Disney's Social Media in the Wake of Tragedy

[Matt_Black]

Perhaps a bit late to this discussion, but I thought I noticed most of the usual Disney social media mouthpieces had gone to Shanghai. Perhaps there is a bit of a to be expected disconnect with being in China.

Many, but there's still WDW Today, which is supposed to give several daily updates about the parks, and be available to answer guest questions. That's also not counting various businesses within the parks that have their own accounts, like Cave del Tequila or L'Artisans de Glaces.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

I will admit, given their status in Orlando and proven support of the LGBT, I'm a little bit surprised in the relative silence across their social media channels, as well. I would imagine they're doing so out of an abundance of caution and also to leave the focus on the victims instead of trying to inject themselves into this tragedy.

All I know is mass violence has to end. Some way, some how. I've lived in this wonderful city my whole life and never imagined something like this would happen here. The brother of one of my wife's students is a victim and we just fell helpless.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

They have never done it before for anything other than entertainment purposes and despite the scale of this tragedy I canot see them using Cinderella castle in that fashion.

Didn't they light it up last June when Gay Marriage was legalized? and then also for Paris?

 

[Matt_Black]

Didn't they light it up last June when Gay Marriage was legalized? and then also for Paris?

No. A picture of Cinderella Castle lit up with rainbow colors HAD circulated, but that was done years prior, and not for any sort of statement.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

Universal Orlando closed the Forbidden Journey attraction tonight in honor of fallen team member Luis Vielma who was an attraction host.

I just spoke to my wife and Mr. Vielma is another victim she has connections to. Several of her students also worked at UO and were friends with him, and they were frantically asking on Facebook this morning if anyone had seen him. She's not clear if he was scheduled to work today.

 

[Matt_Black]

I just spoke to my wife and Mr. Vielma is another victim she has connections to. Several of her students also worked at UO and were friends with him, and they were frantically asking on Facebook this morning if anyone had seen him. She's not clear if he was scheduled to work today.

My condolences.

 

[Brewmaster]

Oh, LORD, that guy. It could just have been poor timing, but from what I've heard, Texas doesn't exactly hold him in the highest regard.

It is true, we do not.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

I find it EXTREMELY classy that universal closed forbidden journey.

 

[Sped2424]

Frankly I find the silence disgusting, yet understandable. Disney's active fanbase is one of the oddest paradoxes of any company I know, uniting both the LGBT community as well as right-wing evangelicals through family-friendly content. So while behind the scenes Disney is more than happy to support the community, hire them, and/or take their money, they won't do anything publicly that could rile up the other side.

Only saying something here shouldn't be about riling anyone up - it should be about humanity. Which is why I still believe Disney should say something considering how strongly this event impacts Disney's employees, fanbase, Orlando, and the country.

This isn't a right wing vs non right wing issue though. People died in my town due to a terrorist attack the location and the kind of people who died should not matter in the slightest. To act as if staying silent would appease anyone is just something so deplorable I can't even begin to describe. We are all very scared in orlando rn, something needs to be said. Support is needed even if it's just in thoughts and words. This isn't directed at you btw just me musing about anyone who would think it's okay to be silent about this since LGBT people are involved Disney included.

 

[Sped2424]

Universal Orlando closed the Forbidden Journey attraction tonight in honor of fallen team member Luis Vielma who was an attraction host.

My heart aches reading this. May He rest in peace. I still can't believe this happened I was at pulse no less than 3 days ago this entire ordeal just feels so senseless.

 

[BubbaQuest]

To the OP, I want to thank you for starting this thread. I felt the same thing this morning. I saw the Tom Williams (Uni) tweet right away but was a little surprised my twitter feed wasn't overflowing with retweets of Disney posts.

I know I should sit on my hands as I work through my anger and grief, but I am really tired of the ongoing Disney double standard. They are happy to sell me a red or rainbow t-shirt as long as the words gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual are nowhere near it.

People say now is not the time, but now is exactly the time.

It's time Disney. It's time to admit there is nothing wrong with this picture.

 

[Sonconato]

Just to let you all know, my family and I live in Orlando and on the way to Animal Kingdom had heard on our local radio station Rick Scott had asked everyone in Orlando to have a moment of silence at 6:00 PM to honor those lost. We had a fastpass for the 6:00 Festival of the Lion King show, so my husband asked a cast member if we would observe a moment of silence as Rick Scott had mentioned. Her reply was basically no, because the performers would have to be paid overtime even if the show was a few minutes later and that some work at the Jungle Book show (which happen at 9:00 and 10:30...?) and could not be late. When we arrived at 4:00 PM the flag at the front of the park was not at half staff, but at 8:30 when we left it was.

