Walt Disney is to open up its Fairy Tale wedding package to same sex couples for the first time.

The cartoon and theme park magnate had previously allowed gay couples to arrange their own weddings and commitment ceremonies at rented private rooms within their resorts, but homosexual couples will now also be allowed to exchange their vows in public.

A Disney spokesman said: “We are updating our Fairy Tale Wedding guidelines to include commitment ceremonies. This is consistent with our policy of creating a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment for all of our guests.”

Disney denied the move was a result of campaigning by gay website AfterElton.com, which criticised Disney for not allowing same-sex couples onto its Fairy Tale programme.

Disney claims an enquiry from a guest prompted the policy change.

With the average Disney wedding costing around $28,000 (£14,200), the decision could earn the company an extra $1.5m (£760,000) a year if just one extra gay wedding is held a week.

Disney World has hosted 27,000 weddings since 1991.

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By Emily Manson

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