June 27, 2024 • 42 mins
Join us as we navigate the colorful celebrations, heartfelt stories, and amusing personal updates from Ashley's hilarious tech mishaps and "boomer" moments to Dustin's recent travel back home. Our journey through Universal Studios Florida's "Love is Universal" pride merchandise and their year-round commitment to LGBTQ+ representation showcases both creativity and inclusivity. We explore the impact of themed food and drinks, like the Pride Roll and Pride Smoothie, and discuss Disney's historical support for the LGBTQ+ community, spotlighting influential figures such as Imagineer Bob Gurr and writer Howard Ashman. Dive into the historical significance of Gay Days at Disney World, starting as a response to the AIDS pandemic and evolving into a beloved community event.
Resources
Orlando Unplugged Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297840/share
Orlando Pride: https://thecenterorlando.org/
Rose Dynasty Foundation: https://www.rosedynastyfoundationinc.org/
Pineapple Healthcare: https://www.pineapplehealthcare.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today's episode contains information about Pride
at Universal Orlando Resort andthe Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando Unplugged podcast andits hosts do not speak for the
brands or the companies.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
We've never had a free show guys.
Contains information aboutuniversal.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Becoming social media account holders.
You're listening to OrlandoUnplugged, celebrating life in
living color with Dustin andAshley.
Grab a cocktail or a mocktailand let's get unplugged Orlando
and let's get Unplugged Orlando.
What's up?
(00:49):
Orlando Unplugged fam?
I'm Dustin, I'm Ashley and thisis episode 24 of Orlando
Unplugged podcast Lifecelebrating life and living
color.
Why?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
are you ruining our intro?
You, because you're dumb assyou said a dirty word I'm going
to say a couple of them I'mgonna bleep you out every time
beep, you can't.
You didn't bring the ipad todayI'm gonna do it in post oh
wonderful, yeah, you're gonnacrop all this out too yep, oh
beautiful, not really well, ontoday's episode, we're going to
be unplugging pride month attheme parks we're gonna be
(01:31):
unplugging pride month again,for the third time in a row
fourth?
No, this is our third pride.
Is this the?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
fourth how many weeks are there four then?
How are we doing a prideepisode next week?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
we're not because pride is over.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Next week is it over we had this whole conversation
lined up in the past yeah, no,it's over, because next next
wednesday is july 3rd.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, this is the last pride episode today gasp,
it's not all about me anymore no, also, it's never been about
you.
It's actually awarenessappreciation.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
What do we got going on?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Any whozles.
So we're going to look intoUniversal Studios' Pride Blowout
and Walt Disney World's PrideAppreciation and we're going to
talk about our opinions and ourviews.
As always, we're also going tokind of give you some updates on
life, liberty and the pursuitof happiness.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
We, the people, in order to form a more perfect
union, more perfect podcastestablished justice and ensure
domestic transquility.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
You know I hate that you know that.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Provide for the common defense.
Okay, I got ahead of myself youdidn't know it.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I'm really proud of you ordain.
Stop, I have no established,don't look at me like I have a
clue of what's going on here.
I have no idea.
I know it's the constitution,but that it's the preamble yeah,
I have no idea what that is,but you know what it is let's
not talk about the government,because that's not gay no, it's
not.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
They also really don't like women hey what so
you're not manic right now andyou know what to do with your
hands.
Why is that, ashley?
Oh, we're getting into lifeupdates already I guess you're
not manic and you don't knowwhat to do with your hands.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I am manic, but I do know what to do with my hands
now because my phone is back noyeah, how'd that go?
um, it was um a in the ass, tobe honest with you, a big, big,
giant, giant pain.
But it's convenient and I gotit done.
So my insurance, because I payan astronomical amount of money.
I have insurance, so it coveredmy phone, which is pretty nice.
(03:36):
So you and I went, we got me anew phone and then it got
delivered the next day and thenthat was even more of a hassle.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
You cried like a baby for three hours while we tried
to get it activated yep, I did.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Had another panic attack there.
That was fun, um, and then ittook six years and a decade for
my phone to come back and for meto log into everything, log
myself out of the podcast.
So sorry for all those whofollow us on all social media
social media social media and wewent ghosty for a second
because I I literally could notget into anything and I couldn't
(04:07):
figure out how to um my, whatdid you call me last episode?
The b?
What's the b?
the b yeah, you call me the bword, not the b word, not the b
word, but the other b word,boomer no bisexual boomer.
I'm now stopomer Boomer.
That's it, thank you.
My boomer ass had a hard timetrying to figure out, like, how
(04:28):
to log in and how to like postthings.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yeah, you had to.
She had to change the passwordto our podcast account because
she couldn't figure it out.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yep, and then I also had to take a couple online
YouTube classes on how to postFacebook posts through online
Facebook.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I've showed you how to do that several times.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, I forgot, and you were out of town.
Hey, speaking of that, how wasyour trip?
Did you bring me back a gift?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Fantastic, I brought you back me.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I came back.
That's not a gift.
That is your gift.
That is not a gift.
Did you bring you back, gavin?
No, did you bring you back,gavin?
No, did you bring you back acool t-shirt no no, so you did
not think about me.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
The entire trip no, I did bring you back a cool
t-shirt.
I'm just wearing it.
It's for you to look at that'snot a cool t-shirt.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Do I get to wear that t-shirt?
No then you brought me back.
Nothing, you're welcome.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
So what are you drinking today, ashley?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
a diet coke, because I'm sober forever.
What do you drink?
Wait, you're not gonna talkabout your trip.
You don't wanna.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You don't wanna give any I'm gonna talk about my
drink first oh why?
Because it's a part of our life.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Update ashley oh, I guess it is.
Yes, I am sober now.
Thank you, person that stole myphone yeah, yeah, I just gotta
be I'm drinking what are you?
Consuming?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
um, it's that zarita beverage that we got from aldi's
and clearly you guys arelistening to us, because we went
back to the same aldi's and allthey had was the one regular,
regular margarita and I thoughtI wasn't gonna like it, but it's
actually kind of good we'rehappy for you um yeah, I'm
loving it and I'm gonna be in agreat mood by the time we're
done with this episode.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, you're loving it, nope.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Hey, speaking of McDonald's though, did you hear
that McDonald's is rumoring todo?
What does that have to do withmy update.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Listen, because we're talking about McDonald's.
Did you know that McDonald's isrumoring to be working on a
Beyond Beef cheeseburger?
They're only like 10 years late.
Listen, I'm fine with it.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
If it's gonna taste and look like and smell like
mcdonald's, I am here for itthis is why our episodes are two
hours long god, you're so meanto me, go to alaska, bring me
back a souvenir I will, butfirst I'm gonna tell you about
my, my trip, the trip that youdidn't think about me.
Yes, bring me back a souvenir.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I will, but first I'm going to tell you about my, my
trip, the trip that you didn'tthink about me.
Yes, bring me back a present.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yes so this past week I went back to my hometown,
knoxville tell me about yourhometown um and I got to see
gavin and brad and diana andmercy and all of her friends and
it was, uh, callie's 40thbirthday, my friend Callie.
So I went to her house onFriday and we got wild and crazy
(07:08):
and there was a smut book there.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
I love smut.
You know this A smut book fromthe 70s.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
We did the white t-shirt, we did the white
t-shirt theme where, like youwrite something, a white lie on
the t-shirt.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
What'd you write on yours?
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I'm not.
Why not a white lie?
On the t-shirt what'd you writeon yours?
I'm not why?
Not because we're not talkingabout it.
It was not an appropriateversion of the white t-shirt
game.
Only those are there.
Will ever know, or I'll tellyou after we're done recording I
do like that um so what do youthink my white lie should be?
and then on saturday.
This is all about me.
This is my last.
This is the last pride monthepisode.
(07:42):
It's all about me.
Um, this is my last this is thelast Pride Month episode.
It's all about me?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
No, it's never been about you.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
On Saturday, we teamed up with Iams Nature
Center and the Knoxville HorrorFilm Fest.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Okay, before you start this, Iams, are you saying
Iams, like is in the dog food?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Spelled the exact same, but a completely different
company.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Okay, because that's what I was thinking.
I was like, oh cool, they gotlike sponsored.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
That's I like to call it, I jams nature center but
it's i'm's nature center namedafter the i'm's family.
That, like it, goes all the wayit did.
It dates back to the 1800s.
There's a whole thing, wow.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
So really not the dog food, yeah check out tennessee
roads podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I talk about i'm's there um but plug your own
podcast, I know right, um, butthey they're a non organization,
so they host every summermovies on the lawn where they
show like two movies a night.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
And that particular night they do two horror films
and this year was VampireInspired, so they watched 30
Days of Night and Fright Nightand that's done by the Knoxville
Horror Film Fest.
And then Iams has vendors andstuff set up there and they
provide the venue obviously andit's done out in this really
cool lawn and then Iams hasvendors and stuff set up there
and they provide the venueobviously and it's down out on
this really cool lawn.
And then Frightworks we do ahaunted trail.
(08:48):
So we get there at like 11 inthe morning and then we work on
the trail all day long and thenwhen the sun sets and the movie
starts, you can actually get upand stand in line and watch the
movie while you're in line.
But then you get to go through alittle haunted trail and I've
always enjoyed it because it'sit's so amazing to see we're a
fully indoor haunted attractionand like we go out and we build
(09:10):
this little haunted trail, um,in just a couple of hours and
people absolutely love it andthey have an absolute blast.
And our friends from creepy conwere there too, um to do some
stuff.
And this year we got to takelike photos of people in front
of the green screen before theywent in, and then people had the
opportunity to like buy theirphotos as they came out and it
(09:30):
was a lot of fun, but it's a lotof work we didn't get done.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Did you get to be his character?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
No, I sat in a chair all day long.
