The world’s most famous theme park company has joined the chorus of voices condemning remarks by Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald on Monday.
The VA secretary had used Disney theme parks as a way of explaining long wait times at VA hospitals at an event early in the day.
“When you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line or what’s important? What’s important is, ‘What’s your satisfaction with the experience?'” McDonald said.
Several hours later Disney joined many critics of the VA secretary, contesting his basic claim and hinting that the company finds the example deeply offensive.
“We take wait times very seriously,” a company spokesperson told the Independent Journal.
“A large team of highly trained industrial engineers are tasked with improving our guest’s experiences, from transportation, to guest flow, to ride comfort and certainly wait times.”
In contrast to the VA, the famous theme parks care about both wait times and making sure that guests enjoy themselves while they are waiting, Disney insisted.
As for why the VA would single out the entertainment and theme park company, there was some official consternation.
“I don’t know. This company was founded by veterans. Roy Disney was an officer in the U.S. Navy and Walt drove an ambulance in France assisting service members directly after WWI,” the Disney spokesperson said.
