For nearly three years, the battle lines were drawn with permanent ink. The Walt Disney Company, once the gold standard of family-friendly entertainment, found itself cast as the chief antagonist in a high-stakes cultural drama. From the fight over Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education” bill to the ensuing legal warfare with Governor Ron DeSantis, the mantra from the American Right was loud and clear: “Go Woke, Go Broke.”Credit: Inside the MagicHowever, as we move through 2026, the temperature of the “culture war” is noticeably shifting. The scorched-earth boycotts that once defined conservative discourse regarding the Mouse House are beginning to thaw. In a move that has surprised both political pundits and theme park enthusiasts, some of the most prominent voices in conservative media—including Benny Johnson, Matt Walsh, and James Fishback—are showing a newfound willingness to engage with —and even praise —the Disney experience.This shift was brought into sharp focus by a viral report from tksentinel on X, which documented the presence of these figures on Disney property, suggesting that the era of total abandonment may be over.The James Fishback Incident: From Protest to PresenceThe most jarring example of this new dynamic involves James Fishback, the founder of Incubate Debate and a vocal critic of ideological capture in American institutions. Recently, Fishback made headlines not for a boycott, but for his physical presence at Walt Disney World. This visit ended with him being escorted off the property by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies and Disney security.There’s been a shift in right wing sentiment towards Disney recently, I don’t know exactly why, but it’s noticeable. pic.twitter.com/qgcbWbiy5A— The Kingdom Sentinel (@tksentinel) March 16, 2026Fishback’s “offense” wasn’t a protest against Disney’s existence, but rather an attempt to host a rally on the property. The incident highlighted a fascinating paradox: conservatives are no longer just staying away; they are showing up to “reclaim” the space. Fishback’s presence suggests a move from avoidance to assertion.By attempting to host a rally within the gates of the Magic Kingdom, Fishback signaled that Disney is an American cultural landmark that belongs to everyone, regardless of the corporation’s previous political stances. As noted in the @tksentinel report, the optics of a conservative leader being escorted out of the “Happiest Place on Earth” while wearing patriotic gear created a viral moment that reframed the conflict. It wasn’t “I hate Disney”; it was “I want Disney to be what it was.”Benny Johnson: Rediscovering American IngenuityBenny Johnson, host of The Benny Show and a massive influence in the MAGA digital ecosystem, has been one of the most surprising voices in this “thaw.” Johnson, who previously led the charge in criticizing Disney’s “woke” content, has recently shared footage and commentary that leans into the park’s status as a monument to American excellence.Credit: Disney / Inside the MagicJohnson’s pivot appears to be rooted in the distinction between Disney’s Corporate Leadership and Disney’s Physical Legacy. In recent posts, Johnson has highlighted the cleanliness, efficiency, and technological marvels of the parks, often contrasting them with the urban decay seen in many blue-state cities.“There is something undeniably American about the efficiency of this place,” Johnson noted in a recent segment. His warming to the parks suggests a strategic realization: by ceding Disney entirely to the Left, conservatives lose access to one of the most powerful nostalgia-delivery systems in the world. For Johnson and his followers, the new mission isn’t to destroy Disney, but to wait out the “woke” leadership while still enjoying the infrastructure built by Walt himself.Matt Walsh: The Strategic Ceasefire?Perhaps the most shocking name in this trio is Matt Walsh. As a leading voice at The Daily Wire and the creator of What is a Woman?, Walsh has been perhaps the most uncompromising critic of Disney’s gender-ideology leanings. He famously called for a total and permanent boycott of the company, urging parents to “protect their children” from the Mouse’s influence.Credit: DisneyYet, whispers of a “thaw” have surrounded Walsh as well. While he remains a fierce critic of Disney’s film and television output, observers have noted a softening in the broader Daily Wire stance toward the physical parks, especially as Disney CEO Bob Iger has made public strides to “quiet down” the political rhetoric.The shift for Walsh and his contemporaries seems to be a reaction to Disney’s recent legal “truce” with Governor Ron DeSantis. When Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) settled their lawsuits in early 2024, it signaled to the conservative base that the “war” had concluded. If the Governor of Florida could find a path to peace with the Mouse, the base felt empowered to do the same.Why the “Woke” War is CoolingSeveral factors are contributing to this conservative “homecoming” at Disney:Credit: Disney1. The Bob Iger “Quiet” StrategySince his return, Bob Iger has explicitly stated that he wants to move Disney out of the “culture war” business. During a 2024 shareholder meeting, Iger noted that his goal was to “quiet things down” and focus on entertainment rather than politics. This has been music to the ears of conservative influencers seeking an “off-ramp” from the boycott.2. The Failure of Alternative “Disney-Killers”While several conservative-leaning entertainment ventures have launched in the last few years, none have managed to replicate the “Disney Magic” or the sheer scale of the theme parks. For families who have visited Disney for generations, the “alternative” options often felt like a step down in quality. Influencers like Benny Johnson have realized that their audience still wants to go to Disney, and providing a way for them to do so without “losing face” is a savvy move.3. Reclaiming the “Walt” LegacyA recurring theme among Johnson, Walsh, and Fishback is the idea of Walt Disney vs. The Current Board. By framing their visits as a tribute to Walt’s original vision of American greatness, they bypass the guilt of supporting the current corporate structure. They aren’t supporting “Woke Disney”; they are visiting “Walt’s Disney.”Conclusion: The Mouse Wins in the End?The sight of James Fishback being escorted out of the park, or Benny Johnson praising the monorail system, signifies a new era in American cultural politics. It is a recognition that Disney is too big to fail and too culturally ingrained to stay “canceled” forever.Credit: Inside The MagicAs the 2026 travel season begins, the “Great Conservative Reset” is in full swing. While the Right will undoubtedly continue to watch Disney’s content with a critical eye, the physical gates of the Magic Kingdom have once again been opened to those who previously vowed never to return. In the battle between ideological purity and a ride on Space Mountain, it appears Walt Disney’s 20th-century nostalgia is winning the day.The post The Right Turn: Conservative Influences Do an About Face and Start Heaping Praise on Disney’s Latest Movies appeared first on Inside the Magic.