Oh, was Gavin his character.
This was my vacation trip, so Ihelped the girls put up the
booth, the merchandise booth,and then I hung out the
merchandise booth all night.
Uh, gavin did trail work whatis?
That, setting everything up andthen tearing everything down.
He also stumbled across theyellow jacket's nest and got
stung eight times oh, poor bubbauh, and then on sunday I went
(09:58):
inner tubing with my dad and mymom and my brother and my sister
for my dad's birthday and slashfather's day.
And gavin fell backwards out ofan inner tube and cut his back
open jesus um yeah, and we allgot sunburned.
Chris, our friend chris, wasthe only person that didn't get
sunburned, which was weirdbecause he's a redhead that's
shocking yeah, it's veryshocking, um, but it was really
(10:20):
funny.
Uh, we had a fun time gavin wasvery injured.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
What can you tell all of our wonderful listeners,
especially in tennessee?
All the things that the peoplein tennessee said about me again
?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
um, they asked where you were, uh-huh, and they said
that, um, they're really gladyou didn't come on this trip,
because they didn't want to haveto put up with you twice in
like less than 40 days, not whatthey said, no they're excited
to have you back for CreepyCon.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So we'll be going up in a month.
And they said that I'm the bestSay it.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
No, they said you were okay.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
That's not true at all.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
They said, you were alright.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
That's not true.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
That's not what you said.
Hey, I'm gonna need your ego tocome down.
I can't?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
you said it once.
That's all it takes.
I haven't been validated in aminute, so I kind of needed that
.
Thank you, so you want to sayit again?
That would bring me joy.
Go on you're dumb that's notwhat I wanted you to say.
What?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I said what brad said about you brad did not say that
about me how do you know youweren't there?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
because I know brad brad would not say that about
you do not know, brad honey,brad would not say that about me
.
Okay, did he say that about me?
The world may never know that'smean brad, if you said that
about me.
I know you listen to ourpodcast.
I'm crying.
Why are you laughing?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
he does not listen to our podcast.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yes, he does, no, he does not well, his wife listens
to our podcast they're notmarried close enough.
They've been together for howmany years?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
wow, wow.
Look at you over here justassuming things about people I'm
so sorry.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I will assume something about the longest
reigning couple in tennesseewell, I have a choco tan line.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Now, though, what's a ?
Speaker 3 (11:57):
choco tan line.
What's a choco?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
my sandals, my chocos that's what they're called yeah
oh see, I rock with the tivastivas were like right under
chocos in tennessee, but chocosended up winning out I like
tivas, tivas.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
They support my arches and I like a good arch
support uh-huh, I ate a?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
um, I ate at a couple of hipster places like 71,
social or something like thatwhere my friend works.
Not impressed, they put hotfood in the same to-go box, it
wrapped in aluminum foil on topof my salad, so my salad was
wilted when I got it and itwasn't great.
So there was that.
And then we went to this otherplace that that I don't remember
(12:37):
, in townsend, and um, the pizzahad so much grease on it that I
literally was like I'm noteating that and then I took two
bites of it and I was like Ican't eat it are you okay?
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I had the hiccups, sorry I can hear that, um, I had
something to tell you tocomment after that, and I don't
remember what I was going to say.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
That you missed me and you love me and your life is
pointless without me.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I didn't have very much to do this weekend because
you were out of town and someother people were out of town,
so I was kind of sad, but Atleast you had your brother.
He worked all weekend.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
At least you had the home to yourself.
Did you walk around naked?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
No, I laid in bed naked.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Oh, that's always nice.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
That was really nice.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Um, I got home and uh , my roommate is cleaning the
house like furiously cause herfather's coming into town for a
couple of days.
Oh wow, um, so there's that.
That's exciting.
(13:43):
Um, you know what it did do?
Speaker 3 (13:44):
I worked on our podcast yeah, and you posted um
stuff a week late.
I couldn't figure out how touse technology okay, but I did
do a couple research things fortoday's episode and for a couple
other things do I?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
need to fact check you no I need to run this
through an ai fact checker.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I already did, or Facebook fact checkers I already
did both.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
And how did the lady from India tell you your facts
were checked?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Ashley, you did very good, thank you, I would I am.
I don't know how to do it.
She told me that I did a 10 outof 10 job and that facebook
would hire me to fact check themcareful, the republicans are
gonna go crazy on that statement.
Whoop hey hey you're gonna bewoke, ashley, you're woke I
(14:26):
don't know what that means, butokay, I'm still have yet to
understand that yeah, I don'tknow.
Hey, you know what I do want totalk about, though.
What the gays?
This episode, we are going tojust kind of dive into both
(15:06):
parks.
We're going to give you alittle bit of disney and we're
going to give you a little bitof universal, and my favorite
part about this, obviously, isthe fact that, like, each of
these parks have some some kindof different, they have
different ways of representingthe lgbtq plus community, and I
love it.
I'm here for it.
I'm so here for it.
So, first up as um, you allknow we like to give history
(15:27):
before we like to give what'sgoing on, so here's a little
history fact.
Um debuting in debuting in 2019.
Love is universal at universalstudios florida is a line of
pride merchandise that hascelebrated the LGBT plus
community.
Now the slogan has become auniversal celebration of Pride
during June.
Universal is celebrating Loveis June for the Pride month this
June, with merchandise themedfood and drinks, and more Now
(15:50):
throughout August.
This is my favorite part aboutthis entire process is that 100%
of the profits of the Love isUniversal merchandise collection
will be donated to localnonprofit organizations that
support and engage the LGBTQplus community.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Why August, though?
Why not June?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Well, it's all the way through August, so it's June
, July and August.
It's three months worth ofprofits oh okay, it's three
months worth of profits, oh okay, that's kind of nice Proceeds.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I like that, and we'll get a little more into
this when we discuss Disney.
I love that Universal is morethan just merchandise.
I know we've only talked aboutthat so far.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
But there's a lot more that Universal does and I
know that Love is Universal is.
I'm not going to say it's acornerstone in their company,
but I've heard Love is Universalin different aspects of
Universal.
More than just Pride Month Ihave yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
And I know that you can buy their merch and stuff
like that all throughout theyear.
I know it is not just somethingthat is inclusive, exclusive
just to the month of June, soyou can buy their merch and
stuff like that all throughoutthe year.
I know it is not just somethingthat is inclusive, exclusive
just to the month of june, um,so you can buy it all throughout
the year.
However, these next parts thatwe're going to talk about when
it comes to the food and thebeverage items, are strictly
only through june, july andaugust, because they're trying
to go with all these profits orproceeds.
(17:12):
So, um, I think it's great, Ithink it's really cool, I really
like it and I like the factthat it is very universal,
backed, so like.
Their company is the one thatcreated this idea.
It wasn't just like a spur ofthe moment decision.
This is very thought throughprocess.
Um, and did you know that thisis the first year that they have
done food?
They have created pride foodand beverages that are
(17:36):
throughout universal.
So you can get a pride roll for11 over at cowfish, which is a
sweet rice filled withstrawberry compote, vanilla
cheesecake, lemon curd toppedwith sliced strawberries, kiwi,
mango, cantaloupe and pop rockcandies now, I love cowfish yes
and I love that it's verydessert heavy
that does not sound good to meit looks beautiful, though, like
(17:58):
I'll have to, I'll be sure topost a couple of photos of all
of this stuff, because you cansee all of it on online.
The photo, the photo of thisroll, though, is gorgeous
because all the fruit on top ofit is very pretty and it looks
very appealing and it's verylike, very obviously rainbowy
and colorful, and it's reallyit's aesthetically pretty.
Did you say how much it was?
(18:19):
$11.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
So another thing that you can get is the Pride
Smoothie for $16 at theToothsome Chocolate Emporium and
Savory Feast Kitchen.
Now, this is a vibrant andcolorful smoothie made with a
rainbow of fruits Interesting.
So there's blueberry, banana,strawberry, orange, lemon, lime
whipped topping and freshberries.
(18:41):
That does sound good.
Um, I don't necessarily aboutthe fresh berries on top for me.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Um, it looks.
That sounds like okay.
Do you remember being incollege and, during like fourth
of july, having the, the themedjello shots where it'd be like
red, white and blue?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
oh, you mean, like, what we're getting ready to do
at drunk brother, yes, whatyou're gonna do at drunk brother
, yes, yes same concept here,it's all layered that sounds
interesting it's to me, I thinkit's.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I mean, obviously my entire background is food and
beverage, so this is veryimpressive for me that they're
able to kind of like keep up thelayers without it all mixing
together.
But then the best part is I waswatching somebody on social
media stir this because theywere like you.
You kind of have to becauseotherwise that lemon lime that's
in there gets kind of potentand heavy.
So you have to kind of stireverything together and then it
(19:29):
just looks gray and sad.
It's she, the lady.
The lady in the video was likethis is just perfect it
represents the mental well-beingof the lgbtq plus millennial my
insides right now.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
This is how I feel I guarantee you a millennial is
the person who created this, andthen, when they stirred it up,
they went this is perfect I justI love it.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
You can also grab a pride sandwich for $14.99 over
at the today show cafe now.
This is a toasted ciabattabread, avocado roasted tomatoes,
pepper jack cheese, fresharugula and a lemon lime, a
lemon thyme vinaigrette so thisis where I'm gonna say I don't
speak for the brand or thecompany.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
However, what does?
That have to do with gay pride.
I think it speak for the brandor the company.
However, what does that have todo with gay pride?
Speaker 3 (20:18):
I think it's just the colors.
To be honest with you, I'malmost positive that's what
they're doing.
