In the time of Disneyland’s big opening on July 17, 1955, founding father Walt Disney suggested, “To all who come to this happy place, welcome!” Since Mr. Disney proclaimed his announcement, it has ended up being a leading standard for Disney amusement parks world-wide. Just as Disney Chairman Josh D’Amaro affirms, “Walt Disney spoke these words during the dedication of the Disneyland Resort. More than 65 years later, they continue to inspire us - and remind us that the magic we make must include everyone.”
Recently, an actor representing the Marvel hero Shang-chi at Disney California Adventure’s Avengers Campus sets the company’s inclusivity key directly into practice. The particular Avengers Campus is an area having a Marvel Cinematic Universe style. The actor demonstrated that no matter your background or just how diversely abled you may be, you’re always acknowledged as an equal at a Disney theme park.
Shang-chi is part of the expanding list of Heroic Encounters that guests coming to the Disneyland Resort can experience firsthand. Shang-Chi is also one of the most recent and well-known additions to the Marvel superheroes lineup. Therefore the super hero is definitely available at Disney California Adventure, getting together with guests.
At one point in September 2022, Shang-Chi was roving across the Avengers Campus when he met a guest named Lili Jae. Lili is a young model and actor from Los Angeles that has appeared in movies and plays which include Sister Act at Stage Door Repertory Theater in Anaheim Hills, CA.
Lili is in addition deaf, and the Shang-chi actor pleasantly surprised her by opening an interaction in American Sign Language (ASL). The heart felt conversation took place in front of the Avengers Campus’ Pym Kitchen restaurant.
As it occurred, the touching event was filmed by a park visitor close by. The recording was then distributed to a worldwide audience via TikTok and also posted on YouTube by Good Morning America.
This Connection Shows Disney Magic in Action
The discussion starts off with Lili telling Shang-chi in ASL that she likes the arm rings he’s wearing as a part of his superhero outfit. Shang-chi then signs, “Thank you! It’s nice to meet you.” The Shang-chi actor next talks about learning ASL due to his father’s influence, declaring, “Sorry, my dad wants me to learn sign language,” and adds, “It’s been a long time since I practiced.”
Subsequently, Lili openly asks the Avenger if he is discovering many different different languages and if so, which one is his favorite. He then replies, “ASL” and she then signs, “I like. Me too.” The full conversation is subtitled to the useful benefit of those viewers that don’t understand ASL.
It is a heartwarming moment from a Deaf visitor and a Marvel action hero and signifies a case of equal accessibility for an individual who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized. As a result, the event is in line with Disney’s growing focus on the inclusion key point of customer service mentioned above.
This event demonstrates the facilitators and employees of the Walt Disney Company are working hard to make sure their theme parks provide guests coming from all backgrounds and abilities. In fact, another Disney policy furthermore reflects the company’s inclusive method to servicing guests. Visitors at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World now have year-round usage of sign language interpreters and can attend sign language-interpreted shows.
Disney’s Inclusivity Policy has a Global Impact
Stories such as these shows what it’s all about for the Walt Disney Company. It is actually easy to get caught up in the non-stop action and colorful surroundings when checking out Disney theme parks. However, the true wonder of Disney is produced by making once-in-a-lifetime experiences for all their guests, no matter who they are or what their situation in life could be.
The wonderful actions by the two actors in the Disneyland Resort assist to create a much better world for the Deaf community. This is because videos of their connections with Deaf guests ended up being filmed and distributed to a global audience via TikTok, Good Morning America, and CBS This Morning. Such broad media exposure definitely helps to spread public awareness of the Deaf population and also the importance of sign language use. Furthermore, it motivates individuals to learn how to sign, which can result in significantly greater acceptance and inclusion for the worldwide Deaf/HOH community.