 

[Skyway]

I suppose in times like this, often better to say nothing at all.

It is EXTREMELY risky for a profit-making corporation to address tragic events on social media.

There is just too much opportunity for their well-intentioned message to backfire and make them look like they are exploiting the tragedy for their own self interest.

The makers of Spaghetti-O's learned that the hard way:

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4404397.html

Even though WDW might be considered a neighbor to this nightclub, most people outside Central Florida wouldn't immediately see that.

In fact, some might see a message of condolences as a tasteless way for the Mouse to sell more overpriced park tickets, hotel rooms and burgers.

In this case, the risk far outweighs any benefit.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Just to let you all know, my family and I live in Orlando and on the way to Animal Kingdom had heard on our local radio station Rick Scott had asked everyone in Orlando to have a moment of silence at 6:00 PM to honor those lost. We had a fastpass for the 6:00 Festival of the Lion King show, so my husband asked a cast member if we would observe a moment of silence as Rick Scott had mentioned. Her reply was basically no, because the performers would have to be paid overtime even if the show was a few minutes later and that some work at the Jungle Book show (which happen at 9:00 and 10:30...?) and could not be late. When we arrived at 4:00 PM the flag at the front of the park was not at half staff, but at 8:30 when we left it was.

Its not necessarily a bad thing but I feel like the general policy of disney is the "show must go on." While its not a bad thing I feel that considering it happened IN orlando and I believe 1 cast member is confirmed dead and 13 CM's are still missing, something like taking a moment of silence would have been an easy "yes." 30 seconds is nothing.

 

[Sonconato]

Its not necessarily a bad thing but I feel like the general policy of disney is the "show must go on." While its not a bad thing I feel that considering it happened IN orlando and I believe 1 cast member is confirmed dead and 13 CM's are still missing, something like taking a moment of silence would have been an easy "yes." 30 seconds is nothing.

I agree. We go to this show frequently, and a couple of weeks ago it was ten minutes late.

 

[Sped2424]

I agree. We go to this show frequently, and a couple of weeks ago it was ten minutes late.

Universal stopped one of their biggest etickets for one team member. The least disney could have done was a minute of silence.

 

[Sonconato]

Universal stopped one of their biggest etickets for one team member. The least disney could have done was a minute of silence.

Amen. A class act.

 

[Tom Morrow]

There is absolutely no way Disney is going to use Cinderella Castle for any sort of statement like that of any kind. It's not about their support for the community or otherwise, it's simply that Cinderella Castle should never be used for any such purpose, ever.

Makes sense. It should remain a symbol of happiness and fantasy with no connections to the real world. Spaceship Earth, on the other hand... a symbol of peace and unity... would be perfect. If only it had the lighting package for it.

 

[Tom Morrow]

It is EXTREMELY risky for a profit-making corporation to address tragic events on social media.

There is just too much opportunity for their well-intentioned message to backfire and make them look like they are exploiting the tragedy for their own self interest.

This is definitely true, but WDW and Orlando are "one".

Also some of you seem to think they're pushing some sort of anti-LGBT agenda here. It isn't that at all, the most likely case is not wanting to associate WDW with an act of terrorism, and their general lack of ever posting any bad news. Still, I'm surprised they haven't posted something.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

This isn't a right wing vs non right wing issue though. People died in my town due to a terrorist attack the location and the kind of people who died should not matter in the slightest. To act as if staying silent would appease anyone is just something so deplorable I can't even begin to describe. We are all very scared in orlando rn, something needs to be said. Support is needed even if it's just in thoughts and words. This isn't directed at you btw just me musing about anyone who would think it's okay to be silent about this since LGBT people are involved Disney included.

I wasn't happy to be making that connection, but it's a concern of mine that does exist (and feels supported by those two strong contingents that both see TWDC as reflective of their values). The recent "Finding Dory" talk probably primed me to view the issue that way as well.

Looking at more recent posts in the thread, I do see a satisfactory effort from Disney to assist CMs in the aftermath, but I still think a public statement would go a long way and should happen (from the company, not just its corporate figurehead). After all, the lack of statement can be construed in a lot of ways, and whether politically affiliated or a marketing/branding strategy to avoid terrorism links, I don't see those as an excuse to not offer one of the simplest touches of humanity. Definitely agreed on that.