Florida governor Ron DeSantis and The Walt Disney Company have lately been involved in a series of political controversies beginning with the introduction of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill. When the bill (commonly called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics) was signed into law, Disney spoke out against it. In response, DeSantis and other Florida politicians have eliminated Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, which essentially allows Disney World to function as its own county government.
Disney World Entrance
The events have been followed by several other attacks against Disney, including a threat to the copyright protections of Mickey Mouse and the no-fly airspace above US Disney parks. These events have presented DeSantis and Disney as rivals in a political stand-off. Now, NBC has conducted a study to see where public opinion falls on both the Florida governor and the entertainment giant.
NBC conducted a new survey through the Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies to track public approval of several companies and political figures. The survey included questions about President Joe Biden, the Republican and Democratic parties, and several other figures and businesses, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and The Walt Disney Company.
Disney World
The survey participants included 1,000 adults, with 750 respondents interviewed on their cell phones. It took place from May 5th through the 10th of 2022. The margin of error is ±3.49%.
The poll asked participants to “rate [their] feelings toward each [figure or entity] as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative.” The results showed that participants were split on both DeSantis and Disney. For DeSantis, 20% of participants felt very positive toward him, and 20% felt very negative. For Disney, 15% of respondents felt very positive toward the company, and 15% felt very negative. 15% of respondents felt neutral toward DeSantis, while 30% felt neutral toward Disney.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline
31% of participants didn’t have an opinion or didn’t know DeSantis, but only 7% of respondents didn’t know or didn’t have an opinion on Disney. Rather than showing that people don’t have an opinion on DeSantis, this likely has more to do with the fact that Disney is simply much more well-known than the Florida governor.
Main Street, U.S.A.
In terms of net favorability, DeSantis ended with a +2 rating, and Disney ended with a +3 rating. While both had positive favorability, it’s surprising that Disney was only 1 point higher than DeSantis.
Part of the reason for this slim margin of difference could be that many politicians in the Republican party have followed DeSantis in turning against Disney. Earlier this year, several politicians wrote a letter to the company condemning their response to the Parental Rights in Education law.
©ABC
We’ll continue to watch for more developments in this story, so stay tuned with DFB for more updates.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Not surprised at all. Wouldn’t have been surprised if DeSantis had come out on top either.
Think about all the bad press Disney has gotten over the past year:
– Not compensating movie talent in line with contracts and commitments
-Not paying royalties to writers and artists
-Getting involved in politics and specifically on a bill that the majority of Americans support.
-Price gouging at the parks
-Poor stock performance
– Diminished guest experience at the parks (park reservations, terrible Genie+ system, deterioration of signature dining)
The list can go on but suffice it to say, Disney’s overall brand is in decline.
Most Americans do not support the bill or De Santis’ politics. He’s being very petty with his revenge against Disney. He hurts his own constituents more than he’ll hurt Disney.
I am no fan of any big company pushing there political agenda on me. I agree with Jnoel.
NBC poll. Consider the source. This will be my last year I have an annual pass. Not worth it anymore. Disney is most definitely in decline.
I’m a huge Dis fan. Been visiting since 96. Been shareholder since 00. Just recently sold our stock and cancelled upcoming trip. I’m not “political” and I wish Dis had stayed that way.
Disney by infinity percent!!
Noel – The majority of Americans do NOT support the Don’t Say Gay law. Maybe the majority of Republicans, but definitely not the majority of Americans. Every company in the US gets involved in politics.
Disney is not the Disney it once was. Too bad.
“NBC Poll” don’t be fooled. Florida loves DeSantis.
Jnoel, re: this point you made: Getting involved in politics and specifically on a bill that the majority of Americans support.
Respectfully, you don’t speak for the majority of Americans, unless you have polled them yourself or seen multiple polls concerning this topic that repeatedly show this to be true. You can say the majority of your friends and family support it, or maybe the majority of your neighbors, but speaking for an entire country is hyperbole.
Agree with Jnoel. Not surprised.
Also would interested to see the sample size, and the sample size by philosophical views. Usually left-leaning people are polled significantly higher numbers than right leaning.
Considering the data presented, people who are paying attention to a variety of news sources would know all the negative news Jnoel cites about Disney. Also, that people with children strongly support parental rights with public schools. Even a majority of Democrats support the Florida parental rights legislation when they know what is in it rather than the deceptive name given by critics. It was a seven page bill. Not complicated. Easy to read what it does and does not do. So Disney chose the side that over half of Democrats do not support, even fewer moderates/ independents support, and very, very few Republicans support. Disney is just flat on the wrong side of the political controversy with DeSantis.
I agre with Jnoel. Ever since Chapek took over, Disney has been a on going disappointment with new policies and procedures. I understand the price increases due to inflation, but the reservations, annual passes, Genie+, and many things have turrned off long time loyal guest.
However DeSantis is just abusing his power as he is only concerned with his possible Presidential run. Besides his questionable policies and laws recently passed, the recent report theat Florida is now one the most expensive states to live in along with some of the some of lowest wages in the country isn’t helping him and his party either.
I don’t think Chapek contract will be extended next year and he will be replaced. Desantis may also be gone next year. Even if re-elected for another term, he will eventually be out of office. If and when that happens, the new Disney CEO and new Governor will most likely sit down andtry to smooth things out in the best interest of Florida (especially central Florida) and Disney. Because like it or not, both sides need each other. The question is, can they coexist peacefully?
Where were these 1000 adults chosen? I agree 100% with Jnoel’s comment.
