LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A shortage of priests and lack of space has led Walt Disney World to do away with weekly religious services, which the resort had made available to guests for 28 years. Services will still be offered on Christmas and Easter, according to the Orlando Business Journal.

"As we expanded the number of hotel rooms, it became difficult to provide a single space for all the guests who wanted to worship," Disney spokeswoman Rena Callahan said. "It's not a question of it being the right thing to do. We're not saying we don't care about this. It isn't a question of morality. It's a question of being able to accommodate the demand."

Beginning in 1975, Disney began offering religious services at the Polynesian Luau area, attracting up to 1,600 people each week and 4,500 on Christmas.

Two Catholic masses were provided by the nearby Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine, which now faces a shortage of priests and can no longer accommodate the services. One Protestant church service was provided by the Christian Service Center for Central Florida Inc.

Callahan said nearby churches will fill the void in weekly worship services for tourists.

"We felt we couldn't accommodate it and felt the need to offer more than one type of opportunity to worship," she said. "There are so many faiths, that it would be wrong to have just a Protestant service available."

The resort considered having a weekly nondenominational service, but Callahan said they faced the same challenge of accommodating the number of people wishing to worship.

The move to cut back on worship services has put Walt Disney World under fire from mainline Christian organizations that often criticize Disney's policies.

"The largest provider of family entertainment proves once again how out of touch it is with what is important to American families," said Julie Neils, a spokeswoman for Focus on the Family.

"We hope that families will consider Disney's policies when they make vacation plans this year," Neils said.