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The iconic amusement parks changed a gendered announcement and set off the ire of conservatives hungry for another cultural battle.
For decades, the nightly fireworks show at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida began with this introduction: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, dreamers of all ages." That changed on Wednesday when testing for the post-COVID return of the fireworks show began; the new announcement states simply, "Good evening, dreamers of all ages."
The updated, gender-less statement was included in the Fourth of July show, the formal reintroduction of the nightly fireworks display at both parks. The modified introduction will extend to other Disney amusement parks, specifically Tokyo Disneyland, according to Deadline.
The fireworks update coincides with other changes at Disney parks. The company is in the midst of updating or removing outdated and offensive portions of rides, including racially-insensitive segments of the Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain. Back in the spring, the mega-corporation loosened its famously rigid restrictions on employee expression, allowing more flexibility in hairstyles, jewelry, nails, and tattoos.
The changes were welcomed by the amusement parks many LGBTQ+ fans and workers, but elicited grumbles from conservatives fearful of change. That same angry sentiment was expressed after news broke of the firework change.
"Disney gets more ridiculous every day," one person tweeted, according to the Miami Herald. "I HATE THAT. BRING IT BACK NOW!!!" wrote another.
