, um, but it was really funny. Uh, we had a fun time gavin was very injured.
Speaker 3:What can you tell all of our wonderful listeners, especially in tennessee? All the things that the people in tennessee said about me again?
Speaker 2:um, they asked where you were, uh-huh, and they said that, um, they're really glad you didn't come on this trip, because they didn't want to have to put up with you twice in like less than 40 days, not what they said, no they're excited to have you back for CreepyCon.
Speaker 3:So we'll be going up in a month. And they said that I'm the best Say it.
Speaker 2:No, they said you were okay.
Speaker 3:That's not true at all.
Speaker 2:They said, you were alright.
Speaker 3:That's not true.
Speaker 2:That's not what you said. Hey, I'm gonna need your ego to come down. I can't?
Speaker 3:you said it once. That's all it takes. I haven't been validated in a minute, so I kind of needed that. Thank you, so you want to say it again? That would bring me joy. Go on you're dumb that's not what I wanted you to say. What?
Speaker 2:I said what brad said about you brad did not say that about me how do you know you weren't there?
Speaker 3:because I know brad brad would not say that about you do not know, brad honey, brad would not say that about me. Okay, did he say that about me? The world may never know that's mean brad, if you said that about me. I know you listen to our podcast. I'm crying. Why are you laughing?
Speaker 2:he does not listen to our podcast.
Speaker 3:Yes, he does, no, he does not well, his wife listens to our podcast they're not married close enough. They've been together for how many years?
Speaker 2:wow, wow. Look at you over here just assuming things about people I'm so sorry.
Speaker 3:I will assume something about the longest reigning couple in tennessee well, I have a choco tan line.
Speaker 2:Now, though, what's a?
Speaker 3:choco tan line. What's a choco?
Speaker 2:my sandals, my chocos that's what they're called yeah oh see, I rock with the tivas tivas were like right under chocos in tennessee, but chocos ended up winning out I like tivas, tivas.
Speaker 3:They support my arches and I like a good arch support uh-huh, I ate a?
Speaker 2:um, I ate at a couple of hipster places like 71, social or something like that where my friend works. Not impressed, they put hot food in the same to-go box, it wrapped in aluminum foil on top of my salad, so my salad was wilted when I got it and it wasn't great. So there was that. And then we went to this other place that that I don't remember, in townsend, and um, the pizza had so much grease on it that I literally was like I'm not eating that and then I took two bites of it and I was like I can't eat it are you okay?
Speaker 3:I had the hiccups, sorry I can hear that, um, I had something to tell you to comment after that, and I don't remember what I was going to say.
Speaker 2:That you missed me and you love me and your life is pointless without me.
Speaker 3:I didn't have very much to do this weekend because you were out of town and some other people were out of town, so I was kind of sad, but At least you had your brother. He worked all weekend.
Speaker 2:At least you had the home to yourself. Did you walk around naked?
Speaker 3:No, I laid in bed naked.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's always nice.
Speaker 3:That was really nice.
Speaker 2:Um, I got home and uh, my roommate is cleaning the house like furiously cause her father's coming into town for a couple of days. Oh wow, um, so there's that. That's exciting. Um, you know what it did do?
Speaker 3:I worked on our podcast yeah, and you posted um stuff a week late. I couldn't figure out how to use technology okay, but I did do a couple research things for today's episode and for a couple other things do I?
Speaker 2:need to fact check you no I need to run this through an ai fact checker.
Speaker 3:I already did, or Facebook fact checkers I already did both.
Speaker 2:And how did the lady from India tell you your facts were checked?
