Credit: DisneyGuests planning a Disneyland Resort visit tomorrow may encounter a rare occurrence at the theme park destination. Demonstrations are scheduled near the Anaheim property, underscoring how even carefully managed entertainment spaces are not entirely insulated from the country’s broader cultural divisions.
Disney theme parks are engineered to minimize friction, replacing real-world tensions with choreographed escapism. Yet recent years have shown that political expression increasingly brushes up against these spaces, even when company policy seeks to keep it firmly outside the gates.
really big pro-palestine 🇵🇸 protest going on now right outside of the disneyland entrance!
really big pro-palestine 🇵🇸 protest going on now right outside of the disneyland entrance! pic.twitter.com/uxdqHH8S3H
— Mighty Ant ✨ ducktales sleeper agent 🇵🇸 (@hamwrestler) December 9, 2023
In December 2023, protestors marched along Harbor Boulevard near Disneyland Resort, criticizing the Walt Disney Company over its financial support of Israeli aid organizations. The demonstration remained external, but it was highly visible to arriving guests.
Earlier that same year, a separate incident unfolded on the opposite coast. Neo-Nazi groups assembled outside the gates of Walt Disney World Resort, displaying antisemitic, white supremacist, and anti-LGBTQ messaging, drawing widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of protest activity near Disney property.
Two Groups Plan Action at Disneyland
Tomorrow, February 28, two ideologically opposed demonstrations are scheduled near Disneyland Resort, according to reporting from the Orange County Register. The events are expected to remain largely separate in scope, tone, and physical location.
One gathering is billed as the “Disneyland MAGA Invasion,” organized by the 805 Patriots, a political activist group known for pro-Trump demonstrations and conservative flag runs across Southern California.
The group’s Patriots in the Park event frames itself as recreational rather than confrontational. Organizers say the gathering reflects a desire for a “return to American roots and classic values,” positioning the park visit as symbolic rather than demonstrative.
The 805 Patriots have promoted themed merchandise for the day and encouraged attendees to wear red MAGA hats (which, despite a common belief, isn’t banned in the parks) and blue Make Disney Great Again T-shirts. Participants have been discouraged from bringing American or MAGA flags into the parks.
On Facebook, the group wrote: “We are not there to cause problems. We are attending to give as many like-minded patriots as possible the opportunity to make memories with their families and friends while being proud of their beliefs!”
Running concurrently, the Brown Berets of California have planned a counter-protest. The organization, which opposes immigration raids and several Trump administration policies, has described its gathering as “peaceful and united.”
According to an Instagram post, the Brown Berets’ protest is scheduled from 7 to 11 a.m. at Disneyland’s main entrance. Organizers have emphasized that the demonstration will remain outside the park itself.
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Complicating the calendar further, an unofficial Gay Days event is also scheduled at Disneyland tomorrow. The 805 Patriots have stated publicly that the overlap is coincidental, noting that “both groups intend to enjoy the park without interference.”
What Guests Should Expect Inside the Parks
Only one of the two planned events involves attendees entering the theme parks. Even then, organizers insist the gathering will resemble any other large group visit rather than a political action.
The 805 Patriots have repeatedly stressed that their meetup is “strictly recreational” and is “not a march, protest, demonstration or political action.” They maintain that no disruption is intended.
The group wrote:
“The 805 Patriots emphasize that their group intends to participate in the park in the same manner as any other unaffiliated guests or gatherings that visit Disneyland. The goal is simply to enjoy the day, move throughout the park as regular visitors, and experience the attractions without drawing unnecessary attention or creating disruptions. The group holds no special status, seeks no special treatment, and expects to follow the same guidelines and expectations as all other guests who choose to enjoy the park on that day.”
The Brown Berets of California have likewise clarified that their protest will remain outside Disneyland property, reducing the likelihood of operational impacts within the parks themselves.
As of now, there is no indication that either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park will alter operating procedures. Attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, and Radiator Springs Racers are expected to run as normal.
Disneyland Resort policies explicitly prohibit flags and banners inside the parks, along with any “unauthorized events, speeches, or use of any flag, banner, sign or other material for commercial purposes, or as part of a demonstration.”
For guests, the day is likely to unfold much like any other busy park date. The presence of demonstrations nearby may be noticeable, but Disneyland’s rules and enforcement mechanisms are designed to preserve standard guest experience inside the gates.
Are you visiting Disneyland Resort tomorrow?