They're just taking the colorsof the rainbow.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Chapada bread.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Is white.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Avocado.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Is green.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Tomato.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Red.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Pepper jack cheese.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Is typically different colors Because you got
the peppers in there.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Arugula is green don't we already have green?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
yeah avocado and a lemon thyme vinaigrette.
No, I'm just happy that theygot.
I haven't seen this one, though.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
I don't know what it looks like, so it looks
delicious.
Um, I want to eat it.
How much was it?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
$14.99.
Okay, you know what I reallylike, though.
There's no meat on thissandwich.
Oh, interesting, it's a veggiesandwich and I am here for it.
Doesn't sound like a sandwich.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
I would like though but.
I will tell you something.
I would like the pride sundayfrom universal volcano bay,
which you did not put its pricehere because nobody could find
one uh, what do you mean?
Nobody could find, I could notfind it.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It was not on, it was on the website.
Nothing was on there, just this.
There was no price on there, Ithink, because it's not always
something they have available,because the stand that they sell
this at isn't always open.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
No wait, it is always open it, just it has weird
times.
But it has it's vanillaflavored, a vanilla flavored
sundae, layered with banana,orange, blue, raspberry,
strawberry and topped withrainbow sprinkles, edible orchid
and a cherry.
I haven't seen or heard of thisin real life, um so I wonder.
(21:43):
I'll have to look next time Igo to volcano bay.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
You will definitely have to look and then take
pictures of it so I can see it.
Um, you know what did lookpretty good though.
The rainbow cookies over thesan francisco pastry company.
This is over at universalstudios um florida, and they
have the same cookies over atcro san francisco pastry company
.
This is over at universalstudios um florida, and they
have the same cookies over atcroissant moon bakery and
islands adventure.
So one of these is across thestreet from that starbucks
crescent.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
What did I say?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
croissant moon oh well, that's what it is.
It's a croissant not acroissant, it's, it's a
croissant moon.
Thank you, that's what it is.
That's what I said, notcrescent, I said croissant
where's the crescent moon bakery?
Uh, this is the one across fromum starbucks where, at islands
(22:25):
of adventure.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
There you go now in city walk.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
I forget that not everybody lives here, you're
good.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
This is one of my favorite things um that I've
loved, and it's something that Iyeah for like 3.2 seconds, but
yes, um, I don't do clubs andbars, it's just kind of not my
thing.
But in city walk at universalstudios, florida, they are
hosting love is universal nightsat the red coconut club on
thursdays and fridays throughoutjune.
Now, what's cool about this isthe red coconut club, uh,
(22:55):
essentially closed down severalyears ago and now it's only open
for special events throughoutthe year.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
And they change the theming of it for each season.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
And they do so with this one.
They have different types ofdrinks, they have a live DJ,
they have a person in therethat's selling merchandise for
the Lova's Universal collection,uh, and it's open thursdays
from five to midnight and thenfridays from five to one, and
(23:23):
the thing that I like most aboutit is they had, like, people on
stilts outside.
They have all the gobos shininglights everywhere, so you see
the love is universal logo.
When you went inside, um, I sawlike I walked in there and I
could visibly see.
I saw like I walked in thereand I could visibly see members
of the LGBTQ plus community,where sometimes it's hard to
(23:46):
pick people out in a crowd.
But like I walked in there andI felt safe in that time and in
that moment and I knew that if Iwanted to get out there and
dance and be all weird and makefun of myself, I totally could.
But I don't do that, so Ididn't.
I watched other peopleembarrass themselves and dance
and they rocked at it me.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
On the other hand, I just watched from balcony, um
you should have rocked I don'tdance I know, but I would have,
I know you can not a chance.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
If I can do this, so you can do that, but I don't
dance.
Hit it out of the park ladiesand gentlemen, I quit do you
know what that's from?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
yeah, it's high school musical two thank you, or
is it three?
Speaker 2 (24:33):
recently, we asked you guys to text into the show
and let us know what yourthoughts were on Pride Month and
the reasons behind it, and onelistener wrote in and said Hi,
both.
Generally speaking, I thinkPride is great, but I think that
the issue I can see formingwith Pride Month more recently
is that corporations andprominent figures are now
(24:54):
showing support for the LGBTQcommunity solely because they
feel obligated or because theywant to virtue signal, and not
because it's the right thing todo.
A lot of that might be becauseit is so commercialized too, and
many companies just see it as achance to make a profit.
It's such a shame, really.
Anyways, as far as I'mconcerned, the time to show
(25:14):
support should be every singleday of the year.
We should be seeing thesecompanies showing solidarity all
of the time, not just in June.
Love the show Edward fromEngland.
Now, aside from all of that,this is one of the things that I
(25:36):
love about Universal that theyhave over any other theme park
I've ever seen.
I believe including Disney isrepresentation of LGBTQ plus
community members in theiradvertisement.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
And in their live stage shows.
So, for example, there are somedancers that dance out in front
of the mummy area, yep, andoccasionally you will see a
female and female dancers andmale and male dancers dancing
with each other.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
It was that way.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
And I'm not talking like, oh, there's just an odd
number of females and an oddnumber of males here, like
they're doing the dance.
So it's not like they'relooking at each other and
they're like clapping theirhands and doing their feet.
No, they're like hands on hips,dips, spins, twirls, all the
things lifts, everything thatall of the other couples are
also doing and all the thingslifts everything that all of the
(26:28):
other couples are also doing.
And then my favorite in onethat I've seen a lot is the
cabana bay photograph, whereit's the two guys and they're
sitting out in front of the firepits at cabana bay with their
beverages.
And it's funny because a lot ofpeople they'll probably look at
that and not think anything ofit.
It's funny because a lot ofpeople they'll probably look at
that and not think anything ofit.
But as someone in the communitylike I can tell, that is very
much a couple their bodylanguage, the way they're posed,
the way their hands are on eachother, and that makes me really
(26:51):
happy, not because like, oh,it's a gay couple, it's just
normal.
And I think that that's great,that Universal does that, and I
love that.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Very inclusive of them.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Very inclusive indeed and I like it and I love it and
I want some more of it.
What is with us in the songreferences today?
Speaker 3 (27:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
But you got it bad.
I think it's interesting.
I love that Universal does whatthey do.
But now here's the part thatpeople are going to find
interesting, because when youassociate gay people with theme
parks, most people go to Disneyand their brains go in that
direction.
But to clear things up,universal does Pride, while
(27:36):
Disney does unofficial gay days.
Did you like that?
I did it was good.
Thank you very much.
So, ashley, what exactlyfficialgay days?
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Did you like that?
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I did, it was good.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
So, ashley, what exactly are gay days?
Fill us in here.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Well, I'm going to give you Dustin's favorite thing
in the entire world history.
When gay days began in Orlandoin 1991, the US was living
through the height of the AIDSpandemic.
Gay men were often treated assomeone to fear, but a local
group of queer identifying folksin the orlando area wanted to
show the world that they werejust normal, fun loving disney
(28:08):
park fans, non-threatening ofcourse.
They decided to meet up at themagic kingdom on the first
saturday in june.
To play it extra safe, theychose a simple blend in.
Blend in unless you're lookingfor it identifier red t-shirts.
As the event grew in size, itgrew into an entire weekend and
the entire central floridacommunity got involved.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
It's now one of the largest pride events in the
world you know to segue for asecond I love a segue, segue the
community tried to do somethingsimilar to this at Dollywood in
about 2008.
And Dolly Parton received deaththreats because of it and it
(28:49):
was completely unofficial, shewas unsponsored by Dollywood,
she had nothing to do with itand I remember seeing it in the
news.
She was getting death threatsbecause people were trying to
boycott and shut dollywood downbecause she supported the gay
people.
And it was like some people onthe internet that said, hey,
(29:09):
let's wear red shirts todollywood and that's, that's
where I'm from folks this isexactly why pride exists.
Yes, um, but there are a lot.
There are a lot of ways thatdisney has been supportive
without having the officialpride celebrations.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Um, and then you know , most recently there have been
official pride celebrations, andI think, disneyland, paris, um,
but this was my favoritebecause we we, during doing all
this research and everything,you really find out how disney
has supported the lgbtqcommunity and you learned quite
a bit of things that like Ididn't know that these people
(29:49):
were also part of members of thelgbtq community, like the
disney legend bob gerr.
Now do you know who bob gerr is?
Speaker 2 (29:58):
he's an imagineer.
Yes, he is the imagineer.
The imagineer.
I didn't.
He's gay.
Yeah, I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Yeah, didn't know that yeah, he worked alongside
walt disney himself.
In the 1980s, walt disney'sanimation studios hired the out
gay writer howard ashman, whowas also one of the pioneering
figures who was responsible forthe era now known as the disney
renaissance.
His work on the little Mermaid,aladdin, beauty and the Beast
revolutionized and enlightenedthe studio for years to come.
Howard Ashman became the firstAcademy Award winner who died
(30:26):
from AIDS, and Disney supportedhis surviving life partner when
he movingly accepted the Oscarfor the Beauty and the Beast
movie.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
So there you go Did you know that.
All you crazy people out therethat want a reason to hate
Disney.
There you go, leave, go away.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
A gay man created the movie you love Most of the
movies you love, apparently.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Now you're going to have to excuse me here, because
I'm reading Ashley's notes and Ididn't get to pre-read.
How dare you.
But in the mid-1990s, when theWalt Disney Company acquired ABC
Television, disney became oneof America's first major
corporations to offer employeebenefits, like health insurance,
to same-sex couples, partnersand its employees, or of its
employees.
This was the decade before thelegalization of same-sex
(31:09):
marriage in America, sounmarried couples couldn't
expect the same benefits thatmarried couples received Now.