Speaker 3:Ashley, you did very good, thank you, I would I am. I don't know how to do it. She told me that I did a 10 out of 10 job and that facebook would hire me to fact check them careful, the republicans are gonna go crazy on that statement. Whoop hey hey you're gonna be woke, ashley, you're woke I don't know what that means, but okay, I'm still have yet to understand that yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 3:Hey, you know what I do want to talk about, though. What the gays? This episode, we are going to just kind of dive into both parks. We're going to give you a little bit of disney and we're going to give you a little bit of universal, and my favorite part about this, obviously, is the fact that, like, each of these parks have some some kind of different, they have different ways of representing the lgbtq plus community, and I love it. I'm here for it. I'm so here for it. So, first up as um, you all know we like to give history before we like to give what's going on, so here's a little history fact. Um debuting in debuting in 2019.
Speaker 3:Love is universal at universal studios florida is a line of pride merchandise that has celebrated the LGBT plus community. Now the slogan has become a universal celebration of Pride during June. Universal is celebrating Love is June for the Pride month this June, with merchandise themed food and drinks, and more Now throughout August. This is my favorite part about this entire process is that 100% of the profits of the Love is Universal merchandise collection will be donated to local nonprofit organizations that support and engage the LGBTQ plus community. I love that.
Speaker 2:Why August, though? Why not June?
Speaker 3:Well, it's all the way through August, so it's June, July and August. It's three months worth of profits oh okay, it's three months worth of profits, oh okay, that's kind of nice Proceeds.
Speaker 2:I like that, and we'll get a little more into this when we discuss Disney. I love that Universal is more than just merchandise. I know we've only talked about that so far.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But there's a lot more that Universal does and I know that Love is Universal is. I'm not going to say it's a cornerstone in their company, but I've heard Love is Universal in different aspects of Universal. More than just Pride Month I have yeah.
Speaker 3:And I know that you can buy their merch and stuff like that all throughout the year. I know it is not just something that is inclusive, exclusive just to the month of June, so you can buy their merch and stuff like that all throughout the year. I know it is not just something that is inclusive, exclusive just to the month of june, um, so you can buy it all throughout the year. However, these next parts that we're going to talk about when it comes to the food and the beverage items, are strictly only through june, july and august, because they're trying to go with all these profits or proceeds. So, um, I think it's great, I think it's really cool, I really like it and I like the fact that it is very universal, backed, so like. Their company is the one that created this idea. It wasn't just like a spur of the moment decision. This is very thought through process. Um, and did you know that this is the first year that they have done food? They have created pride food and beverages that are throughout universal. So you can get a pride roll for 11 over at cowfish, which is a sweet rice filled with strawberry compote, vanilla cheesecake, lemon curd topped with sliced strawberries, kiwi, mango, cantaloupe and pop rock candies now, I love cowfish yes and I love that it's very dessert heavy
Speaker 3:that does not sound good to me it looks beautiful, though, like I'll have to, I'll be sure to post a couple of photos of all of this stuff, because you can see all of it on online. The photo, the photo of this roll, though, is gorgeous because all the fruit on top of it is very pretty and it looks very appealing and it's very like, very obviously rainbowy and colorful, and it's really it's aesthetically pretty. Did you say how much it was? $11. Okay.
Speaker 2:So another thing that you can get is the Pride Smoothie for $16 at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. Now, this is a vibrant and colorful smoothie made with a rainbow of fruits Interesting. So there's blueberry, banana, strawberry, orange, lemon, lime whipped topping and fresh berries. That does sound good. Um, I don't necessarily about the fresh berries on top for me.
Speaker 3:Um, it looks. That sounds like okay. Do you remember being in college and, during like fourth of july, having the, the themed jello shots where it'd be like red, white and blue?
Speaker 2:oh, you mean, like, what we're getting ready to do at drunk brother, yes, what you're gonna do at drunk brother, yes, yes same concept here, it's all layered that sounds interesting it's to me, I think it's.
Speaker 3:I mean, obviously my entire background is food and beverage, so this is very impressive for me that they're able to kind of like keep up the layers without it all mixing together. But then the best part is I was watching somebody on social media stir this because they were like you. You kind of have to because otherwise that lemon lime that's in there gets kind of potent and heavy. So you have to kind of stir everything together and then it just looks gray and sad. It's she, the lady. The lady in the video was like this is just perfect it represents the mental well-being of the lgbtq plus millennial my insides right now.
