Back in 1991, Gay Day at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom may have been the very first flash mob. It didn’t involve a pillow fight or a choreographed dance routine, but it was a mass gathering orchestrated online through a computer bulletin board chat group—an early forbearer of today’s social media outlets. The reason for both is also the same.
“This whole thing started as just a way to collectively go to the theme parks and have fun,” said Doug Swallow, the man most-often credited with originating the idea for Gay Day. “And in the end, that’s what keeps people coming back.”
Indeed they do. That first first-Saturday-of-June saw a couple hundred LGBTs attend a single day’s outing at the Magic Kingdom. Twenty years later, an estimated 150,000 attend at least one of the parties and events held in conjunction with what is now most commonly called Gay Days Weekend, held over six days in early June.
But most flash mobs happen then quickly disperse. Gay Day, on the other hand, has had a profound local impact that no one could have anticipated. Similar LGBT gatherings now take place at amusement parks around the world. Religious types have made it their mission to monitor everything for evidence of Disney-sanctioned depravity.
And for at least one Saturday in June year after year, red is the new black.
Here’s a look back at how Orlando’s Gay Days Weekend became the biggest annual multi-day gathering of gays and lesbians in the nation. Unlike a flash mob, this event isn’t dispersing any time soon.
I99I Digital Queers—a computer bulletin board chat group—decides to meet at the Magic Kingdom on the first Saturday of June, agreeing to wear red T-shirts to identify themselves to each other. Doug Swallow, one of the group’s organizers, helps get the word out, with a big assist from Orlando’s LGBT Center. Anti-gay groups somehow pick up on the event and blame Disney.
I992 With bigger crowds anticipated, Disney issues a memo instructing employees to disavow knowledge of the observance if asked. “Remember,” the memo reads, “every day is a gay day at Walt Disney World.” Swallow encourages attendees to gather near Cinderella’s Castle at 3 p.m.—a tradition that still carries through today. He later admits he had no idea the park’s daily character parade was scheduled at the same time.
I993 The celebration continues with no major interruptions, but attendance begins to swell into the thousands.
I994 For the first time, Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom is widely publicized outside Central Florida. Disney issues a statement that is summarized on signs at the entrance to the park: “The Gay and Lesbian gathering at the Magic Kingdom…is not an official Walt Disney World event. We are not sponsoring it or promoting it. This is a private group of individuals who have informed us of their plans to visit the Magic Kingdom and enjoy the park. Walt Disney World is open to everyone. We do not discriminate on any basis.”
Good thing. Attendance has grown to the tens of thousands.
I995 Calling Gay Day “a mission to pervert America’s children,” the American Family Association says the event deprives thousands of children of a normal, fun-filled day at the Magic Kingdom—because gays and lesbians take most of the best positions on Main Street for the 3 p.m. parade. “Many homosexuals were kissing, embracing, holding hands and playing weird games in the walkways,” says an AFA newsletter. But Disney removes the signs in front of the park’s entrance, saying they made too much of just another day of magic. A Disney spokesman tells the media, “People come to the park, they buy tickets, they go in. If the AFA wants to designate a day when all of their members visit Disney World, that’d be fabulous too.”
I996 Gay Day spreads across Disney property. All three theme parks see a surge of red-shirted guests, and it becomes apparent that thousands from out of town are making a multi-day vacation of the event. One of the first after-hours parties grows spontaneously out of Thursday hospitality industry night at Mannequins on Pleasure Island.
I997 This proves to be a watershed year. Travel agents now estimate that 60,000 LGBT visitors converge on the Orlando area for the event. Universal Studios Florida joins forces with Sea World of Florida and Church Street Station to create a joint package designed to steer some Gay Day business their way. Cinderella’s castle is decorated like a giant pink cake—not for us, as many would like to believe, but for Walt Disney World’s 25th anniversary. The first nighttime parties at Typhoon Lagoon and Disney-MGM Studios are a success. Infuriated by all the hoopla, the Southern Baptists decide to boycott Disney.
I998 Another big year. Local entrepreneurs Tommy Manley and Chris Alexander-Manley form Gay Days Inc., a successful travel business that remains a lynchpin of the weekend. Big venues begin to book talent around the weekend, including a dance concert with RuPaul at House of Blues. A plane circles over the Magic Kingdom towing a banner saying, “Jesus Can Save You From Your Lifestyle.” But Operation Rescue—a militant anti-gay group threatening to disrupt Gay Day—goes unnoticed. One member tells a local reporter that park infiltrators were under strict orders not to be arrested. “We don’t have bail money.”
Disney CEO Michael Eisner gets big press for Gay Day on 60 Minutes, saying, “[Gays and lesbians] are welcome in our doors. I think it would be a travesty in this country to exclude anybody.” Televangelist Pat Robertson warns Orlando that it should beware of natural disasters because of Gay Day, and because rainbow Pride flags have been allowed downtown.
