The Walt Disney World Resort welcomes guests of all ages. The family-friendly ethos is built into its very DNA and is what Walt Disney himself prided the theme parks on. Now, one Disney guest has been attacked for an activity involving a young child that some are calling “dangerous.”
Established in 1971, after the thrilling success of Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Southern California, the Walt Disney World Resort boasts four theme parks, two water parks, and a host of themed hotels. From Magic Kingdom to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s theme parks are hugely popular with fans across the world.
Each theme park includes a number of attractions, both old and new. In addition to rides like roller coasters, Disney World also features a number of quieter experiences, as well as shows like Festival of the Lion King, meet and greets like those at the Fantasyland Princess Pavilion, and interactive attractions like Enchanted Tales with Belle at Magic Kingom or Turtle Talk with Crush at EPCOT.
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Many Disney World attractions are family-friendly and suitable for all ages. There are, of course, age and height requirements for some more thrilling rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, among others.
But, in every one of Walt Disney World’s theme parks, there are a number of all-ages attractions that the whole family can enjoy. Think Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios, Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom Park, Kilimanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom, and Frozen Ever After at EPCOT.
The latter was the IP attraction that replaced Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion at the EPCOT Disney park. Based on the Frozen (2013) movie as well as the short film spinoff Frozen Fever (2015), Frozen Ever After takes guests on a gentle boat ride through the world of Arendelle, featuring mild drops and the soundtrack that defined a generation. It is found in Norway, one of the countries that make up the World Showcase at the Disney resort. A hive for crowds, Frozen Ever After is also on Disney’s Genie+ service, with guests able to book quicker access using the Lightning Lane entrance.
Being an all-ages attraction, there is absolutely no limit on children experiencing the ride — no matter how small they are. In fact, a recent photo has gone viral on social media, depicting a mother nursing her baby while riding Frozen Ever After, and it has led to online attacks and a wall of defense.
Posting to Instagram, Joanna Goddard (@CupOfJo) posted a photo of her cousin, identified by a tagged account as @meredithbarnyak, breastfeeding her infant while onboard Frozen Ever After.
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The image has divided the internet, with many supporting the mother feeding her child in public and on one of Disney’s rides while being photographed. However, others have called out the action, labeling it dangerous. It is worth clearly stating that the Disney guest did not break any rules nursing her child on the EPCOT attraction — it is not a thrilling ride, it is family-friendly and accessible for all ages, and there are no lap bars anyway.
Other negative responses include one comment stating the mother was only doing it for attention and another saying that breastfeeding on this ride and being captured in the attraction’s photo will ruin it for other guests who want to use the photo as a memory of their own vacation.
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According to other guests, dark rides like Frozen Ever After and others like Pirates of the Caribbean are “perfect” for feeding infants.
As well as parents being able to feed their babies out in the parks, Disney offers Baby Care Centers in each of their theme park locations. These are places where parents can feed and change their babies, with a specific nursing rocking chair available for nursing parents only.
What do you think of this matter?
This post is originally appeared on Inside the Magic.