This led to a significantbacklash and unsuccessful
boycotts from conservativeorganizations.
Undeterred Disney stood bycelebrity Ellen DeGeneres when
she made history by coming outon her hit television show.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Right there on TV.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
She even went on to receive her own ride at Disney,
which was Ellen's Universe ofEnergy.
Something like that, Somethinglike that.
But that's I like that.
Yeah, it was a big, it wascoolen's universe of energy
something like that somethinglike that.
Um, but that's uh, I like thatyeah, it was a big, a big.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
It was cool to read all of this.
And then it gets even morepretty cool because in 2018,
disney began selling rainbowpride merchandise in its shops
and theme parks, and now theyalso donate a portion of the
profits to the glen, to glensonglscn.
This is an lgbtq plusnon-profit that helps combat
bullying and promote gaystraight alliances in american
(32:04):
high schools glisten, glisten.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
I'm so sorry.
I'm pretty sure it's glisten Iapologize that's okay.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Acronyms listen, I'm a boomer and I can't read.
What are you gonna do?
Speaker 2 (32:14):
however, if you've had an eye on politics, you may
know know that in 2022, floridaGovernor Ron DeSantis took aim
at Disney over its support inthe LGBTQ plus community.
Disney responded forcefully,filing lawsuits against the
state and announcing that itwould donate 100% of its profits
from its pride merchandise lineto the LGBTQIA plus
(32:37):
organizations.
Now, to give just a little bitof backstory on this, are you
doing okay over there?
Yes, I got the hiccup hiccup upsTo give a little bit of
backstory on this, when thedon't say gay stuff was going on
.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Disney was silent at first.
Very.
Because at that point in time,disney was being led by Bob
Cheapik or Bob Cheap hey Peck.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
No led by Bob Cheapik or Bob.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Cheap, cheapik.
No, it's Cheapik.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
We call him Cheap because he's cheap, but his
actual name is Bob Cheapik.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Bob, cheapik, cheapik , cheapik, whatever.
Disney cast members began anuproar with him.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Oh, they were furious .
Speaker 2 (33:16):
And they said that this goes against exactly what
Disney is promoting inclusivityand acceptance and that we need
to say something Correct.
Now, at that point in time, allDisney did was speak up,
correct.
And they said we do not supportthat.
And Governor Ron DeSantiscompletely retaliated Do you go
(33:38):
into this?
Is this something?
Speaker 3 (33:39):
I do a little bit of it, but not enough.
He completely retaliated, whichresulted in a hostile, in my
opinion, takeover of uh, thedisney's self-governing district
of reedy creek yes, so thanksto tireless efforts from
phenomenal groups like equalityflorida and activists like
(34:01):
Brandon Wolf, in 2024, parentsgroups won a lawsuit against the
state of Florida and thestudents and teachers in Florida
schools can proudly say gayFlorida settles its lawsuits
with Disney in 2024, and thecourt struck down Florida's
efforts to curb Disney'sdiversity and equity equity,
thank you and inclusive programsnow disney has continued.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Well, that's a discontinued.
Disney has continued to proudlysupport the lgbtia plus
community, sponsoring um,sponsoring and marching in many
local pride events around theworld, adding visible queer
characters to its tv, film andanimation projects like light
year, strange world, love, simonand the 2024 academy
(34:49):
award-winning film.
Poor things, you don't haveanything to add to that no now I
kind of if we're going to talkabout disney pride, we have to
talk about one thing claribelcow in the words of uh, the
(35:11):
young ones on tiktok last yearduring pride in 2023.
I remember she boots the housedown in that parade and danced
until there was uh, what do theysay?
A fire on the dance floor.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
She danced like there was a fire murder on the dance
floor she danced it out and wasamazing.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Now disney has been incorporating more and more uh
things and private.
There has been some privateevents that happen like after
the park closes and things likethat.
Um, but I think it's in paris,um, that we're seeing a formal
pride event.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Yes, um, and that's been really nice have you ever
been to to one of the gay daysat disney world?
No, do you know when they are?
Nope, oh well, in keeping withthe tradition that has been
established back in the 1990s,gay days has always been held
over the weekend, with the firstSaturday in June.
In 2024, the main events arefrom Thursday May 30th through
(36:10):
Sunday June 2nd.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Missed it this year.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
You have this weekend .
Speaker 2 (36:17):
I'm working.
So yep, you will miss it, soyep you will miss it Now in
Orlando Gay Days weekend is acombination of community-led
events and privately hostedevents.
Yes, because Disney does notsponsor this.
Disney does not sponsor anyform of event like Universal
does at the Red Coconut Club.
(36:38):
But again, they are their ownprivate business and they can
choose to do so as they wish.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
They are sold like universal, though, where their
merchandise is sold all yearround.
It is not just soldspecifically during the pride
month or during gay days youjust see an ended, an addition
of pride during that time yeah,now, um, you can visit um all
four of the parks during um gaydays.
So on thursdays they wouldtypically meet up in Animal
(37:05):
Kingdom, fridays typicallyDisney's Hollywood Studios,
saturday being Magic Kingdom andSunday being Epcot.
Now, with this being said,saturday Magic Kingdom days tend
to be the busiest one out ofall of them, so it also is the
must do day.
So I would recommend that, ifyou are looking to do this next
year, or even this weekend, asit is the last weekend for the
(37:26):
Gay Days I would recommend doingSaturday, as that's when you're
going to see the most outpourof its members rocking their red
than you will at the otherparks.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
But yeah, guys, that is kind of what it is.
I mean, that's a short snippet.
Look, there's definitely a lotmore that we can look into and
discuss.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
There's also events that are local around you.
So for us I know we justcelebrated, they just did
Orlando Pride was this pastweekend.
I missed it Very sad.
You missed it Very, even moresad.
Well, we're going to have to dothat next year.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Hopefully we'll have lives then that would be nice Um
but yeah, there's still more tocome after Pride Month.
Uh, I don't.
I don't know if it's going tohappen in this next week because
I just got back from vacation,but we are still planning on
having our special guest, mamaAshley Rose, to talk about the
Rose Dynasty Foundation, thecommunity center and lots more
resources.
So if you are someone that islooking to that, don't forget.
I will go ahead and drop thelinks um to those areas and
(38:24):
orlando pride in the descriptionbox of the show.
Um, but yeah, we will hopefullyhave her on very soon to
discuss more about that.
But that is kind of our snippet, our knowledge on um pride in
the theme parks and the placesthat we like to go and spend our
time yeah, that's it that's allyou got, yeah that's it.
That's all I didn't haveemotional, motivational speech
(38:46):
there I have no motivationalspeech awesome you know what I
do have, though.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
As many of you have already seen, on our social
media platform, we did announceour brand new segment that we
launched last episode, where weare going to be adding what we
call bartender of the pod.
So this is where we are goingto shout out all of our
bartenders that we haveinteracted with, seen, supported
, that have helped change ourexperience, regardless if it's
at a theme park, at a restaurantor just at a hole in the wall
(39:11):
dive bar, and I would also liketo kind of give some commentary
here that you could be apotential bartender of the pod.
So if you know somebody, or ifyou yourself need to be
nominated and you just need tobe validated, go ahead and send
a text message to us or commenton any of our social media
postings so we can check outyour bar, check out your
(39:32):
restaurant or even your themepark, and we can pop over and
see how you pour.
So, without further ado, ourbartender of the pod this week
is please add drums in thispoint, please.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Mercedes.
Mercedes is our good friendfrom Knoxville, tennessee, who
hosts us whenever we are upthere for Chocolate Fest and
Creepy Con.
She's also who I just stayedwith this last week, and the
whole reason that she is thebartender of the pod is for my
friend callie's 40th birthday.
She was the bartender and shemade us these adorable little
(40:09):
beverages where she put gummybears inside a peach ring and
then put them in the drink andthey look like they were
floating.
Unfortunately, they did notsuccessfully float and the drink
was too thin, so they drownedum, but they tasted delicious I
love that mercedes is also.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
She also is an instructor for those that are
trying to get their bar licenseor their bartending license up
in knoxville and she worksseveral events, thank you she's
as a freelancer.
She does a lot of things yes,uh, and she's just a bar
whisperer.
The woman knows everythingthere is about a bar.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
She is, and she is also the food and beverage and
guest service director at FrightWorks Haunted Attraction.
She was my protégé, who tookover when I left the company.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
I love that.
We love her and her cute littlepuppy.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
Lola ain't a little puppy, she a big puppy.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
I know she massive, but she lola ain't a little
puppy, she a big puppy.
I know she massive, but shecute.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
So yes, congratulations yeah, absolutely
, and we cannot wait to see youin like one month, girl I'm
counting down the seconds.
It's gonna be so much funbecause I bet you she has a
present for me so that brings usto the fun part of the episode
where we are going to ask yourall's opinion.
And what are they gonna do,ashley?
They're gonna what?
Text us.
That's right're going to textinto the show.
Don't forget, guys, it'slocated in that description box.
(41:26):
Just go ahead, click that link.
It'll transfer you over to atext message and you can text us
.
Our question that we want toknow from you, guys, this week
is between Disney and Universal,which park would you prefer to
celebrate pride at, or have youcelebrated pride at either of
those parks before?
Speaker 3 (41:44):
I would do it at universal.
Those food look.
That food looks so good love isuniversal.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
I mean they just they have the slogan it's, it's
right there so cute, plus thefood looks so good I haven't
seen any of it, so it looksdelicious.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
I'll be sure to share photos with you and our social
media platforms oh, hey, therewe go hey, don't forget to
follow, like and subscribe toall of those social media
platforms you should, and whatwebsite should they go to for
that?