I999 The Magic Kingdom reaches capacity and closes for a brief time, while the skies above are filled with flying banners reading “Freedom from Homosexuality—Jesus Christ,” and “RainbowVoice.com.” Beach Ball at Typhoon Lagoon sells out in its third year, and Mark Baker hosts his first Colosseum Party at Hard Rock Live. Religious groups are rebuffed by local television stations when they try to buy air time to promote their ex-gay ministries. A month later, a Christian group releases video of two male Disney entertainers dancing sexually onstage at Mannequins, saying it could be damaging to children, failing to note that the club excludes minors.
2000 Pleasure Island hosts Disco Weekend with appearances by Shannon and Taylor Dayne. The Christian Action Network brings video cameras, “looking for bad behavior among homosexuals in areas where children are present.”
200I American Family Association president Donald Wildmon puts his spin on Gay Day: “Disney rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars through this celebration of homosexuality. That’s as reprehensible as if Disney had hosted Prostitute Day or Pedophilia Days at the Magic Kingdom.” Orlando Sentinel reporter Mike Thomas, sent to Disney to cover the event, corrects him. “First of all, Disney rakes in millions of dollars from Gay Days, not hundreds of thousands. But for the most part, folks, we’re talking a very tame thing. There were a lot of Gay Days T-shirts, the occasional couple holding hands, some hugging and that’s about it.” The worst press? Some I-4 motorists complain that gay pornography is being played on a rental bus driving to a nighttime Gay Days Weekend party.
2002 Mark Baker’s Stars Party on Sunday at Islands of Adventure swells to 7,000 guests. Universal opens several additional rides to accommodate the overflow. Jeffrey Carlson and Steven Hoff exchanges vow in the first ever holy union ceremony at the GayDayS.com host hotel. Under new ownership, the Parliament House brings RuPaul in for a Gay Days concert and attracts 6,000 revelers to their property, establishing the iconic resort as an additional locus of activity for the weekend.
2003 After 9-11, Walt Disney World’s airspace is classified as a no-fly zone, ending the tradition of planes carrying religious banners over the park. Organizers and tourism officials now estimate that more than 100,000 people participate in at least some of the week’s events, with a local economic impact of more than $100 million to the region.
2004 Mannequins DJ Dave Cannalte says the club set a new attendance record before the rotating dance floor breaks on Thursday night. Alcoholics Anonymous has their first-ever Roundup at a large-scale LGBT event. Gay Days, Inc. buys an I-4 billboard, welcoming out-of-towners to the event. And they move their kick-off party to City Hall, attracting Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, and other elected officials. Meanwhile, The Orlando Sentinel acknowledges Gay Days as one of Central Florida’s largest annual events, exceeding attendance at even the biggest trade shows and conventions.
2005 With plans to build new excitement promoters discuss moving Gay Day to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, but back away at the last minute, creating confusion. Hurricane damage forces Gay Days, Inc. to move their host hotel the Sheraton World Center (now the Doubletree Resort). But even more momentous is the arrival of Hurricane Johnny – as in Chisholm. In the 100 days preceding the weekend Chisholm secures the rights to the popular Reunion host hotel and a full menu of nighttime theme park-based events, dubbing it all “One Might Weekend.”
2006 With fewer cooks in the kitchen, Gay Days Weekend once again attracts big numbers—and little drama.
2007 Gay Days Weekend is now one of the top five annual tourism sales generating events in Orlando. Nonetheless, the Orlando/Orange County Visitors and Convention Bureau refuses to recognize and promote the event, causing Gay Days Inc. to drop its membership. Alison Burgos’ Girls In Wonderland becomes a major player with parties at Bongos and the House of Blues, and full schedule of LGBT family-friendly events. And the bears invade Wet ‘n Wild.
2008 Big crowds continue, but Chisholm’s attempt to create a “One Mighty Weekend of Sports” fails in its first year, as do events targeting African-Americans and the leather community. Soon after the weekend, Disney announces that it will close Pleasure Island’s nightclubs, marking an end to the official Thursday Gay Days Weekend kick-off party at Mannequins.
2009 Due to unpaid bills, Chisholm is forced to relocate his biggest parties just weeks in advance, and attendance plummets. But two Fort Lauderdale-based entrepreneurs are able to commandeer Typhoon Lagoon at the last minute, redubbing the popular Friday night party “Let’s Go Play.”
20I0 Mark Baker returns, rebranding his ambitious events “Wonderland Orlando” and vowing to return nighttime events to their former glory. He also fills his first host hotel. Gay Days Inc. moves a full lineup of events, including their popular business expo, pool parties and comedy shows, to the much larger Doubletree Resort—and promptly sell out all their rooms. Meanwhile, Chisholm announces, and then un-announces, his return.