Speaker 2:This is how I feel I guarantee you a millennial is the person who created this, and then, when they stirred it up, they went this is perfect I just I love it.
Speaker 3:You can also grab a pride sandwich for $14.99 over at the today show cafe now. This is a toasted ciabatta bread, avocado roasted tomatoes, pepper jack cheese, fresh arugula and a lemon lime, a lemon thyme vinaigrette so this is where I'm gonna say I don't speak for the brand or the company.
Speaker 2:However, what does? That have to do with gay pride. I think it speak for the brand or the company. However, what does that have to do with gay pride?
Speaker 3:I think it's just the colors. To be honest with you, I'm almost positive that's what they're doing. They're just taking the colors of the rainbow.
Speaker 2:Chapada bread.
Speaker 3:Is white.
Speaker 2:Avocado.
Speaker 3:Is green.
Speaker 2:Tomato.
Speaker 3:Red.
Speaker 2:Pepper jack cheese.
Speaker 3:Is typically different colors Because you got the peppers in there.
Speaker 2:Arugula is green don't we already have green?
Speaker 3:yeah avocado and a lemon thyme vinaigrette. No, I'm just happy that they got. I haven't seen this one, though.
Speaker 2:I don't know what it looks like, so it looks delicious. Um, I want to eat it. How much was it?
Speaker 3:$14.99. Okay, you know what I really like, though. There's no meat on this sandwich. Oh, interesting, it's a veggie sandwich and I am here for it. Doesn't sound like a sandwich.
Speaker 2:I would like though but. I will tell you something. I would like the pride sunday from universal volcano bay, which you did not put its price here because nobody could find one uh, what do you mean? Nobody could find, I could not find it.
Speaker 3:It was not on, it was on the website. Nothing was on there, just this. There was no price on there, I think, because it's not always something they have available, because the stand that they sell this at isn't always open.
Speaker 2:No wait, it is always open it, just it has weird times. But it has it's vanilla flavored, a vanilla flavored sundae, layered with banana, orange, blue, raspberry, strawberry and topped with rainbow sprinkles, edible orchid and a cherry. I haven't seen or heard of this in real life, um so I wonder. I'll have to look next time I go to volcano bay.
Speaker 3:You will definitely have to look and then take pictures of it so I can see it. Um, you know what did look pretty good though. The rainbow cookies over the san francisco pastry company. This is over at universal studios um florida, and they have the same cookies over at cro san francisco pastry company. This is over at universal studios um florida, and they have the same cookies over at croissant moon bakery and islands adventure. So one of these is across the street from that starbucks crescent.
Speaker 2:What did I say?
Speaker 3:croissant moon oh well, that's what it is. It's a croissant not a croissant, it's, it's a croissant moon. Thank you, that's what it is. That's what I said, not crescent, I said croissant where's the crescent moon bakery? Uh, this is the one across from um starbucks where, at islands of adventure.
Speaker 2:There you go now in city walk.
Speaker 3:I forget that not everybody lives here, you're good.
Speaker 2:This is one of my favorite things um that I've loved, and it's something that I yeah for like 3.2 seconds, but yes, um, I don't do clubs and bars, it's just kind of not my thing. But in city walk at universal studios, florida, they are hosting love is universal nights at the red coconut club on thursdays and fridays throughout june. Now, what's cool about this is the red coconut club, uh, essentially closed down several years ago and now it's only open for special events throughout the year.
Speaker 3:And they change the theming of it for each season.
Speaker 2:And they do so with this one. They have different types of drinks, they have a live DJ, they have a person in there that's selling merchandise for the Lova's Universal collection, uh, and it's open thursdays from five to midnight and then fridays from five to one, and the thing that I like most about it is they had, like, people on stilts outside. They have all the gobos shining lights everywhere, so you see the love is universal logo. When you went inside, um, I saw like I walked in there and I could visibly see. I saw like I walked in there and I could visibly see members of the LGBTQ plus community, where sometimes it's hard to pick people out in a crowd. But like I walked in there and I felt safe in that time and in that moment and I knew that if I wanted to get out there and dance and be all weird and make fun of myself, I totally could. But I don't do that, so I didn't. I watched other people embarrass themselves and dance and they rocked at it me.
