Hey there, Disney friends. June is a month that holds so many wonderful celebrations. We honor our graduates as they step into exciting new chapters, we celebrate the dads and father figures who mean so much to us, and we recognize the colorful and important message of Pride Month. Year after year, I’ve taken great joy in sharing Disney’s Pride collection and highlighting what this month represents: inclusion, equality, acceptance, and the simple belief that love is love. As someone who proudly stands as an LGBTQIA+ ally, this is an article I never expected to write. Yet here we are, well into June, and there is still no meaningful Pride merch collection to speak of. No exciting merchandise reveal, no widespread celebration throughout the parks, and very little acknowledgment beyond a handful of offerings.
It’s rare that you’ll find me criticizing Disney. Most of the time, I prefer to focus on the magic, the joy, and all the things the company does well. I don’t usually write from a place of feeling that more is owed to us. This time feels different. For years, Disney embraced Pride Month with enthusiasm, creating collections and experiences that made people feel seen and valued. Whether you purchased the merchandise or not, the message behind it mattered. It was a visible reminder that inclusion wasn’t just one of Disney’s Five Keys on paper, but something the company was willing to celebrate openly and proudly.
I’ll admit, I was excited earlier this year when images of the 2026 Pride Minnie ears found their way onto my screen. They’re beautiful, colorful, and exactly the kind of item that has made these collections so special in the past. But after that initial excitement came a disappointing reality. Beyond those ears and the return of a rainbow-themed droid that feels more like a recycled afterthought than a meaningful addition, there simply isn’t much there. A small display in a few stores and a limited special event at Disneyland doesn’t feel like the Pride celebration Disney fans have come to expect. Calling it a collection feels entirely too generous.
Part of me keeps waiting for an announcement. In previous years, Pride merchandise has sometimes arrived later in the month, so perhaps there’s still time. But what’s missing this year isn’t just merchandise. It’s the excitement, the anticipation, and the sense that this celebration matters. There have been no major previews, no enthusiastic promotion, and, outside of Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nites, very little effort to spotlight a community that Disney once celebrated with genuine enthusiasm. Some will point to political realities as an explanation, but for me, this has never been about politics. It’s about people. It’s about making sure members of the LGBTQIA+ community feel welcomed, valued, and included.
The Pride Minnie ears are lovely, and a token item or two is certainly better than nothing. But Pride Month was never just about products. It was about visibility. It was about standing up and saying that everyone belongs. Right now, in a world that feels like it has gone backward in acceptance, kindness, and grace, the silence feels louder than any merchandise release ever could. Disney has spent years showing us what meaningful inclusion can look like. That’s why this year’s absence feels so disappointing; even the parks only seem to have a shelf or two of merch reruns. Not because I wanted more things to buy, but because I wanted to see Disney continue to stand proudly beside a community that deserves to be celebrated, especially in a time when it matters more than ever.
I hate leaving these things on a negative note, so before I go, I wanted to give a huge shoutout to Summer House on the Lake, offering a special cookie, with proceeds going toward The Trevor Project. More supporters of The Trevor Project are dining locations like The Edison, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, and Enzo’s Hideaway, offering a trio of new cocktails, which also support the cause. Over in Downtown Disney, you can find the same lineup of delightful cocktails at Naples Ristorante e Bar.
