Disney: The Mouse Betrayed

by Peter Schweizer

An expose+a7 of The Walt Disney Company charges it with selling out its much-touted family values for profits, documenting its relationship with the pornography industry and "gangsta rap" music, and its obstruction of justice. Tour. IP.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Business, Biography, Politics

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Peter Schweizer is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. From 2008-'09 he served as a consultant to the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting and he is a former consultant to NBC News. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, National Review, Foreign Affairs, and elsewhere. His books include The Bushes, Reagan's War, and Do as I Say, Not as I Do.

Reviews

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely well put together book all about infamous and many lesser known controversies surrounding Disney. Due to the massive amounts of evidence in different areas that has been exposed over the years, I don't think anyone sees Disney as the picture of innocence anymore. However, there were so many terrible reports and details that I didn't know about, and I've delved into the dark side of Disney for many years now! A fascinating and important read for anyone who might want to rethink supporting this company.

[Nicole C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this book was published in 1998, I'm sure a lot of this still goes on. Disney has a pretty serious paedophile problem, but they do not prosecute those cast members who have been involved in such events. The only thing they seem to prosecute is shoplifting, and that to the fullest extent of their law. Yes, their law. Disney creates their own laws, due to the way the corporation has set up themselves in Orlando. Disney also has the highest injury rating among employees and guests of any other theme park. Since they have their own law, they do not cooperate much with the area law enforcement and Florida Highway Patrol. What's super scary? Apparently, employees are enforced to call a guest services manager before calling 911, even if an incident requires immediate attention. Guests in the park who dial 911 will be rerouted to guest services first, and THEY will decide whether to dispatch you to 911 operators. I guess they want to keep up the "magical" ruse that no one dies in Disney. It reminds me of that Snopes urban legend about no one being declared dead at Disney parks. That might be more real than they think.

[Don Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I read this book circa 2001, I have never watched another Disney movie or bought any Disney merchandise again.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember finding this book at the library. While I get it. I am more worried about Disney Monopoly. I kinda wish the writer would write an up date about Disney now.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was very 1 sided and biased. It was not made clear why these authors even began to write this book or why they have such dislike towards Disney. They brought up a lot of things that frankly, I don't see Disney is 100% at fault. Being a huge company they have a lot of employees. They can not be held responsible for everything those employees do simply because they work for them. I think these authors find it easy to blame Disney because it is such a huge company. Why not let the people that supposebly committed these acts, be responsible adults and take responsibility for their own actions instead of pointing the finger at Disney and saying they are the problem.

I was also annoyed with the chapter on Minnie Mouse being played by a male. I mean really? That is not an issue I think really matters. There are so many other things in this world to be concerned about than to cry about that.

I really wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. It is just filled with 2 people's opinion and sounds like hatred towards Disney. Blah- 1 thumbs down!

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for some great relevation and it never came. There is a lot of sad stories that lesser Disneyland fans might take as "oh i'm never going there again" but not me. Since I love the 'Land, the book seemed to try and find ANYTHING to make the Disney company look bad, it didn't work on me. Obviously, if you have been to the 'land you know how much people and especially kids just LOVE IT. The writers seem a bit too conservative and take any incident and blow it out of proportion. Some of the accidents are tragic, but accidents happen. And the authors going on (and on) about Disney partnering with movie studios that make R and NC-17 movies, which to me is like - get over it already. They are not released under the Disney name, most people don't even know that Miramax is part of Disney. Just an over critical book that I fell is written by uber-conservatives.

[JS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I had read this book 20 years ago. I assumed the allegations made against Disney were highly exaggerated. Due to our current counter cultural movement and the Disney company’s militant stand to inject LBTQ… into all their programming and painting parents wanting to protect their children from the grooming tactics of the Left as intolerant and hateful, Peter Schweizer has been proved 100% correct. Disney has morphed into a company hell bent on destroying the innocence of the most vulnerable: young children.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though provoking, eye opening, but over all sad. The problems listed in this book are the problems of our world in total. If Disney hasn't fixed or evolved any of their processes in the decade since this was written then shame on them. However, we all have to protect ourselves, be careful, and watch our children no matter where we are.
And - never sign a document without your lawyer present - duh!

[Sofia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly disappointing.

I don't know what I was expecting, but this definitely wasn't it. The information presented was incredibly biased and the way the information was presented was subpar.

A hard read, not for its intelligence or subject matter, but for its incrediblly boring dragged out and redundant information.

[ellen bivins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such high hopes. Dashed. Poorly written and not very interesting.

[Nika Anya · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is blatantly conservative, even as a devout socialist I was impressed by the depth of research the authors conducted. Claims are supported by interviews, either read or conducted by the authors, with individuals of a variety of roles, relationships with Disney, and opinions on the controversial happenings at the company. I disagreed with the judgement passed on the company throughout multiple chapters, but I still had the information necessary to feel that I was still grounded in evidence and reason even as I would have argued against the takeaways offered by the authors.

