Emma Guinness
Disney has given us some of fiction's most iconic characters over the years, but now the names of the fairy godmothers have been made gender neutral.
The move towards increased inclusivity was announced on Tuesday (July 19) and will apply to workers at Disney's Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, located in Florida's Disney Springs.
As reported by Fox News, Walt Disney World News announced that the workers will now be known as 'Fairy Godmother's Apprentices' instead of 'Fairy Godmothers in Training'.
Disney's Walt Disney World and Disneyland's websites have now been updated to reflect the name change.
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Streaming the Magic, the Disney blog, explained the logic behind the change: "This way cast members that might not identify as female can still be part of the process to dress up and style the children without having to refer to themselves as a female Disney character."
However, while the name change might have been made with the best of intentions, it has received a mixed reaction on social media.
"This is excessive, like WAYYYY OTT!!" slammed one Twitter user. "Even for open mindedness, even for the Left! [sic]"
"I will NEVER go to Disney World ever again. No redemption," wrote a second.
But the change was praised heavily by other Disney fans.
One wrote: "Disney being more inclusive is a great thing. The world needs less of cookie cutter expectations and images of the world. Newsflash, it's a big world out there and there are billions of people and everyone is different."
"No big deal to change it to Fairy Godmothers Apprentices," wrote a second. "Everyone can calm down."
The name change is not the first inclusive mode recently made in this department by the parks, Fox News reports.
Last summer, the phrase 'ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls' was retired from the parks because it was not inclusive of gender variant and non-binary people.
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique has spent a considerable amount of time closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but it will be reopening on August 25.
The attraction caters to young guests, aged three to 12, and sees them dressed up by the newly named Fairy Godmother's Apprentices.
This typically involves the use of a costume, hairstyling and makeup.
But while Disney fans have missed out on some of the magic because of the pandemic, earlier this year, it was announced that Disney is building a magical 'community' where fans can live forever!