S
o, writing a lot is not something I normally do nor will continue to do, but this was something that just needed to be touch upon. Yes, I’ve spoken of Walt Disney World ticket price increases and the Disney Know-It-Alls, but this latest thing just really got under my skin and it’s all because someone wants you to believe that Walt Disney World makes you homeless.
Please remember that all comments made by me are not necessarily the same views of Doctor Disney or other writers here. He’s kind enough to let me get my thoughts out, but I’m certainly not speaking for him. Thank you.
There was an article that went live on April 24, 2014, and it was from the Associated Press. Giving credit where credit is due, the author of it is a man by the name of Mike Schneider. His article is entitled:
“In Disney’s shadow, homeless families struggle”
You can read the article if you wish, but allow me to summarize the article, it is the story of how families in the central Florida area are struggling to make ends meet. Many of them are homeless or living in cheap-rent hotels so that they actually have a place to stay.
First off, I feel for people. Yes, some are insincere and swindlers, but there are those that have truly fallen on hard times and need help. They’ve got kids, pets, families, and are essentially nomads because they’ve got nowhere to go and can’t seem to make ends meet.
There’s a heart in this body, and I want no-one to fall on bad times.
Now, back to the article. By reading the title, you’d think that it has a lot to do with Walt Disney World and homeless people. That somehow…the two are connected.
Well, they really aren’t, and honestly, the article doesn’t connect them either.
The article speaks of Anthony and Candice Johnson who moved from Georgia to central Florida four years ago, and could never find a job that paid enough.
Nothing about Walt Disney World.
Candice Johnson speaks on being able to pay the bills, but not being able to have enough for a stable place to live due to security deposits, first month’s rent, and application fees.
Nothing about Walt Disney World.
The article goes on to detail how county sheriff’s are having to force deputies to evict hotel guests who haven’t paid or are turning the rooms into semi-permanent residences.
Once again, nothing about Walt Disney World.
Finally, it gets to where the point of the article states that the homeless are shining a light on the “gap among those who work and live in this county that sits in the shadow of Walt Disney World, and the big-spending tourists who flock here..”
One paragraph later, it details the minimum starting pay at Walt Disney World, the area’s largest employer, and how a larger starting wage is being negotiated with the company and a union.
After that, there are 14 more paragraphs and not one single word more about Walt Disney World.
How interesting. Using the name of Walt Disney World and putting it into an article title to spin it in a negative light so that more people will read it. Quite pathetic, from this point of view.
If you want to get someone to read your work, get it done with the content and your style and your ability to make sense. Not only does the entire middle portion of the article not make sense, but the important content of homelessness in central Florida is almost ignored due to the fact that Walt Disney World was mentioned when it never needed to be.
Take a look at the hundreds of comments at the bottom of the article. Many are forgetting that a lot of families have fallen on hard times, and more on the fact that the author is trying to use shock value.
Poorly written and poor in taste.
One point to add; none of those interviewed said they worked at Disney.
What’s next, blaming Busch Gardens for the homeless problem in Tampa? I get the point that it’s terrible to live check to check. I also believe the business owners should be able to get rid of non-paying guests.
Lastly, no one forced anyone to move to Central Florida.
I think part of the article was to point out that people, visiting the area who are spending hundreds of dollars on a vacation, are being served by people who are homeless. Maybe just to make people aware of the reality going on in central Florida, which may or may not include Disney workers…but more likely fast food and other tourist attractions in the area. One could say they are using the Disney name to boost article reading, but many people associate central Florida with Disney…and clearly there’s another side to the bustling Orlando/Kissimmee area and informing/educating the public about that, isn’t all negative.
There are poor and homeless people everywhere.