Uh,wwworlandounpluggedpodcastcom.
I had to think for a secondwhat our website was called
that's okay.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
You've had a hard couple of weeks yes, I have.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Thank you for validating them but until next,
next time, guys, stay safe, stayeducated and, of course, share
our podcast with your friends,your family and your favorite
bartender, like Mercedes.
Bye, guys, bye, thank you.
Today's episode contains information about Pride
at Universal Orlando Resort andthe Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando Unplugged podcast andits hosts do not speak for the
brands or the companies.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
We've never had a free show guys.
Contains information aboutuniversal.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Becoming social media account holders.
You're listening to OrlandoUnplugged, celebrating life in
living color with Dustin andAshley.
Grab a cocktail or a mocktailand let's get unplugged Orlando
and let's get Unplugged Orlando.
What's up?
(00:49):
Orlando Unplugged fam?
I'm Dustin, I'm Ashley and thisis episode 24 of Orlando
Unplugged podcast Lifecelebrating life and living
color.
Why?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
are you ruining our intro?
You, because you're dumb assyou said a dirty word I'm going
to say a couple of them I'mgonna bleep you out every time
beep, you can't.
You didn't bring the ipad todayI'm gonna do it in post oh
wonderful, yeah, you're gonnacrop all this out too yep, oh
beautiful, not really well, ontoday's episode, we're going to
be unplugging pride month attheme parks we're gonna be
(01:31):
unplugging pride month again,for the third time in a row
fourth?
No, this is our third pride.
Is this the?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
fourth how many weeks are there four then?
How are we doing a prideepisode next week?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
we're not because pride is over.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Next week is it over we had this whole conversation
lined up in the past yeah, no,it's over, because next next
wednesday is july 3rd.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, this is the last pride episode today gasp,
it's not all about me anymore no, also, it's never been about
you.
It's actually awarenessappreciation.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
What do we got going on?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Any whozles.
So we're going to look intoUniversal Studios' Pride Blowout
and Walt Disney World's PrideAppreciation and we're going to
talk about our opinions and ourviews.
As always, we're also going tokind of give you some updates on
life, liberty and the pursuitof happiness.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
We, the people, in order to form a more perfect
union, more perfect podcastestablished justice and ensure
domestic transquility.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
You know I hate that you know that.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Provide for the common defense.
Okay, I got ahead of myself youdidn't know it.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I'm really proud of you ordain.
Stop, I have no established,don't look at me like I have a
clue of what's going on here.
I have no idea.
I know it's the constitution,but that it's the preamble yeah,
I have no idea what that is,but you know what it is let's
not talk about the government,because that's not gay no, it's
not.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
They also really don't like women hey what so
you're not manic right now andyou know what to do with your
hands.
Why is that, ashley?
Oh, we're getting into lifeupdates already I guess you're
not manic and you don't knowwhat to do with your hands.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I am manic, but I do know what to do with my hands
now because my phone is back noyeah, how'd that go?
um, it was um a in the ass, tobe honest with you, a big, big,
giant, giant pain.
But it's convenient and I gotit done.
So my insurance, because I payan astronomical amount of money.
I have insurance, so it coveredmy phone, which is pretty nice.
(03:36):
So you and I went, we got me anew phone and then it got
delivered the next day and thenthat was even more of a hassle.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
You cried like a baby for three hours while we tried
to get it activated yep, I did.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Had another panic attack there.
That was fun, um, and then ittook six years and a decade for
my phone to come back and for meto log into everything, log
myself out of the podcast.
So sorry for all those whofollow us on all social media
social media social media and wewent ghosty for a second
because I I literally could notget into anything and I couldn't
(04:07):
figure out how to um my, whatdid you call me last episode?
The b?
What's the b?
the b yeah, you call me the bword, not the b word, not the b
word, but the other b word,boomer no bisexual boomer.
I'm now stopomer Boomer.
That's it, thank you.
My boomer ass had a hard timetrying to figure out, like, how
(04:28):
to log in and how to like postthings.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Yeah, you had to.
She had to change the passwordto our podcast account because
she couldn't figure it out.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yep, and then I also had to take a couple online
YouTube classes on how to postFacebook posts through online
Facebook.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I've showed you how to do that several times.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, I forgot, and you were out of town.
Hey, speaking of that, how wasyour trip?
Did you bring me back a gift?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Fantastic, I brought you back me.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I came back.
That's not a gift.
That is your gift.
That is not a gift.
Did you bring you back, gavin?
No, did you bring you back,gavin?
No, did you bring you back acool t-shirt no no, so you did
not think about me.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
The entire trip no, I did bring you back a cool
t-shirt.
I'm just wearing it.
It's for you to look at that'snot a cool t-shirt.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Do I get to wear that t-shirt?
No then you brought me back.
Nothing, you're welcome.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
So what are you drinking today, ashley?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
a diet coke, because I'm sober forever.
What do you drink?
Wait, you're not gonna talkabout your trip.
You don't wanna.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You don't wanna give any I'm gonna talk about my
drink first oh why?
Because it's a part of our life.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Update ashley oh, I guess it is.
Yes, I am sober now.
Thank you, person that stole myphone yeah, yeah, I just gotta
be I'm drinking what are you?
Consuming?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
um, it's that zarita beverage that we got from aldi's
and clearly you guys arelistening to us, because we went
back to the same aldi's and allthey had was the one regular,
regular margarita and I thoughtI wasn't gonna like it, but it's
actually kind of good we'rehappy for you um yeah, I'm
loving it and I'm gonna be in agreat mood by the time we're
done with this episode.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, you're loving it, nope.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Hey, speaking of McDonald's though, did you hear
that McDonald's is rumoring todo?
What does that have to do withmy update.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Listen, because we're talking about McDonald's.
Did you know that McDonald's isrumoring to be working on a
Beyond Beef cheeseburger?
They're only like 10 years late.
Listen, I'm fine with it.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
If it's gonna taste and look like and smell like
mcdonald's, I am here for itthis is why our episodes are two
hours long god, you're so meanto me, go to alaska, bring me
back a souvenir I will, butfirst I'm gonna tell you about
my, my trip, the trip that youdidn't think about me.
Yes, bring me back a souvenir.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I will, but first I'm going to tell you about my, my
trip, the trip that you didn'tthink about me.
Yes, bring me back a present.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yes so this past week I went back to my hometown,
knoxville tell me about yourhometown um and I got to see
gavin and brad and diana andmercy and all of her friends and
it was, uh, callie's 40thbirthday, my friend Callie.
So I went to her house onFriday and we got wild and crazy
(07:08):
and there was a smut book there.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
I love smut.
You know this A smut book fromthe 70s.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
We did the white t-shirt, we did the white
t-shirt theme where, like youwrite something, a white lie on
the t-shirt.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
What'd you write on yours?
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I'm not.
Why not a white lie?
On the t-shirt what'd you writeon yours?
I'm not why?
Not because we're not talkingabout it.
It was not an appropriateversion of the white t-shirt
game.
Only those are there.
Will ever know, or I'll tellyou after we're done recording I
do like that um so what do youthink my white lie should be?
and then on saturday.
This is all about me.
This is my last.
This is the last pride monthepisode.
(07:42):
It's all about me.
Um, this is my last this is thelast Pride Month episode.
It's all about me?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
No, it's never been about you.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
On Saturday, we teamed up with Iams Nature
Center and the Knoxville HorrorFilm Fest.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Okay, before you start this, Iams, are you saying
Iams, like is in the dog food?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Spelled the exact same, but a completely different
company.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Okay, because that's what I was thinking.
I was like, oh cool, they gotlike sponsored.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
That's I like to call it, I jams nature center but
it's i'm's nature center namedafter the i'm's family.
That, like it, goes all the wayit did.
It dates back to the 1800s.
There's a whole thing, wow.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
So really not the dog food, yeah check out tennessee
roads podcast.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I talk about i'm's there um but plug your own
podcast, I know right, um, butthey they're a non organization,
so they host every summermovies on the lawn where they
show like two movies a night.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
And that particular night they do two horror films
and this year was VampireInspired, so they watched 30
Days of Night and Fright Nightand that's done by the Knoxville
Horror Film Fest.
And then Iams has vendors andstuff set up there and they
provide the venue obviously andit's done out in this really
cool lawn and then Iams hasvendors and stuff set up there
and they provide the venueobviously and it's down out on
this really cool lawn.
And then Frightworks we do ahaunted trail.
(08:48):
So we get there at like 11 inthe morning and then we work on
the trail all day long and thenwhen the sun sets and the movie
starts, you can actually get upand stand in line and watch the
movie while you're in line.
But then you get to go through alittle haunted trail and I've
always enjoyed it because it'sit's so amazing to see we're a
fully indoor haunted attractionand like we go out and we build
(09:10):
this little haunted trail, um,in just a couple of hours and
people absolutely love it andthey have an absolute blast.
And our friends from creepy conwere there too, um to do some
stuff.
And this year we got to takelike photos of people in front
of the green screen before theywent in, and then people had the
opportunity to like buy theirphotos as they came out and it
(09:30):
was a lot of fun, but it's a lotof work we didn't get done.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Did you get to be his character?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
No, I sat in a chair all day long.
Oh, was Gavin his character.
This was my vacation trip, so Ihelped the girls put up the
booth, the merchandise booth,and then I hung out the
merchandise booth all night.
Uh, gavin did trail work whatis?
That, setting everything up andthen tearing everything down.
He also stumbled across theyellow jacket's nest and got
stung eight times oh, poor bubbauh, and then on sunday I went
(09:58):
inner tubing with my dad and mymom and my brother and my sister
for my dad's birthday and slashfather's day.