While this book is a quarter century out of date, it’s a fascinating glimpse into Disney under Eisner through 1998, and the patterns of the Mouse’s behavior are so clearly recognizable that one can understand how this company, and others like it, still operate today.

One very strong criticism I have to make is that in one chapter, in which the authors criticize Disney’s positive engagement with the gay rights movement, they list a series of names of Disney higher-ups that are queer. I cannot say for sure that these authors intended to provoke harassment of these individuals, but I feel that it is at the very least irresponsible to write a book in which one goes out of their way to name gay individuals after trying to elicit animus towards those responsible for Disney’s cooperation with the gay community.

As a final note, it is very funny to read portions of the book in which the authors criticize “overt feminist messaging” in animated films such as Mulan and The Little Mermaid, when I’m used to modern conservatives defending those movies as being emblematic of a pre-woke time period—how times change!

[Jeffrey Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter and Rochelle Schweizer hit a home run with this book. Even though it's been 25 years since it was first released, this book is just as valid today as it was when it was written.

The Schweizer's did an exceptional job in uncovering real and perceived crimes at Disney theme parks (complete with legal affidavits); how the gay agenda "woke" Disney (to use a modern term); a look at the close relationship between Disney and China; and how children are at risk because of the consumption of Disney's products.

This is still a must read. I wish I had read it 25 years ago.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the receipts on many topics and doesn't make any accusations which can't be amply backed up with evidence. As a child that was a victim of one of the extortion schemes myself, it was eye-opening to learn that this was a regular practice that happened to others. I went from indifferent disillusionment over Disney to realizing that this is actually an active proponent of harm in the world that needs to be opposed.

[Tammie Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that tells you all about Behind the scenes at Disney that you would not know otherwise. A great book for any Disney fans. It really opened my eyes.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sad tale! I will never support Disney again. A microcosm of how our society is deteriorating. So sad.

[Deb Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is VERY revealing. So graphic I just couldn't finish. I'm thoroughly discusted with Disney.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1998, so most of the information was outdated. But otherwise the book wasn’t very interesting.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone sitting on the "fence" about Disney, this book should be the final push. Filled with amazing & sad incidents that happen at Disneyworld yet the public is never told about, the authors do a great job of being honest, inpartial, and factual. It's so sad that a great institute like Disney has been "sold" to the modern generation to pillidge. Revealing safety concerns, crimes, pornography, and sex crimes that Disney not only knows about, but is involved in is so upsetting. Very informative, yet disheartening.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always-interesting dig into the Disney underbelly; particulars include the political machinations that made Disney World in Orlando, Florida possible, as well as its operations; some of the politically correct excesses of recent Disney films; and Disney's legendary, arguably overaggressive protection of its intellectual properties. A clue that this book gets a bit overly hysterical itself at times is dropped in the last bit of its subtitle, that 90's-era chestnut "children at risk".

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad book, to know that this family oriented business no longer feels they need to worry about the entertainment or ethics they represent. It was as if your "sweet little mom" had ended up doing a series of "MOM's gone wild", drinking, partying, raunchy and hardcore sex, that most would turn away from...."NOOOO not my momma!" Disney has lost it's path...it's way.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

i grew up in Calif and have been to Disneyland many times. I know Mr Disney had his grand vision for his park and for his movies that I loved and still love. After he passed away the new people that run this stuff are only after the money and I think the prices they charge leave many children never able to go there. It is all the money now.

[Chris Kiefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this, but it's amazing the things Disney has done over the years. Whether it's pedophiles working in their parks, stealing movie ideas or people injured in the parks - this is a real eye-opening book about the greed of Disney and the lengths they go to.

I own this book and will gladly loan it to you.

[Dalice · Rating 2 out of 5]

In terms of sensationalized attacks on Disney, this one takes the cake. Beware the gays at Disney...

In all honesty, there are some hard hitting facts here in this book, but the dogmatic and clearly vindictive narrative is transparent and tiring--to say the least.

[Thomas Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disney, like so many NWO corporations, have sold their souls to the Devil for greed and the dollar. It goes deeper than that too. They have gone over the cliff into the exploitation of children. They are no longer anything that Mr. Walt Disney envisioned.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly interesting. I was shocked at some of the things they uncovered about Disney. I still dont want to believe some of this.

[Belisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome inside look at disney's corrupt side. From porn to perverts dressed as disney characters to very SHADY medical policies within the theme parks, this book will inform and surprise.

[Jenn De · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has cured me of any desire of going to Disney World.

[Lorene · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a book you like or dislike, but it was definitely disturbing.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

made me never want to go to Disney world that is for sure. Had real accounts and documents of things that went on and still goes on apparently at the so called magic kingdom. very disturbing!

[Trudy Pomerantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an eye-opener.