Disney Sort of Misses the Point on Women's History Month

Disney Springs' choice to observe Women's History Month might not be best.

Women’s History Month, a celebration meant to highlight accomplishments women have contributed to history, is observed in month of March.

While it would take much more than one month to celebrate all contributions, teh monthlong observance still recognizes the significance women have played over the years. Women’s History Month has been a declared celebration since 1987 when Congress designated the month to honor those contributions.

Women’s History Month in the past has been celebrated at Disney  (DIS) - Get Free Report theme parks in various ways. In 2022, Disney World launched Celebrate HER Story played homage to heroine and female contributors that have made positive impacts. These women inspired others and used their talents and drive to change their industries.

Different parks celebrated in different ways. In one example, Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the Imagineers were honored with delicious treats in their names. The Liberty Square Market served up Madame Leota Cupcakes for Leota Toombs, a winner of the Legends Award category for Disney Legends in Attractions and Imagineering. She passed away before her induction in 2009, but her legacy lives on through her inspirational arts she created. Millions have seen her work in Disney’s Haunted Mansion among many other projects Toombs helped create.

Disney Celebrates Women’s History Month, Sort Of

When thinking about all the different inspirational women that could be honored during Women’s History Month, the M&M's spokes candy Ms. Brown is not one that would normally come to mind. The bite size chocolate candy company M&M's have partnered up with the Disney Springs shopping area in Orlando, Fla., to offer photo-ops with the spokes candy. Guests at Disney Springs will be able to take a picture with Ms. Brown daily starting at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the M&M's store on the west side of the shopping area.

If the concept feels a bit off to you, you are not alone. There are countless women that could have been honored or featured. We get it, the M&M's candy store is offering a photo opportunity with a female spokes candy, but that really isn’t the point of Women’s History Month. It's about honoring those women who have contributed to society, their industries and the world. While we shouldn’t judge other people’s contributions, not too sure what a female spokes candy is said to have accomplished and or contributed.

Not the Best Choice

Any Disney heroine could have been a better choice than a spokes candy. The female characters out chasing dreams, not princes throughout a fairytale storyline like Merida from “Brave” fighting to maintain her choices in life and doing everything in her power to find and keep her freedoms. Another heroine is Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” going after her dream to own her own restaurant. The selfless acts of Moana, from well, “Moana” going out into the ocean to help her family and village. The list of other fairytale Disney heroines goes on.

This feels more like the company was searching for someone to use as a publicity stunt to get kids to want to come in and get candy. Well, news flash, no publicity is needed to get kids to want to come in and go to a candy store. They just want to go anyway, so why not use the draw you have already to actually, you know, honor someone who has made a contribution?

It's not hard to find a woman to honor that has helped progress in any industry, including the candy and sweets industries. One such woman who elevated the world of sweets and treats is Mary See. See’s Candy  (BRK.B) - Get Free Report was started by the See family in 1921. It has been owned by Berkshire Hathaway since 1972. Mary See's recipes are still used today. Mary See made an impact in her industry. 

In an effort to draw in a crowd, let's give three claps for the M&M's store at Disney Springs which at least thought about making an effort to celebrate the month, albeit their efforts have fallen short on what this month is actually all about. Better luck next year.