And gavin fell backwards out ofan inner tube and cut his back
open jesus um yeah, and we allgot sunburned.
Chris, our friend chris, wasthe only person that didn't get
sunburned, which was weirdbecause he's a redhead that's
shocking yeah, it's veryshocking, um, but it was really
(10:20):
funny.
Uh, we had a fun time gavin wasvery injured.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
What can you tell all of our wonderful listeners,
especially in tennessee?
All the things that the peoplein tennessee said about me again
?
Speaker 2 (10:31):
um, they asked where you were, uh-huh, and they said
that, um, they're really gladyou didn't come on this trip,
because they didn't want to haveto put up with you twice in
like less than 40 days, not whatthey said, no they're excited
to have you back for CreepyCon.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So we'll be going up in a month.
And they said that I'm the bestSay it.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
No, they said you were okay.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
That's not true at all.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
They said, you were alright.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
That's not true.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
That's not what you said.
Hey, I'm gonna need your ego tocome down.
I can't?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
you said it once.
That's all it takes.
I haven't been validated in aminute, so I kind of needed that
.
Thank you, so you want to sayit again?
That would bring me joy.
Go on you're dumb that's notwhat I wanted you to say.
What?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I said what brad said about you brad did not say that
about me how do you know youweren't there?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
because I know brad brad would not say that about
you do not know, brad honey,brad would not say that about me
.
Okay, did he say that about me?
The world may never know that'smean brad, if you said that
about me.
I know you listen to ourpodcast.
I'm crying.
Why are you laughing?
Speaker 2 (11:39):
he does not listen to our podcast.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yes, he does, no, he does not well, his wife listens
to our podcast they're notmarried close enough.
They've been together for howmany years?
Speaker 2 (11:46):
wow, wow.
Look at you over here justassuming things about people I'm
so sorry.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
I will assume something about the longest
reigning couple in tennesseewell, I have a choco tan line.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Now, though, what's a ?
Speaker 3 (11:57):
choco tan line.
What's a choco?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
my sandals, my chocos that's what they're called yeah
oh see, I rock with the tivastivas were like right under
chocos in tennessee, but chocosended up winning out I like
tivas, tivas.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
They support my arches and I like a good arch
support uh-huh, I ate a?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
um, I ate at a couple of hipster places like 71,
social or something like thatwhere my friend works.
Not impressed, they put hotfood in the same to-go box, it
wrapped in aluminum foil on topof my salad, so my salad was
wilted when I got it and itwasn't great.
So there was that.
And then we went to this otherplace that that I don't remember
(12:37):
, in townsend, and um, the pizzahad so much grease on it that I
literally was like I'm noteating that and then I took two
bites of it and I was like Ican't eat it are you okay?
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I had the hiccups, sorry I can hear that, um, I had
something to tell you tocomment after that, and I don't
remember what I was going to say.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
That you missed me and you love me and your life is
pointless without me.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I didn't have very much to do this weekend because
you were out of town and someother people were out of town,
so I was kind of sad, but Atleast you had your brother.
He worked all weekend.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
At least you had the home to yourself.
Did you walk around naked?
Speaker 3 (13:19):
No, I laid in bed naked.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Oh, that's always nice.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
That was really nice.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Um, I got home and uh , my roommate is cleaning the
house like furiously cause herfather's coming into town for a
couple of days.
Oh wow, um, so there's that.
That's exciting.
(13:43):
Um, you know what it did do?
Speaker 3 (13:44):
I worked on our podcast yeah, and you posted um
stuff a week late.
I couldn't figure out how touse technology okay, but I did
do a couple research things fortoday's episode and for a couple
other things do I?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
need to fact check you no I need to run this
through an ai fact checker.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I already did, or Facebook fact checkers I already
did both.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
And how did the lady from India tell you your facts
were checked?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Ashley, you did very good, thank you, I would I am.
I don't know how to do it.
She told me that I did a 10 outof 10 job and that facebook
would hire me to fact check themcareful, the republicans are
gonna go crazy on that statement.
Whoop hey hey you're gonna bewoke, ashley, you're woke I
(14:26):
don't know what that means, butokay, I'm still have yet to
understand that yeah, I don'tknow.
Hey, you know what I do want totalk about, though.
What the gays?
This episode, we are going tojust kind of dive into both
(15:06):
parks.
We're going to give you alittle bit of disney and we're
going to give you a little bitof universal, and my favorite
part about this, obviously, isthe fact that, like, each of
these parks have some some kindof different, they have
different ways of representingthe lgbtq plus community, and I
love it.
I'm here for it.
I'm so here for it.
So, first up as um, you allknow we like to give history
(15:27):
before we like to give what'sgoing on, so here's a little
history fact.
Um debuting in debuting in 2019.
Love is universal at universalstudios florida is a line of
pride merchandise that hascelebrated the LGBT plus
community.
Now the slogan has become auniversal celebration of Pride
during June.
Universal is celebrating Loveis June for the Pride month this
June, with merchandise themedfood and drinks, and more Now
(15:50):
throughout August.
This is my favorite part aboutthis entire process is that 100%
of the profits of the Love isUniversal merchandise collection
will be donated to localnonprofit organizations that
support and engage the LGBTQplus community.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Why August, though?
Why not June?
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Well, it's all the way through August, so it's June
, July and August.
It's three months worth ofprofits oh okay, it's three
months worth of profits, oh okay, that's kind of nice Proceeds.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
I like that, and we'll get a little more into
this when we discuss Disney.
I love that Universal is morethan just merchandise.
I know we've only talked aboutthat so far.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
But there's a lot more that Universal does and I
know that Love is Universal is.
I'm not going to say it's acornerstone in their company,
but I've heard Love is Universalin different aspects of
Universal.
More than just Pride Month Ihave yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
And I know that you can buy their merch and stuff
like that all throughout theyear.
I know it is not just somethingthat is inclusive, exclusive
just to the month of June, soyou can buy their merch and
stuff like that all throughoutthe year.
I know it is not just somethingthat is inclusive, exclusive
just to the month of june, um,so you can buy it all throughout
the year.
However, these next parts thatwe're going to talk about when
it comes to the food and thebeverage items, are strictly
only through june, july andaugust, because they're trying
to go with all these profits orproceeds.
(17:12):
So, um, I think it's great, Ithink it's really cool, I really
like it and I like the factthat it is very universal,
backed, so like.
Their company is the one thatcreated this idea.
It wasn't just like a spur ofthe moment decision.
This is very thought throughprocess.
Um, and did you know that thisis the first year that they have
done food?
They have created pride foodand beverages that are
(17:36):
throughout universal.
So you can get a pride roll for11 over at cowfish, which is a
sweet rice filled withstrawberry compote, vanilla
cheesecake, lemon curd toppedwith sliced strawberries, kiwi,
mango, cantaloupe and pop rockcandies now, I love cowfish yes
and I love that it's verydessert heavy
that does not sound good to meit looks beautiful, though, like
(17:58):
I'll have to, I'll be sure topost a couple of photos of all
of this stuff, because you cansee all of it on online.
The photo, the photo of thisroll, though, is gorgeous
because all the fruit on top ofit is very pretty and it looks
very appealing and it's verylike, very obviously rainbowy
and colorful, and it's reallyit's aesthetically pretty.
Did you say how much it was?
(18:19):
$11.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
So another thing that you can get is the Pride
Smoothie for $16 at theToothsome Chocolate Emporium and
Savory Feast Kitchen.
Now, this is a vibrant andcolorful smoothie made with a
rainbow of fruits Interesting.
So there's blueberry, banana,strawberry, orange, lemon, lime
whipped topping and freshberries.
(18:41):
That does sound good.
Um, I don't necessarily aboutthe fresh berries on top for me.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Um, it looks.
That sounds like okay.
Do you remember being incollege and, during like fourth
of july, having the, the themedjello shots where it'd be like
red, white and blue?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
oh, you mean, like, what we're getting ready to do
at drunk brother, yes, whatyou're gonna do at drunk brother
, yes, yes same concept here,it's all layered that sounds
interesting it's to me, I thinkit's.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I mean, obviously my entire background is food and
beverage, so this is veryimpressive for me that they're
able to kind of like keep up thelayers without it all mixing
together.
But then the best part is I waswatching somebody on social
media stir this because theywere like you.
You kind of have to becauseotherwise that lemon lime that's
in there gets kind of potentand heavy.
So you have to kind of stireverything together and then it
(19:29):
just looks gray and sad.
It's she, the lady.
The lady in the video was likethis is just perfect it
represents the mental well-beingof the lgbtq plus millennial my
insides right now.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
This is how I feel I guarantee you a millennial is
the person who created this, andthen, when they stirred it up,
they went this is perfect I justI love it.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
You can also grab a pride sandwich for $14.99 over
at the today show cafe now.
This is a toasted ciabattabread, avocado roasted tomatoes,
pepper jack cheese, fresharugula and a lemon lime, a
lemon thyme vinaigrette so thisis where I'm gonna say I don't
speak for the brand or thecompany.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
However, what does?
That have to do with gay pride.
I think it speak for the brandor the company.
However, what does that have todo with gay pride?
Speaker 3 (20:18):
I think it's just the colors.
To be honest with you, I'malmost positive that's what
they're doing.
They're just taking the colorsof the rainbow.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Chapada bread.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Is white.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Avocado.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Is green.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Tomato.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Red.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Pepper jack cheese.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Is typically different colors Because you got
the peppers in there.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Arugula is green don't we already have green?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
yeah avocado and a lemon thyme vinaigrette.
No, I'm just happy that theygot.
I haven't seen this one, though.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
I don't know what it looks like, so it looks
delicious.
Um, I want to eat it.
