Gay day at disney
Case study: Gay Days Disney
How it began
Gay Days Disney started as an informal event in 1991, when 3,000 gays and lesbians from central Florida decided to gather in Disney World on one afternoon, wearing red shirts to make their presence more visible. By 1995, the event had grown to 10,000 participants and as of 2010 approximately 150,000 LGBTs, their families, friends and supporters attended the six-day gathering (including various pool parties, conventions, festivals, a business expo, activities for kids, etc.) with 20,000 to 30,000 going to Disney on the final day. Now, the event annually pumps an estimated USD 100 million into the Orlando economy.
The popularity of the event is seen by some attendees as a way of "reclaiming" normal joys of childhood lost to homophobia in their earlier years. Growth in attendance also reflects the growing number of LGBT families with children.
Going commercial
The huge success of this event pretty soon attracted the attention of companies, interested in sharing in the - financial - success. After years of discrete participation, Orlando's attractions industry took a more visible and active role in the
ORLANDO | The people turned out for the annual Homosexual tradition of wearing red shirts to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom June 7.
Gay Day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom first took place on June 1, 1991, in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom just before the 3 p.m. parade. The plan was for the LGBTQ+ community to gather, all wearing red shirts, to be visible and to be seen during a second when doing so could be dangerous.
This year, 34 years later, Gay Night at the Magic Kingdom fell on June 7 and many from the LGBTQ+ community gathered, celebrated and turned Disney red to honor that imaginative commitment.
This year, folks gathered at Cinderella’s Castle at 5 p.m. for a group photo. Earlier in the sunlight, many of those red-shirt-wearing attendees took to the 1 p.m. showtime of the Country Bear Jamboree, back after being closed for a reimagining during last year’s Lgbtq+ Day, for the annual tradition of seeing Henry, Trixie, Big Al and the rest of the Country Bears sing and dance.
Check out photos from the day below.
Photos by Dylan and Rick Todd.
ORLANDO | Orlando’s Vast Party Weekend May 30-June 2 filled with pool parties, circuits and celebrations is all tied to the first Saturday in June known as Lgbtq+ Day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Gay Evening at Disney’s Magic Kingdom first took place on June 1, 1991, in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom just before the 3 p.m. parade. The idea was for the LGBTQ+ group to gather, all wearing red shirts, to be evident and to be seen during a time when doing so could be dangerous. This year, 33 years later, Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom fell on June 1 as adv, the first morning of LGBTQ+ Lgbtq+ fest Month, and thousands from the Queer community gathered, famous and turned Disney red to honor that original commitment.
Check out photos from the day below.
Photos by Dylan Todd.
WDW June 2025 Gay Days general Discussion Thread...
Gay Days are traditionally built around the first Saturday in June. This year it is June 7, and following the normal schedule the designated parks are:
Thursday June 5, Animal Kingdom
Friday June 6, Disney Studios
Saturday Jine 7, Magic Kingdom
Sunday June 8, EPCOT
The parks are open to the general widespread, it is not a secret ticket event, unlike at Disneyland.
While there are some private events, and one promoter is actually scheduling a week earlier than usual this year, including a private ticket party at
Typhoon Lagoon scheduled for May 30.
I'll be traveling with a friend, whose wife hates traveling, so he goes with me often. Also in my party will be his 16 yo grandson. We'll be at WDW June 4 to 11. While we are doing the parks, the only one we're doing on the designated day is Magic Kingdom, it's just the way our schedule worked out. I was also able to book the DVC Moonlight Magic event at Typhoon Lagoon for June 9. I've never been to Typhoon Lagoon, as I'