In response to the comments from Jnoel, please get the facts right. As a shareholder, it is far from accurate to list poor stock performance. Stock performance isn’t based on a handful of months. if everyone just looked at 2022, good luck finding many companies that have experienced a falling stock price. If you went back exactly 5 years to today, the share price was $107. Today’s price is $108. Within the past 52 weeks the price hit $187. Share price during the pandemic (2020-present) has been higher than pre-pandemic (2017-2020). Seems like pretty solid performance. As a shareholder, I think any reference to poor stock performance is terribly inaccurate.
I’ve always wondered, those who bash Disney so badly, why do they come to these blogs? Seems like DFB is intended for fans. We all have our complaints about pricing, guest experience, etc. but if you aren’t a fan then just stay away.
I agree with all of the above except the statement that the majority of Americans support the “Don’t Say Gay” law. That is incorrect. It is specific to Florida and even in FL it is not favored by a majority. People know that teachers don’t make a point of having sexual discussions with kids of that age anyways. There is no profound grooming, or trauma being perpetrated by Florida teachers. This was a response in search of a problem and nothing but stupid, selfish political theatrics.
However, Bob Chaoek’s penny pinching has definitely turned more than a few lifetime fans against Disney, sadly.
Majority of Americans do NOT support that Bill
This horrible for Disney. They were +56 a year or so ago and are now +3. That’s a drop of 53 points. That’s horrible! A politician can get re-elected with a +2 approval. A corporation dropping 53 points is a death spiral for a corporate brand. Also, this was a nationwide poll. It does much matter to De Santis what New Yorker’s think about him. Disney handled this poorly. They should not try to spin it but rather look for ways to improve their brand with their core customer base.
Jnoel, you’re right about most…but I’m an American and I don’t support that bill, and I’m a bit put off that you would pretend to speak for most Americans.
Well said, jnoel
Or.. it could be that despite the massive ad campaign, name recognition as well as the vacation clubs and vacation destination Disney has become, in addition to the patronizing to the perverts Disney does.. DeSantis actually is speaking for most Americans, not the fringe.
Jnoel we agree completely..
Not sure if we’ll ever return to Disney.
Following
This is all about more than just “the bill” I’m sorry if I gave the impression that o was personally trying to represent all Americans. I’m definitely not qualified to do so. I simply researched the polls that were done and it appears by in large most show about a 60% approval for the bill. So yes millions of American do support the bill. The numbers just appear to show they are not the majority. I also found polls that measures before and after people actually read the bill and the significant increase in support after reading the bill.
But alas, this is about more than the bill in my humble opinion. Disney is a brand, yes many companies are going to politics but they do so at their own peril. Any political stance will have a material impact on brand. If you look across my bullets they are definitely upsetting several of their constituent groups across many different areas.
I think Disney has gone to far. I was at Disney World beginning of May. The magic is not there, pricing on food and merchandise is very high. A lot of the cast members were very short not very nice. When I was a the Magic Kingdom I caught the afternoon parade only to find my self sick and realized the Magical Disney is gone. There in front of the parade carrying the banner was a male and a transgender male. Tall white person with a man bun and full makeup on the face just a waving pretty as you pleased. Ruin my parade, there was quite a few guests with the look of discussed. What a shame.
Nah, Geo, all polls show that the don’t say gay bill is NOT favored by the majority. On this particular issue, most Americans agree with Disney over Desantis. It’s not even up for question.
For Disney and those who do not support the Florida Parental Rights bill, I wonder if you actually have children or have read the bill?
I have children, I have read the bill and it is not anti-gay. It stops teachers from exposing our children to ANY kind of sex education or gender identity under third grade.
“classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur.”
This is not anti-gay. Our children have been over-exposed to sexuality at early ages that are not appropriate for their development by news media, television, libraries and now schools. This is not what schools should be teaching small children. It is not up to teachers to try and manipulate small children with their political agenda.
It is the same with Disney. A corporation needs to stay out of the political arena, particularly when it involves going against the beliefs of a large number of their customers.
Disney used to be a place to take your family. It was family friendly and did not have an extrovert sexual agenda. Then came the infiltration of its staff and board by those who are more interested in pushing a political agenda than providing entertainment.
That is why Disney’s reputation has plummeted. If parents want to teach their small children about gender identity issues and sexual matters, (I personally do not think it is appropriate at that young an age). However, I believe that it is the parents right and choice if they want to do so. A teacher has no such right and neither does Disney.
I totally I with what CT wrote. You hit the head on the nail well said.
So for everyone saying Most of Americans don’t support the bill, I find it interesting that there are twice as many people posting that they ARE in support of the bill rather than those who are OPPOSED to it. And this is a simple tread. I am not one to comment much on things of this nature but I think there are way more people like me “the silent majority” that ARE in support of the bill. And as a teacher, if you are asked a direct question regarding such then you simply say “well that sounds like a question you should ask your parents, now class please turn to page 14 and lets start our lesson!!” As a teacher, you are there to teach math, write, reading, etc. I do not understand where this world has gone wrong where you think it is ok to discuss sexual orientation with a 1st grader but you don’t seem to think teaching financing, stocks, credit score importance, loans, interest payments, etc to 10th graders is important!!
I feel with out a doubt chapel is squeezing every nickel but the company did the right thing siding with the gay community. Ron desantis is trying to make this a big issue for us own personal gain for his base group as well as Ted Cruz who said some disgusting and ridiculous things about Disney. I have children 2 of which are in higher education let the schools take care of the curriculum with a little trust they’ve been doing it long time . Parents need to stop trying to tell schools how to run and political have enough on their plate like let’s try protecting the children and the teachers and stop the foolishness. I also coached high school sports parents let the teachers do their jobs and help support your schools and towns. And enjoy Disney let’s not bash to had or it will disappear then what good luck all
Do not care for DeSantan. Im for Disney . DeSatan trying to ruin everything great. He needs to stop fixing things that are NOT broken and fix all the things that are broken. He has created more problems n set FL back 50 plus years. He wants to be Putin in FL.