How much was it?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
$14.99.
Okay, you know what I reallylike, though.
There's no meat on thissandwich.
Oh, interesting, it's a veggiesandwich and I am here for it.
Doesn't sound like a sandwich.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
I would like though but.
I will tell you something.
I would like the pride sundayfrom universal volcano bay,
which you did not put its pricehere because nobody could find
one uh, what do you mean?
Nobody could find, I could notfind it.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It was not on, it was on the website.
Nothing was on there, just this.
There was no price on there, Ithink, because it's not always
something they have available,because the stand that they sell
this at isn't always open.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
No wait, it is always open it, just it has weird
times.
But it has it's vanillaflavored, a vanilla flavored
sundae, layered with banana,orange, blue, raspberry,
strawberry and topped withrainbow sprinkles, edible orchid
and a cherry.
I haven't seen or heard of thisin real life, um so I wonder.
(21:43):
I'll have to look next time Igo to volcano bay.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
You will definitely have to look and then take
pictures of it so I can see it.
Um, you know what did lookpretty good though.
The rainbow cookies over thesan francisco pastry company.
This is over at universalstudios um florida, and they
have the same cookies over atcro san francisco pastry company
.
This is over at universalstudios um florida, and they
have the same cookies over atcroissant moon bakery and
islands adventure.
So one of these is across thestreet from that starbucks
crescent.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
What did I say?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
croissant moon oh well, that's what it is.
It's a croissant not acroissant, it's, it's a
croissant moon.
Thank you, that's what it is.
That's what I said, notcrescent, I said croissant
where's the crescent moon bakery?
Uh, this is the one across fromum starbucks where, at islands
(22:25):
of adventure.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
There you go now in city walk.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
I forget that not everybody lives here, you're
good.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
This is one of my favorite things um that I've
loved, and it's something that Iyeah for like 3.2 seconds, but
yes, um, I don't do clubs andbars, it's just kind of not my
thing.
But in city walk at universalstudios, florida, they are
hosting love is universal nightsat the red coconut club on
thursdays and fridays throughoutjune.
Now, what's cool about this isthe red coconut club, uh,
(22:55):
essentially closed down severalyears ago and now it's only open
for special events throughoutthe year.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
And they change the theming of it for each season.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
And they do so with this one.
They have different types ofdrinks, they have a live DJ,
they have a person in therethat's selling merchandise for
the Lova's Universal collection,uh, and it's open thursdays
from five to midnight and thenfridays from five to one, and
(23:23):
the thing that I like most aboutit is they had, like, people on
stilts outside.
They have all the gobos shininglights everywhere, so you see
the love is universal logo.
When you went inside, um, I sawlike I walked in there and I
could visibly see.
I saw like I walked in thereand I could visibly see members
of the LGBTQ plus community,where sometimes it's hard to
(23:46):
pick people out in a crowd.
But like I walked in there andI felt safe in that time and in
that moment and I knew that if Iwanted to get out there and
dance and be all weird and makefun of myself, I totally could.
But I don't do that, so Ididn't.
I watched other peopleembarrass themselves and dance
and they rocked at it me.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
On the other hand, I just watched from balcony, um
you should have rocked I don'tdance I know, but I would have,
I know you can not a chance.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
If I can do this, so you can do that, but I don't
dance.
Hit it out of the park ladiesand gentlemen, I quit do you
know what that's from?
Speaker 3 (24:24):
yeah, it's high school musical two thank you, or
is it three?
Speaker 2 (24:33):
recently, we asked you guys to text into the show
and let us know what yourthoughts were on Pride Month and
the reasons behind it, and onelistener wrote in and said Hi,
both.
Generally speaking, I thinkPride is great, but I think that
the issue I can see formingwith Pride Month more recently
is that corporations andprominent figures are now
(24:54):
showing support for the LGBTQcommunity solely because they
feel obligated or because theywant to virtue signal, and not
because it's the right thing todo.
A lot of that might be becauseit is so commercialized too, and
many companies just see it as achance to make a profit.
It's such a shame, really.
Anyways, as far as I'mconcerned, the time to show
(25:14):
support should be every singleday of the year.
We should be seeing thesecompanies showing solidarity all
of the time, not just in June.
Love the show Edward fromEngland.
Now, aside from all of that,this is one of the things that I
(25:36):
love about Universal that theyhave over any other theme park
I've ever seen.
I believe including Disney isrepresentation of LGBTQ plus
community members in theiradvertisement.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
And in their live stage shows.
So, for example, there are somedancers that dance out in front
of the mummy area, yep, andoccasionally you will see a
female and female dancers andmale and male dancers dancing
with each other.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
It was that way.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
And I'm not talking like, oh, there's just an odd
number of females and an oddnumber of males here, like
they're doing the dance.
So it's not like they'relooking at each other and
they're like clapping theirhands and doing their feet.
No, they're like hands on hips,dips, spins, twirls, all the
things lifts, everything thatall of the other couples are
also doing and all the thingslifts everything that all of the
(26:28):
other couples are also doing.
And then my favorite in onethat I've seen a lot is the
cabana bay photograph, whereit's the two guys and they're
sitting out in front of the firepits at cabana bay with their
beverages.
And it's funny because a lot ofpeople they'll probably look at
that and not think anything ofit.
It's funny because a lot ofpeople they'll probably look at
that and not think anything ofit.
But as someone in the communitylike I can tell, that is very
much a couple their bodylanguage, the way they're posed,
the way their hands are on eachother, and that makes me really
(26:51):
happy, not because like, oh,it's a gay couple, it's just
normal.
And I think that that's great,that Universal does that, and I
love that.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Very inclusive of them.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Very inclusive indeed and I like it and I love it and
I want some more of it.
What is with us in the songreferences today?
Speaker 3 (27:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
But you got it bad.
I think it's interesting.
I love that Universal does whatthey do.
But now here's the part thatpeople are going to find
interesting, because when youassociate gay people with theme
parks, most people go to Disneyand their brains go in that
direction.
But to clear things up,universal does Pride, while
(27:36):
Disney does unofficial gay days.
Did you like that?
I did it was good.
Thank you very much.
So, ashley, what exactlyfficialgay days?
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Did you like that?
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I did, it was good.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
So, ashley, what exactly are gay days?
Fill us in here.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Well, I'm going to give you Dustin's favorite thing
in the entire world history.
When gay days began in Orlandoin 1991, the US was living
through the height of the AIDSpandemic.
Gay men were often treated assomeone to fear, but a local
group of queer identifying folksin the orlando area wanted to
show the world that they werejust normal, fun loving disney
(28:08):
park fans, non-threatening ofcourse.
They decided to meet up at themagic kingdom on the first
saturday in june.
To play it extra safe, theychose a simple blend in.
Blend in unless you're lookingfor it identifier red t-shirts.
As the event grew in size, itgrew into an entire weekend and
the entire central floridacommunity got involved.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
It's now one of the largest pride events in the
world you know to segue for asecond I love a segue, segue the
community tried to do somethingsimilar to this at Dollywood in
about 2008.
And Dolly Parton received deaththreats because of it and it
(28:49):
was completely unofficial, shewas unsponsored by Dollywood,
she had nothing to do with itand I remember seeing it in the
news.
She was getting death threatsbecause people were trying to
boycott and shut dollywood downbecause she supported the gay
people.
And it was like some people onthe internet that said, hey,
(29:09):
let's wear red shirts todollywood and that's, that's
where I'm from folks this isexactly why pride exists.
Yes, um, but there are a lot.
There are a lot of ways thatdisney has been supportive
without having the officialpride celebrations.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Um, and then you know , most recently there have been
official pride celebrations, andI think, disneyland, paris, um,
but this was my favoritebecause we we, during doing all
this research and everything,you really find out how disney
has supported the lgbtqcommunity and you learned quite
a bit of things that like Ididn't know that these people
(29:49):
were also part of members of thelgbtq community, like the
disney legend bob gerr.
Now do you know who bob gerr is?
Speaker 2 (29:58):
he's an imagineer.
Yes, he is the imagineer.
The imagineer.
I didn't.
He's gay.
Yeah, I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Yeah, didn't know that yeah, he worked alongside
walt disney himself.
In the 1980s, walt disney'sanimation studios hired the out
gay writer howard ashman, whowas also one of the pioneering
figures who was responsible forthe era now known as the disney
renaissance.
His work on the little Mermaid,aladdin, beauty and the Beast
revolutionized and enlightenedthe studio for years to come.
Howard Ashman became the firstAcademy Award winner who died
(30:26):
from AIDS, and Disney supportedhis surviving life partner when
he movingly accepted the Oscarfor the Beauty and the Beast
movie.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
So there you go Did you know that.
All you crazy people out therethat want a reason to hate
Disney.
There you go, leave, go away.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
A gay man created the movie you love Most of the
movies you love, apparently.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
Now you're going to have to excuse me here, because
I'm reading Ashley's notes and Ididn't get to pre-read.
How dare you.
But in the mid-1990s, when theWalt Disney Company acquired ABC
Television, disney became oneof America's first major
corporations to offer employeebenefits, like health insurance,
to same-sex couples, partnersand its employees, or of its
employees.
This was the decade before thelegalization of same-sex
(31:09):
marriage in America, sounmarried couples couldn't
expect the same benefits thatmarried couples received Now.
This led to a significantbacklash and unsuccessful
boycotts from conservativeorganizations.
Undeterred Disney stood bycelebrity Ellen DeGeneres when
she made history by coming outon her hit television show.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Right there on TV.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
She even went on to receive her own ride at Disney,
which was Ellen's Universe ofEnergy.
Something like that, Somethinglike that.
But that's I like that.