Speaker 3:On the other hand, I just watched from balcony, um you should have rocked I don't dance I know, but I would have, I know you can not a chance.
Speaker 2:If I can do this, so you can do that, but I don't dance. Hit it out of the park ladies and gentlemen, I quit do you know what that's from?
Speaker 3:yeah, it's high school musical two thank you, or is it three?
Speaker 2:recently, we asked you guys to text into the show and let us know what your thoughts were on Pride Month and the reasons behind it, and one listener wrote in and said Hi, both. Generally speaking, I think Pride is great, but I think that the issue I can see forming with Pride Month more recently is that corporations and prominent figures are now showing support for the LGBTQ community solely because they feel obligated or because they want to virtue signal, and not because it's the right thing to do. A lot of that might be because it is so commercialized too, and many companies just see it as a chance to make a profit. It's such a shame, really. Anyways, as far as I'm concerned, the time to show support should be every single day of the year. We should be seeing these companies showing solidarity all of the time, not just in June.
Speaker 2:Love the show Edward from England. Now, aside from all of that, this is one of the things that I love about Universal that they have over any other theme park I've ever seen. I believe including Disney is representation of LGBTQ plus community members in their advertisement.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And in their live stage shows. So, for example, there are some dancers that dance out in front of the mummy area, yep, and occasionally you will see a female and female dancers and male and male dancers dancing with each other.
Speaker 3:It was that way.
Speaker 2:And I'm not talking like, oh, there's just an odd number of females and an odd number of males here, like they're doing the dance. So it's not like they're looking at each other and they're like clapping their hands and doing their feet. No, they're like hands on hips, dips, spins, twirls, all the things lifts, everything that all of the other couples are also doing and all the things lifts everything that all of the other couples are also doing. And then my favorite in one that I've seen a lot is the cabana bay photograph, where it's the two guys and they're sitting out in front of the fire pits at cabana bay with their beverages.
Speaker 2:And it's funny because a lot of people they'll probably look at that and not think anything of it. It's funny because a lot of people they'll probably look at that and not think anything of it. But as someone in the community like I can tell, that is very much a couple their body language, the way they're posed, the way their hands are on each other, and that makes me really happy, not because like, oh, it's a gay couple, it's just normal. And I think that that's great, that Universal does that, and I love that.
Speaker 3:Very inclusive of them.
Speaker 2:Very inclusive indeed and I like it and I love it and I want some more of it. What is with us in the song references today?
Speaker 3:I don't know.
Speaker 2:But you got it bad. I think it's interesting. I love that Universal does what they do. But now here's the part that people are going to find interesting, because when you associate gay people with theme parks, most people go to Disney and their brains go in that direction. But to clear things up, universal does Pride, while Disney does unofficial gay days. Did you like that? I did it was good. Thank you very much. So, ashley, what exactlyfficial gay days?
Speaker 3:Did you like that?
Speaker 2:I did, it was good.
Speaker 3:Thank you very much.
Speaker 2:So, ashley, what exactly are gay days? Fill us in here.
Speaker 3:Well, I'm going to give you Dustin's favorite thing in the entire world history. When gay days began in Orlando in 1991, the US was living through the height of the AIDS pandemic. Gay men were often treated as someone to fear, but a local group of queer identifying folks in the orlando area wanted to show the world that they were just normal, fun loving disney park fans, non-threatening of course. They decided to meet up at the magic kingdom on the first saturday in june. To play it extra safe, they chose a simple blend in. Blend in unless you're looking for it identifier red t-shirts. As the event grew in size, it grew into an entire weekend and the entire central florida community got involved.
