Team Rodent

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Team Rodent

Paperback book cover
Author Carl Hiaasen
Cover artist Ruth Ross
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Nonfiction
Publisher The Ballantine Publishing Group
Publication date May, 1998
Media type Print (Paperback), Audio Cassette
Pages 96
ISBN ISBN 978-0345422804 (Paperback edition)

Team Rodent is a non-fiction book written by Carl Hiaasen about the Walt Disney Company and its stance towards the outside world. The book's primary focus is on non-film related Disney enterprises such as Disney World and their effects on the environment and local culture.

[edit] Themes and criticisms

  • Disregard for the natural world
    • The draining/refilling of Disney World's Bay Lake and deforestation of the surrounding area in order to make the lake's water blue instead of the former natural brown color.
    • The abuse and accused killing of a flock of wild black buzzards nesting in Discovery Island
    • The death of an endangered black rhinoceros en route to Disney's yet-to-be-opened Animal Kingdom
    • The draining and bulldozing of over 47 square miles (120 km²) of Florida wetlands and other habitats in order to build the Disney World themepark and resort
  • Lack of respect for native culture
    • The refusal to sell wine and let employees have facial hair and wear cosmetics during the early years of Eurodisney.
    • The purchase and conversion of Gorda Cay, a notorious drug-smuggling island in the Bahamas, into Castaway Cay, a resort island and rest area for the Disney cruise line.
    • The opening of a reproduction of Key West in Disney World, an afternoon's drive from the actual city.
    • The attempted construction of an American History themed park six miles (10 km) from civil war memorial Manassas, Virginia
  • Self-government
    • The formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a state-recognized governing jurisdiction containing Disney World and Disney's subsequent control over local police forces, utilities, and other municipal services

[edit] See also

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