Yeah, it was a big, it wascoolen's universe of energy
something like that somethinglike that.
Um, but that's uh, I like thatyeah, it was a big, a big.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
It was cool to read all of this.
And then it gets even morepretty cool because in 2018,
disney began selling rainbowpride merchandise in its shops
and theme parks, and now theyalso donate a portion of the
profits to the glen, to glensonglscn.
This is an lgbtq plusnon-profit that helps combat
bullying and promote gaystraight alliances in american
(32:04):
high schools glisten, glisten.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
I'm so sorry.
I'm pretty sure it's glisten Iapologize that's okay.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Acronyms listen, I'm a boomer and I can't read.
What are you gonna do?
Speaker 2 (32:14):
however, if you've had an eye on politics, you may
know know that in 2022, floridaGovernor Ron DeSantis took aim
at Disney over its support inthe LGBTQ plus community.
Disney responded forcefully,filing lawsuits against the
state and announcing that itwould donate 100% of its profits
from its pride merchandise lineto the LGBTQIA plus
(32:37):
organizations.
Now, to give just a little bitof backstory on this, are you
doing okay over there?
Yes, I got the hiccup hiccup upsTo give a little bit of
backstory on this, when thedon't say gay stuff was going on
.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Disney was silent at first.
Very.
Because at that point in time,disney was being led by Bob
Cheapik or Bob Cheap hey Peck.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
No led by Bob Cheapik or Bob.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Cheap, cheapik.
No, it's Cheapik.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
We call him Cheap because he's cheap, but his
actual name is Bob Cheapik.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Bob, cheapik, cheapik , cheapik, whatever.
Disney cast members began anuproar with him.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Oh, they were furious .
Speaker 2 (33:16):
And they said that this goes against exactly what
Disney is promoting inclusivityand acceptance and that we need
to say something Correct.
Now, at that point in time, allDisney did was speak up,
correct.
And they said we do not supportthat.
And Governor Ron DeSantiscompletely retaliated Do you go
(33:38):
into this?
Is this something?
Speaker 3 (33:39):
I do a little bit of it, but not enough.
He completely retaliated, whichresulted in a hostile, in my
opinion, takeover of uh, thedisney's self-governing district
of reedy creek yes, so thanksto tireless efforts from
phenomenal groups like equalityflorida and activists like
(34:01):
Brandon Wolf, in 2024, parentsgroups won a lawsuit against the
state of Florida and thestudents and teachers in Florida
schools can proudly say gayFlorida settles its lawsuits
with Disney in 2024, and thecourt struck down Florida's
efforts to curb Disney'sdiversity and equity equity,
thank you and inclusive programsnow disney has continued.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Well, that's a discontinued.
Disney has continued to proudlysupport the lgbtia plus
community, sponsoring um,sponsoring and marching in many
local pride events around theworld, adding visible queer
characters to its tv, film andanimation projects like light
year, strange world, love, simonand the 2024 academy
(34:49):
award-winning film.
Poor things, you don't haveanything to add to that no now I
kind of if we're going to talkabout disney pride, we have to
talk about one thing claribelcow in the words of uh, the
(35:11):
young ones on tiktok last yearduring pride in 2023.
I remember she boots the housedown in that parade and danced
until there was uh, what do theysay?
A fire on the dance floor.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
She danced like there was a fire murder on the dance
floor she danced it out and wasamazing.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Now disney has been incorporating more and more uh
things and private.
There has been some privateevents that happen like after
the park closes and things likethat.
Um, but I think it's in paris,um, that we're seeing a formal
pride event.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
Yes, um, and that's been really nice have you ever
been to to one of the gay daysat disney world?
No, do you know when they are?
Nope, oh well, in keeping withthe tradition that has been
established back in the 1990s,gay days has always been held
over the weekend, with the firstSaturday in June.
In 2024, the main events arefrom Thursday May 30th through
(36:10):
Sunday June 2nd.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Missed it this year.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
You have this weekend .
Speaker 2 (36:17):
I'm working.
So yep, you will miss it, soyep you will miss it Now in
Orlando Gay Days weekend is acombination of community-led
events and privately hostedevents.
Yes, because Disney does notsponsor this.
Disney does not sponsor anyform of event like Universal
does at the Red Coconut Club.
(36:38):
But again, they are their ownprivate business and they can
choose to do so as they wish.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
They are sold like universal, though, where their
merchandise is sold all yearround.
It is not just soldspecifically during the pride
month or during gay days youjust see an ended, an addition
of pride during that time yeah,now, um, you can visit um all
four of the parks during um gaydays.
So on thursdays they wouldtypically meet up in Animal
(37:05):
Kingdom, fridays typicallyDisney's Hollywood Studios,
saturday being Magic Kingdom andSunday being Epcot.
Now, with this being said,saturday Magic Kingdom days tend
to be the busiest one out ofall of them, so it also is the
must do day.
So I would recommend that, ifyou are looking to do this next
year, or even this weekend, asit is the last weekend for the
(37:26):
Gay Days I would recommend doingSaturday, as that's when you're
going to see the most outpourof its members rocking their red
than you will at the otherparks.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
But yeah, guys, that is kind of what it is.
I mean, that's a short snippet.
Look, there's definitely a lotmore that we can look into and
discuss.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
There's also events that are local around you.
So for us I know we justcelebrated, they just did
Orlando Pride was this pastweekend.
I missed it Very sad.
You missed it Very, even moresad.
Well, we're going to have to dothat next year.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Hopefully we'll have lives then that would be nice Um
but yeah, there's still more tocome after Pride Month.
Uh, I don't.
I don't know if it's going tohappen in this next week because
I just got back from vacation,but we are still planning on
having our special guest, mamaAshley Rose, to talk about the
Rose Dynasty Foundation, thecommunity center and lots more
resources.
So if you are someone that islooking to that, don't forget.
I will go ahead and drop thelinks um to those areas and
(38:24):
orlando pride in the descriptionbox of the show.
Um, but yeah, we will hopefullyhave her on very soon to
discuss more about that.
But that is kind of our snippet, our knowledge on um pride in
the theme parks and the placesthat we like to go and spend our
time yeah, that's it that's allyou got, yeah that's it.
That's all I didn't haveemotional, motivational speech
(38:46):
there I have no motivationalspeech awesome you know what I
do have, though.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
As many of you have already seen, on our social
media platform, we did announceour brand new segment that we
launched last episode, where weare going to be adding what we
call bartender of the pod.
So this is where we are goingto shout out all of our
bartenders that we haveinteracted with, seen, supported
, that have helped change ourexperience, regardless if it's
at a theme park, at a restaurantor just at a hole in the wall
(39:11):
dive bar, and I would also liketo kind of give some commentary
here that you could be apotential bartender of the pod.
So if you know somebody, or ifyou yourself need to be
nominated and you just need tobe validated, go ahead and send
a text message to us or commenton any of our social media
postings so we can check outyour bar, check out your
(39:32):
restaurant or even your themepark, and we can pop over and
see how you pour.
So, without further ado, ourbartender of the pod this week
is please add drums in thispoint, please.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
Mercedes.
Mercedes is our good friendfrom Knoxville, tennessee, who
hosts us whenever we are upthere for Chocolate Fest and
Creepy Con.
She's also who I just stayedwith this last week, and the
whole reason that she is thebartender of the pod is for my
friend callie's 40th birthday.
She was the bartender and shemade us these adorable little
(40:09):
beverages where she put gummybears inside a peach ring and
then put them in the drink andthey look like they were
floating.
Unfortunately, they did notsuccessfully float and the drink
was too thin, so they drownedum, but they tasted delicious I
love that mercedes is also.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
She also is an instructor for those that are
trying to get their bar licenseor their bartending license up
in knoxville and she worksseveral events, thank you she's
as a freelancer.
She does a lot of things yes,uh, and she's just a bar
whisperer.
The woman knows everythingthere is about a bar.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
She is, and she is also the food and beverage and
guest service director at FrightWorks Haunted Attraction.
She was my protégé, who tookover when I left the company.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
I love that.
We love her and her cute littlepuppy.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
Lola ain't a little puppy, she a big puppy.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
I know she massive, but she lola ain't a little
puppy, she a big puppy.
I know she massive, but shecute.
Speaker 2 (41:04):
So yes, congratulations yeah, absolutely
, and we cannot wait to see youin like one month, girl I'm
counting down the seconds.
It's gonna be so much funbecause I bet you she has a
present for me so that brings usto the fun part of the episode
where we are going to ask yourall's opinion.
And what are they gonna do,ashley?
They're gonna what?
Text us.
That's right're going to textinto the show.
Don't forget, guys, it'slocated in that description box.
(41:26):
Just go ahead, click that link.
It'll transfer you over to atext message and you can text us
.
Our question that we want toknow from you, guys, this week
is between Disney and Universal,which park would you prefer to
celebrate pride at, or have youcelebrated pride at either of
those parks before?
Speaker 3 (41:44):
I would do it at universal.
Those food look.
That food looks so good love isuniversal.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
I mean they just they have the slogan it's, it's
right there so cute, plus thefood looks so good I haven't
seen any of it, so it looksdelicious.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
I'll be sure to share photos with you and our social
media platforms oh, hey, therewe go hey, don't forget to
follow, like and subscribe toall of those social media
platforms you should, and whatwebsite should they go to for
that?
Uh,wwworlandounpluggedpodcastcom.
I had to think for a secondwhat our website was called
that's okay.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
You've had a hard couple of weeks yes, I have.
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Thank you for validating them but until next,
next time, guys, stay safe, stayeducated and, of course, share
our podcast with your friends,your family and your favorite
bartender, like Mercedes.
Bye, guys, bye, thank you.
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