Speaker 2:It's now one of the largest pride events in the world you know to segue for a second I love a segue, segue the community tried to do something similar to this at Dollywood in about 2008. And Dolly Parton received death threats because of it and it was completely unofficial, she was unsponsored by Dollywood, she had nothing to do with it and I remember seeing it in the news. She was getting death threats because people were trying to boycott and shut dollywood down because she supported the gay people. And it was like some people on the internet that said, hey, let's wear red shirts to dollywood and that's, that's where I'm from folks this is exactly why pride exists.
Speaker 2:Yes, um, but there are a lot. There are a lot of ways that disney has been supportive without having the official pride celebrations.
Speaker 3:Um, and then you know, most recently there have been official pride celebrations, and I think, disneyland, paris, um, but this was my favorite because we we, during doing all this research and everything, you really find out how disney has supported the lgbtq community and you learned quite a bit of things that like I didn't know that these people were also part of members of the lgbtq community, like the disney legend bob gerr. Now do you know who bob gerr is?
Speaker 2:he's an imagineer. Yes, he is the imagineer. The imagineer. I didn't. He's gay. Yeah, I didn't know that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, didn't know that yeah, he worked alongside walt disney himself. In the 1980s, walt disney's animation studios hired the out gay writer howard ashman, who was also one of the pioneering figures who was responsible for the era now known as the disney renaissance. His work on the little Mermaid, aladdin, beauty and the Beast revolutionized and enlightened the studio for years to come. Howard Ashman became the first Academy Award winner who died from AIDS, and Disney supported his surviving life partner when he movingly accepted the Oscar for the Beauty and the Beast movie.
Speaker 2:So there you go Did you know that. All you crazy people out there that want a reason to hate Disney. There you go, leave, go away.
Speaker 3:A gay man created the movie you love Most of the movies you love, apparently.
Speaker 2:Now you're going to have to excuse me here, because I'm reading Ashley's notes and I didn't get to pre-read. How dare you.
Speaker 2:But in the mid-1990s, when the Walt Disney Company acquired ABC Television, disney became one of America's first major corporations to offer employee benefits, like health insurance, to same-sex couples, partners and its employees, or of its employees. This was the decade before the legalization of same-sex marriage in America, so unmarried couples couldn't expect the same benefits that married couples received Now. This led to a significant backlash and unsuccessful boycotts from conservative organizations. Undeterred Disney stood by celebrity Ellen DeGeneres when she made history by coming out on her hit television show.
Speaker 3:Right there on TV.
Speaker 2:She even went on to receive her own ride at Disney, which was Ellen's Universe of Energy. Something like that, Something like that. But that's I like that. Yeah, it was a big, it was coolen's universe of energy something like that something like that. Um, but that's uh, I like that yeah, it was a big, a big.
Speaker 3:It was cool to read all of this. And then it gets even more pretty cool because in 2018, disney began selling rainbow pride merchandise in its shops and theme parks, and now they also donate a portion of the profits to the glen, to glenson glscn. This is an lgbtq plus non-profit that helps combat bullying and promote gay straight alliances in american high schools glisten, glisten.
Speaker 2:I'm so sorry. I'm pretty sure it's glisten I apologize that's okay.
Speaker 3:Acronyms listen, I'm a boomer and I can't read. What are you gonna do?
Speaker 2:however, if you've had an eye on politics, you may know know that in 2022, florida Governor Ron DeSantis took aim at Disney over its support in the LGBTQ plus community. Disney responded forcefully, filing lawsuits against the state and announcing that it would donate 100% of its profits from its pride merchandise line to the LGBTQIA plus organizations. Now, to give just a little bit of backstory on this, are you doing okay over there?
Speaker 2:Yes, I got the hiccup hiccup ups To give a little bit of backstory on this, when the don't say gay stuff was going on.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Disney was silent at first. Very. Because at that point in time, disney was being led by Bob Cheapik or Bob Cheap hey Peck.
Speaker 3:No led by Bob Cheapik or Bob.
