Yahoo News Fact Check: Rumor Says Giant, Inflatable Bondage Teddy Bear Was Displayed at Hotel Near Disney World. Here's What You Should Know
Claim:
A photo authentically shows a giant pink blow-up bear in bondage gear outside the Crowne Plaza Orlando near Walt Disney World in Florida.
Rating:
Context:
The inflatable teddy bear sporting bondage attire was not part of a permanent exhibit at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Following the social media backlash, the bear was moved inside the hotel premises as part of the decorations for a private Pride-themed party. The hotel is not owned by The Walt Disney Co.; rather, it has been designated as a "Disney Good Neighbor" hotel.
In late May 2024, a viral social media post circulated the claim that the Crowne Plaza Orlando hotel near Walt Disney World Resort displayed a large, hot-pink inflatable teddy bear wearing bondage gear. This claim attracted significant attention and prompted reactions across social media platforms.
It's true that a giant inflatable teddy bear wearing fetish-inspired gear was placed outside the Crowne Plaza. The hotel, which is not owned by The Walt Disney Co., is a few miles from the entrance to Disney World at Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, Florida.
On May 31, 2024, the Libs of TikTok X account posted the following message, which garnered 3.3 million views at the time of this writing, leading to thousands of negative comments directed toward both the Crowne Plaza hotel and Disney:
This blow-up bear in b*ndage gear is sitting outside the @CrownePlaza in Disney Springs.
We called the hotel and they told us it was for a private pride event but that the bear will remain up throughout the entire weekend..@CrownePlaza why are you subjecting young children to… pic.twitter.com/Ry1b4iYMNK
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 31, 2024
(Although this post referred to the Disney-owned Disney Springs shopping center, that location is about a mile southwest of the hotel, and the two entities are unaffiliated.)
News of the inflatable bear sporting bondage attire was covered by right-leaning news outlets Fox Business and Newsmax, and several social media users and online discussion forums shared posts similar to that of Libs of TikTok and appeared to criticize both the hotel chain and entertainment brand for displaying the inflatable bear where children could see it.
One X account shared photos of the bear, along with the post, "@CrownePlaza whatcha doing in Orlando?"
.@CrownePlaza whatcha doing in Orlando? pic.twitter.com/lGyTPxIasC
— Prison Mitch (@MidnightMitch) May 31, 2024
Snopes attempted to contact the Crowne Plaza several times for comment. An employee who answered the phone asked, "Is this about last weekend?" and then denied any knowledge of the bear.
By June 2, the inflatable decoration had reportedly been moved inside the hotel premises, away from street view. However, a different large, inflatable doll in bondage attire could still be seen displayed near the hotel's pool area, according to the photos published by Fox Business. The news outlet also stated that the hotel chain mentioned the pink bear was a decoration brought by a client who was hosting a Pride-themed event on the premises that weekend to kick off Pride Month celebrations.
From May 31 to June 2, the annual Bear Jamboree event in celebration of Orlando Bear Pride was held at the Crowne Plaza hotel. The Bear Jamboree is an all-LGBTQ+ gathering that includes the Pride Cup, a multisport event for athletes from around the world.
According to its website, organizers of the Bear Jamboree coordinated a "100% buyout" of guest accommodations at the Crowne Plaza for the weekend so attendees celebrating Pride could freely enjoy the festivities. Snopes reached out to organizers of the Bear Jamboree, who did not immediately return a request for comment.
In LGBTQ+ culture, a "bear" refers to a gay or bisexual man who has a larger, more rugged physique, often featuring facial and body hair. This term and community emerged as a way to celebrate and include men who do not fit the stereotypical slim, muscled, hairless image often depicted in the media. The bear community is known for fostering camaraderie, inclusiveness and a positive body image, organizing events and gatherings to celebrate their identities and build community connection.
Crowne Plaza Orlando is about 6 miles from Disney World's main entrance in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, Florida. While the Crowne Plaza is owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts and not a part of The Walt Disney Co., it is designated as a Disney Good Neighbor hotel, which means it operates within 2 to 14 miles of Walt Disney World Resort for convenient access. These partner Good Neighbor hotels have been certified by Disney as meeting certain quality standards, including shuttle transportation to and from the parks and competitive pricing, as well as a guest services desk to plan Disney-themed activities.
The claim that the Crowne Plaza hotel displayed a giant blow-up bear wearing bondage gear is true. The bear, which was a decoration for Pride festivities held at the hotel, was subsequently moved inside the premises due to the social media backlash. Multiple eyewitness accounts and online posts confirmed the bear's existence and its initial outdoor placement.
Snopes has previously fact checked news regarding Disney World, including the satirical claim that a ride at the theme park had to be closed because a voice line from Goofy included the N-word, and the false claim that a TikToker was threatened by a Disney World cast member after they refused to stop filming a malfunctioning attraction.
Sources:
🍯🍯🍯Well Cover Me in Honey and Feed Me to the BEARS!🐻🐻🐻 Check out the Latest Updates at: Https://Mailchi.Mp/Onemagicalweekend/Bear-Jamboree-203312 | By Orlando Bear Pride Presents Bear JamboreeFacebook. www.facebook.com, https://www.facebook.com/orlandobearpride/videos/well-cover-me-in-honey-and-feed-me-to-the-bears-check-out-the-latest-updates-ath/406703332207274/. Accessed 4 June 2024.
Arias, Pilar. "Orlando Hotel Criticized for Bondage-Themed Pride Decoration, Moves Displays." FOXBusiness, 2 June 2024, https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/orlando-hotel-criticized-bondage-themed-pride-decoration-moves-displays.
Bear Jamboree! https://bear-jamboree.webflow.io/. Accessed 4 June 2024.
Beyer , Fran. "Fla. Hotel Chided for Bondage-Themed Pride Display." Newsmax, 3 June 2024, https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/florida-pride-month-hotel/2024/06/03/id/1167241/.
Book Now | Bear Jamboree. https://bear-jamboree.checkfront.com/reserve/. Accessed 4 June 2024.
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Crowne Plaza Orlando-Lake Buena Vista - Orlando, FL Meeting Rooms & Event Space | Meetings & Conventions. https://www.meetings-conventions.com/Meeting-Event-Venues/Orlando/Convention-Hotel/Crowne-Plaza-Orlando-Lake-Buena-Vista-p54608142. Accessed 4 June 2024.
One Magical Weekend 2019 Is Over! http://eepurl.com/iPP2Eo. Accessed 4 June 2024.
"The Pride Cup - An Annual LGBTQ+ Multi-Sport Event." KindRED Pride Foundation, https://www.kindredpride.org/pride-cup/. Accessed 4 June 2024.
"Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® Hotels." Walt Disney World, https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/good-neighbor-hotels/. Accessed 4 June 2024.
"What Are The Benefits Of Staying at a 'Good Neighbor' Hotel In Disney World?" AllEars.Net, 15 Apr. 2023, https://allears.net/2023/04/15/what-are-the-benefits-of-staying-at-a-good-neighbor-hotel-in-disney-world/.
