During the final weekend of PRIDE month, That Park Place was on the ground at Walt Disney World—and what we found might surprise those expecting the usual rainbow saturation.
Marvin Montanaro
Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary.
Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture.
Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership.
He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
X: http://x.com/marvinmontanaro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinmontanaro
Facebook: https://facebook.com/marvinmontanaro
YouTube: http://YouTube.com/TheM4Empire
Email: mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com
Ruckus Games Requires Players to Select Pronouns to Join Playtest For New Game
Ruckus Games has become to latest developer to require players to select their pronouns.
The studio founded by veterans of Gearbox, Riot, and Bethesda, is facing early backlash as it ramps up public testing for its debut title. The Texas-based developer is currently accepting sign-ups for a limited-time early access playtest of its untitled co-op RPG shooter—but players quickly noticed something unusual about the sign-up form.
Ironheart Viewership Ratings Flop as Disney Marvel Show Fails to Chart With 3-Episode Premiere
After weeks of the media insisting Ironheart was being unfairly “review bombed,” the numbers are now in — and they’re even worse than expected. According to Luminate’s official streaming ratings for June 20–26, the three-episode premiere of Ironheart failed to chart entirely. That’s right — Marvel’s newest Disney+ series didn’t even crack the top 10 for original streaming programs during its debut week.
Elio Was Supposed to be a “Queer-Coded” Child Character Until Test Audiences Rejected Disney Pixar Film
Disney Pixar’s Elio was supposed to be the studio’s next original hit. Instead, it’s gone down as the worst box office opening in Pixar’s history. But while the numbers are bad, the story behind Elio’s implosion might be even worse.
Ironheart Reactions are BRUTAL: Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Plummets as Trailers Rack Up Massive Dislike Ratios and Critic Scores Soar
After a flurry of early headlines accusing critics of “review bombing,” Ironheart has now entered a very different phase of audience reactions.
TheGamer Claims Kingdom Hearts’ Sora Doesn’t Understand Love Due to “Compulsory Heterosexuality” — Can We Please Stop?
If you’ve somehow managed to go outside, touch grass, or maintain any shred of sanity lately, you may have missed the latest exercise in projection masquerading as gaming journalism. According to TheGamer, Kingdom Hearts protagonist Sora may not understand love because he’s experiencing something called “compulsory heterosexuality.”
J.K. Rowling Fires Back at Pedro Pascal With Ice-Cold Response After Actor Doubled Down on “Heinous Loser” and “Bully” Comments in Vanity Fair
J.K. Rowling has issued a sharply dismissive response to actor Pedro Pascal after he spoke at length about her in a newly released Vanity Fair cover story. While Pascal condemned Rowling’s gender views and described her as a “bully,” the Harry Potter author brushed it all off with a two-sentence post on X that is already going viral for its tone and timing.
Ready or Not Sparks Censorship Outrage as Void Interactive Retroactively Censors Game for All Players, Including PC Gamers Who Bought Years Ago
The highly-regarded tactical shooter Ready or Not is now facing an intense anti-censorship backlash after developer Void Interactive confirmed that sweeping content changes are being rolled out retroactively. That means it’s not just for the upcoming console release, but also for existing PC players who purchased the game years ago.
Greta Gerwig’s Netflix Narnia Movie With Gender Swapped Aslan Delays Filming, Casting Doubt on 2026 Release
A highly controversial return to C.S. Lewis’s fantastical world has hit another snag. Netflix’s Narnia filming plans have reportedly been pushed back, despite earlier promises of a summer start. According to ScreenDaily, production on Greta Gerwig’s The Magician’s Nephew—the first of Netflix’s ambitious new adaptations—is now expected to begin in autumn, rather than July as originally scheduled.
FULL REPORT: President Trump Returns to Hall of Presidents, Cast Members Kept in the Dark on Surprise Reopening
Walt Disney World’s unannounced reopening of The Hall of Presidents with no public announcement has left both guests and cast members stunned—just days before the Fourth of July. That Park Place was on the ground at Magic Kingdom this morning following reports...
Walt Disney World Quietly Reopens Hall of Presidents With No Advance Notice or Comment – Trump WILL Have a Speaking Role
Walt Disney World has quietly reopened The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom, just five months after closing for refurbishment on January 20, 2025, the day President Donald Trump was re-inaugurated. In a move that surprised parkgoers and Disney watchers alike, the...
Square Enix Acknowledges Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Success and Hints at Final Fantasy Turn-Based RPG Revival
In a surprising but welcome move, Square Enix has acknowledged the breakout success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering more turn-based RPGs in the future. Many are hopeful that this could lead to a turn-based combat return for...