Speaker 2:Cheap, cheapik. No, it's Cheapik.
Speaker 3:We call him Cheap because he's cheap, but his actual name is Bob Cheapik.
Speaker 2:Bob, cheapik, cheapik, cheapik, whatever. Disney cast members began an uproar with him.
Speaker 3:Oh, they were furious.
Speaker 2:And they said that this goes against exactly what Disney is promoting inclusivity and acceptance and that we need to say something Correct. Now, at that point in time, all Disney did was speak up, correct. And they said we do not support that. And Governor Ron DeSantis completely retaliated Do you go into this? Is this something?
Speaker 3:I do a little bit of it, but not enough. He completely retaliated, which resulted in a hostile, in my opinion, takeover of uh, the disney's self-governing district of reedy creek yes, so thanks to tireless efforts from phenomenal groups like equality florida and activists like Brandon Wolf, in 2024, parents groups won a lawsuit against the state of Florida and the students and teachers in Florida schools can proudly say gay Florida settles its lawsuits with Disney in 2024, and the court struck down Florida's efforts to curb Disney's diversity and equity equity, thank you and inclusive programs now disney has continued.
Speaker 2:Well, that's a discontinued. Disney has continued to proudly support the lgbtia plus community, sponsoring um, sponsoring and marching in many local pride events around the world, adding visible queer characters to its tv, film and animation projects like light year, strange world, love, simon and the 2024 academy award-winning film.
Speaker 2:Poor things, you don't have anything to add to that no now I kind of if we're going to talk about disney pride, we have to talk about one thing claribel cow in the words of uh, the young ones on tiktok last year during pride in 2023. I remember she boots the house down in that parade and danced until there was uh, what do they say? A fire on the dance floor.
Speaker 3:She danced like there was a fire murder on the dance floor she danced it out and was amazing.
Speaker 2:Now disney has been incorporating more and more uh things and private. There has been some private events that happen like after the park closes and things like that. Um, but I think it's in paris, um, that we're seeing a formal pride event.
Speaker 3:Yes, um, and that's been really nice have you ever been to to one of the gay days at disney world? No, do you know when they are? Nope, oh well, in keeping with the tradition that has been established back in the 1990s, gay days has always been held over the weekend, with the first Saturday in June. In 2024, the main events are from Thursday May 30th through Sunday June 2nd.
Speaker 2:Missed it this year.
Speaker 3:You have this weekend.
Speaker 2:I'm working. So yep, you will miss it, so yep you will miss it Now in Orlando Gay Days weekend is a combination of community-led events and privately hosted events. Yes, because Disney does not sponsor this. Disney does not sponsor any form of event like Universal does at the Red Coconut Club. But again, they are their own private business and they can choose to do so as they wish.
Speaker 3:They are sold like universal, though, where their merchandise is sold all year round. It is not just sold specifically during the pride month or during gay days you just see an ended, an addition of pride during that time yeah, now, um, you can visit um all four of the parks during um gay days.
Speaker 3:So on thursdays they would typically meet up in Animal Kingdom, fridays typically Disney's Hollywood Studios, saturday being Magic Kingdom and Sunday being Epcot. Now, with this being said, saturday Magic Kingdom days tend to be the busiest one out of all of them, so it also is the must do day. So I would recommend that, if you are looking to do this next year, or even this weekend, as it is the last weekend for the Gay Days I would recommend doing Saturday, as that's when you're going to see the most outpour of its members rocking their red than you will at the other parks.
Speaker 2:But yeah, guys, that is kind of what it is. I mean, that's a short snippet. Look, there's definitely a lot more that we can look into and discuss.
Speaker 3:There's also events that are local around you. So for us I know we just celebrated, they just did Orlando Pride was this past weekend. I missed it Very sad. You missed it Very, even more sad. Well, we're going to have to do that next year.
Speaker 2:Hopefully we'll have lives then that would be nice Um but yeah, there's still more to come after Pride Month.
