Theme parks, labor, and the Dark Lord: A political economic critique of the Walt Disney company's relationship with the City of Anaheim.

This article examines how the Walt Disney Company has established monopoly power in the City of Anaheim, California, through strategic partnerships with influential local figures, notably former mayor and lobbyist Curt Pringle, and hotel developer Bill O'Connell. It details Disney's lobbying efforts beginning in the mid-1990s to secure lucrative tax incentives for development projects, followed by their 2016 push to remove these incentives amid rising labor costs tied to a living wage ordinance. The analysis highlights the impact of these public–private relationships on local policy, labor conditions, and community well-being, illustrating how Disney's investments prioritize tourism and corporate interests often at the expense of workers and residents. This case study offers insight into the dynamics of monopoly power, lobbying, and urban development within communities hosting major corporate entertainment entities.