"Queens in the Kingdom"
Having A Gay Old Time at Disney Parks

by Kelly Monaghan

The folks who run Disneyland in California and the immense Walt Disney World Resort in Florida don’t like to mention it, but their parks have a huge gay following. The annual and very unofficial ‘Gay Days’ at both parks (the first weekend in June) draw thousands of red-shirted gay and lesbian Disney fans who give whole new meaning to the idea of a "family" vacation.

Now comes an ever-so-slightly naughty guide that lets the gay-friendly side of Disney out of the closet to prance unashamedly down Main Street. "Queens in the Kingdom: The Ultimate Gay and Lesbian Guide to the Disney Theme Parks" ($14.95; Alyson Publications) is a quintessentially queer take on America’s most beloved theme parks.

The authors, Jeffrey Epstein and Eddie Shapiro, cheerfully characterize themselves as "queer-as-a-$3-dollar-bill Jewish fags from the Northeast," which I guess amounts to something of a quadruple whammy. This bad boys camping it up approach may turn some people off, but I found it a lot of fun.

Epstein and Shapiro pose the rhetorical question, "Why would anyone need a gay and lesbian guide to the Disney theme parks?" and respond by pointing out that as gay men, "We look for fabulous!" They also make some right-on comments about why the fantasy and magic of Disney resonate with so many in the gay community. One thing they don’t take credit for, but which sets their guide apart, is that they cover all the Disney parks – Disneyland, California Adventure, and all of WDW – in one easy to handle volume.

Then it’s off on a tour that does what any "straight" guidebook would do. It’s just that Epstein and Shapiro bring to the task a campy sensibility that’s light and gay (in both senses of the term). And a lot of it is downright funny.

Lines like "Disney opens and closes this film more than Shelley Winters does her refrigerator door" and (referring to Disney’s ban on same-sex weddings) "if you want to have your fairy-tale wedding at either of the resorts, you may have to pretend it’s a bar mitzvah" give you an idea of what awaits.
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Between the one-liners, the boys do a good job with the guidebook basics. The descriptions are accurate and to the point. The dining scene is covered, too, and based on my experience their assessments are bang on the money. Every attraction description is accompanied by a "Fairy Fact." These tidbits range from obscure ride trivia, to identifying the gay performers in the films, to catty show-biz inside jokes.

Throughout, there is an effort to provide special guidance for the gay and lesbian community, although the list of "Top Ten Spots To Share a Gay Moment" would prove equally useful for heterosexual couples who want to steal a smooch. Of greater use to gay readers is their coverage of the gay scene outside the parks.

The authors make a determined effort to appear raunchy. There are references to gay trysts in parked cars, hotel hopping, and Ecstasy use, and Jeffrey’s apparent tendency to drink too much is a constant leitmotif. But they are too boyishly ingratiating to be truly offensive.

Of course, it can be argued that a specifically gay guide to Disney is beside the point. After all, when you wish upon a star it makes no difference who you are. Still, Epstein and Shapiro’s arch sense of humor reminds you why gay men are so often the life of the party and makes "Queens in the Kingdom" a fun read for straight and gay readers alike.

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