Speaker 2:Uh, I don't. I don't know if it's going to happen in this next week because I just got back from vacation, but we are still planning on having our special guest, mama Ashley Rose, to talk about the Rose Dynasty Foundation, the community center and lots more resources. So if you are someone that is looking to that, don't forget. I will go ahead and drop the links um to those areas and orlando pride in the description box of the show. Um, but yeah, we will hopefully have her on very soon to discuss more about that. But that is kind of our snippet, our knowledge on um pride in the theme parks and the places that we like to go and spend our time yeah, that's it that's all you got, yeah that's it.
Speaker 2:That's all I didn't have emotional, motivational speech there I have no motivational speech awesome you know what I do have, though.
Speaker 3:As many of you have already seen, on our social media platform, we did announce our brand new segment that we launched last episode, where we are going to be adding what we call bartender of the pod. So this is where we are going to shout out all of our bartenders that we have interacted with, seen, supported, that have helped change our experience, regardless if it's at a theme park, at a restaurant or just at a hole in the wall dive bar, and I would also like to kind of give some commentary here that you could be a potential bartender of the pod. So if you know somebody, or if you yourself need to be nominated and you just need to be validated, go ahead and send a text message to us or comment on any of our social media postings so we can check out your bar, check out your restaurant or even your theme park, and we can pop over and see how you pour. So, without further ado, our bartender of the pod this week is please add drums in this point, please.
Speaker 2:Mercedes. Mercedes is our good friend from Knoxville, tennessee, who hosts us whenever we are up there for Chocolate Fest and Creepy Con. She's also who I just stayed with this last week, and the whole reason that she is the bartender of the pod is for my friend callie's 40th birthday. She was the bartender and she made us these adorable little beverages where she put gummy bears inside a peach ring and then put them in the drink and they look like they were floating.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, they did not successfully float and the drink was too thin, so they drowned um, but they tasted delicious I love that mercedes is also.
Speaker 3:She also is an instructor for those that are trying to get their bar license or their bartending license up in knoxville and she works several events, thank you she's as a freelancer. She does a lot of things yes, uh, and she's just a bar whisperer. The woman knows everything there is about a bar.
Speaker 2:She is, and she is also the food and beverage and guest service director at Fright Works Haunted Attraction. She was my protégé, who took over when I left the company.
Speaker 3:I love that. We love her and her cute little puppy.
Speaker 2:Lola ain't a little puppy, she a big puppy.
Speaker 3:I know she massive, but she lola ain't a little puppy, she a big puppy. I know she massive, but she cute.
Speaker 2:So yes, congratulations yeah, absolutely, and we cannot wait to see you in like one month, girl I'm counting down the seconds.
Speaker 2:It's gonna be so much fun because I bet you she has a present for me so that brings us to the fun part of the episode where we are going to ask your all's opinion. And what are they gonna do, ashley? They're gonna what? Text us. That's right're going to text into the show. Don't forget, guys, it's located in that description box. Just go ahead, click that link. It'll transfer you over to a text message and you can text us. Our question that we want to know from you, guys, this week is between Disney and Universal, which park would you prefer to celebrate pride at, or have you celebrated pride at either of those parks before?
Speaker 3:I would do it at universal. Those food look. That food looks so good love is universal.
Speaker 2:I mean they just they have the slogan it's, it's right there so cute, plus the food looks so good I haven't seen any of it, so it looks delicious.
Speaker 3:I'll be sure to share photos with you and our social media platforms oh, hey, there we go hey, don't forget to follow, like and subscribe to all of those social media platforms you should, and what website should they go to for that? Uh, wwworlandounpluggedpodcastcom. I had to think for a second what our website was called that's okay.
Speaker 2:You've had a hard couple of weeks yes, I have.
Speaker 3:Thank you for validating them but until next, next time, guys, stay safe, stay educated and, of course, share our podcast with your friends, your family and your favorite bartender, like Mercedes. Bye, guys, bye, thank you.