Reflections at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
I recently graduated from university, and with that came a wonderful graduation gift: a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios with my roommates.
I am actually writing this post while at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. You know, Magic Kingdom is actually my least favorite park. Why you may be asking? Well, there are a few standard reasons I could give:
- I’m 22 years old, so Magic Kingdom can feel a bit young for me now.
- The intense crowds and constant, chaotic energy.
- The sky-high costs of absolutely everything in the park.
- Spending hour-long waits in line only to be on a ride for five minutes
However, none of these reasons are why I dislike Magic Kingdom. The main reason is the “princess magic,” or whatever you want to call it.
I don’t usually talk about race a lot. Society already feels so disconnected by race, and sometimes talking about it can make me feel even more disconnected. However, this feels like one of the many honest conversations that needs to be had.
Growing up, I believed the only princess I could ever be was Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. During my very first visit to Disney, there was no Tiana representation at all. There was Aurora, Ariel, Rapunzel, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, and others, but a distinct lack of the few princesses who represented minorities. Every time I look at that huge, blue-turreted castle in Magic Kingdom, it reminds me of how isolated I felt as a little girl.
To give credit where it’s due, Disney has made strides toward inclusivity recently. The offensive Splash Mountain was replaced with the beautiful Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride. The recent live-action The Little Mermaid featured Halle Bailey as the lead, and Wish gave us Asha. Disney is taking steps in the right direction, but it is surprising how long it took to get here, and how far we still are from the finish line.
Classics like Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, and Peter Pan carry racist stereotypes so strong that Disney eventually had to add explicit content advisories to them. Song of the South, a film that leaned into the racist myth of contented slaves on plantations, served as the core theme for Splash Mountain, a ride that didn’t even close until 2023. People often argue that these films and rides are “tradition” and should be treasured. But is tradition more important than the dignity and protection of these communities? Of my community? I don’t think so.
Still, we prevail. I kind of went on a rant here, but essentially, looking at the Cinderella Castle doesn’t bring me whimsy or joy. It brings me the realization of how long the journey has been and how much work remains. And that’s okay, as long as we keep pushing in the right direction.