CM vs Santa: Disruptive for just Claus?

[A Mickeyfan]

Even if he was drawing attention to himself, no parent should have allowed their child to ask for his autograph or taken pictures with him. They knew he was not a Disney character as there was not a CM with him. He could have been a pervert for all those parents knew. I cannot believe parents would allow their children to do this. Sorry, but mommy and daddy are to be held partially at fault here too! Without them allowing this, there would have been no crowd around "Santa" It takes two for this disruption, not just Santa.

 

[smitch425]

My Dad looks like Santa (alot like Santa). He has never been a mall Santa or anything like it- it is just who he looks like. When he was a butcher (yes, wearing a blood stained smock and all), kids used to approach him in the grocery store and request special gifts for Christmas. He even had a parent come up and ask him to "speak to their child about their behavior".

At Disney two years ago, we went on his birthday, and he wore an I'm celebrating my B-day pin (that they gave us upon check-in). While at the laugh floor (prior to the actual show start), they put my Dad up on the big screen with the caption "Look- It's Santa's birthday" and the whole crowd sang happy B-day to "Santa". (I thought my dad was going to crawl behind his chair..needless to say, he took off his pin after we left the theater). None of us knew the attention the button would bring.

Sorry- the point of my post was lost with me going on about my Dad

I feel sorry for the kids who would have been told "I'm not who you think I am, I'm on vacation, please leave me alone". How can they force someone to act like a jerk? It would be one thing if the guy was sitting on a bench in a red suit with a basket of candy canes next to him..but if he was in line or walking the park---does he really need to be a jerk to people to appease Disney. Wrong Wrong Wrong.

Politely correcting a person who thinks you are Santa is not "being a jerk". Claiming to be someone, signing autographs as if you were that person when you are not, is.

 

[palmtreelover08]

. JMHO not affiliated with WDW except for going to the parks as me and not attempting to look like anyone else but me.

But what if you did have thinning white hair, a nicely trimmed white beard and a little tummy and that is "who you are". Do you need to change to go to Disney?

I'm not saying people "flock" to my father, as happened with this guy, but obviously the people at the laugh floor thought he resembled Santa, as have other small children and adults. I can't imagine Disney telling my Dad, in his shorts, and T-shirt, white thinning hair and trimmed white beard that he had to change his look to stay. They would have been reading about me in the paper- j/k...but I would have been extremely angry. Like you, he is not attempting to look like anyone else but himself.

 

[palmtreelover08]

Politely correcting a person who thinks you are Santa is not "being a jerk". Claiming to be someone, signing autographs as if you were that person when you are not, is.

The guy is on vacation- he shouldn't have to explain to anyone who he is/isn't. I can see them asking him not to give signatures- I get it..or even pose for photos- but to give him a canned response to tell the children- that is just wrong in my opinion. How about let the guy come up with how he would like to respond and then get the OK from Disney. Like - I can't take photos or sign autographs-I'm on my way to get a picture w/mickey...this way the kids can believe whatever they want.


This is the place to let kids be kids.

 

[smitch425]

But what if you did have thinning white hair, a nicely trimmed white beard and a little tummy and that is "who you are". Do you need to change to go to Disney?

I'm not saying people "flock" to my father, as happened with this guy, but obviously the people at the laugh floor thought he resembled Santa, as have other small children and adults. I can't imagine Disney telling my Dad, in his shorts, and T-shirt, white thinning hair and trimmed white beard that he had to change his look to stay. They would have been reading about me in the paper- j/k...but I would have been extremely angry. Like you, he is not attempting to look like anyone else but himself.

This is not what happened in this case. This guy was dressed in Christmas clothing, talking to children as "Santa", saying he was Santa and signing autographs. Totally different scenario than a normal guy on vacation.

 

[rabbitroger]

But what if you did have thinning white hair, a nicely trimmed white beard and a little tummy and that is "who you are". Do you need to change to go to Disney?

I'm not saying people "flock" to my father, as happened with this guy, but obviously the people at the laugh floor thought he resembled Santa, as have other small children and adults. I can't imagine Disney telling my Dad, in his shorts, and T-shirt, white thinning hair and trimmed white beard that he had to change his look to stay. They would have been reading about me in the paper- j/k...but I would have been extremely angry. Like you, he is not attempting to look like anyone else but himself.

your father did not get dressed in christmas clothes and sign autographs for queues of children.

he merely looks like Santa. Amazingly enough he isn't the only person who looks kind of like a "celebrity" to visit WDW. However 99.9% maange to do so without causing crowds to congregate around them.

 

[aznshents]

The guy is on vacation- he shouldn't have to explain to anyone who he is/isn't. I can see them asking him not to give signatures- I get it..or even pose for photos- but to give him a canned response to tell the children- that is just wrong in my opinion. How about let the guy come up with how he would like to respond and then get the OK from Disney. Like - I can't take photos or sign autographs-I'm on my way to get a picture w/mickey...this way the kids can believe whatever they want.


This is the place to let kids be kids.

You are right. You are very right. He should not have. Disney was right to tell him not to give signatures or pose for photos, and I'm glad you agree with that.

However, the response probably wasn't canned. Disney informed him that he had to let people know he wasn't Santa and that he wasn't allowed to take photos or sign autographs- probably not Disney informed him he should say "I'm not Santa, leave me alone"... what was in the article was probably paraphrased by the guy being interviewed. Essentially, what Disney wants is not to have the guy posing for photos and signing autographs, because then people MIGHT start thinking Disney is sponsoring and endorsing him and presenting him as a part of the entertainment. It doesn't matter who this person might resemble (it could be Daffy Duck for all they care), if they start signing autographs and posing for photos there is the chance that people might think Disney is presenting this opportunity, and the chance that this person might do something Disney definitely does not condone. They are simply mitigating the risks by creating these rules.

I believe that those people who think the Santa impersonator was in the right don't have enough of the facts of the case...

 

[Alesia]

Even if he was drawing attention to himself, no parent should have allowed their child to ask for his autograph or taken pictures with him. They knew he was not a Disney character as there was not a CM with him.

There are many people who don't know that. They've just never thought about it before. To the vast majority of visitors, WDW is just another theme park and they don't spend huge amounts of time researching every minute detail like those of us on the disboards do.

I can't imagine Disney telling my Dad, in his shorts, and T-shirt, white thinning hair and trimmed white beard that he had to change his look to stay.

They wouldn't have done that. This guy was not in normal park attire, but in Santa-inspired attire - that makes a huge difference.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

A CM should have gone over the he "crowd" and very nicely asked them to disperse. Then in a polite manner, they could have told Santa to not pose or sign autograph's. The way they have undercover security follow shoplifters, they could have had one follow Santa, had he continued to disobey their "rules" then he could have been removed from the park. He should not have been told to change his looks, that is not possible if he isn't dressed as Santa; his actions were what needed changing.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

There are many people who don't know that. They've just never thought about it before. To the vast majority of visitors, WDW is just another theme park and they don't spend huge amounts of time researching every minute detail like those of us on the disboards do.



They wouldn't have done that. This guy was not in normal park attire, but in Santa-inspired attire - that makes a huge difference.

Sorry, but you don't let your child run up to anyone. These boards weren't around when my children were small, I didn't let them run up to anyone. The parks have been open way before these boards were born. As far as Santa inspired, it still isn't a Santa outfit, there is a difference.

 

[palmtreelover08]

Got it.. understood

 

[WDSearcher]

But what if you did have thinning white hair, a nicely trimmed white beard and a little tummy and that is "who you are". Do you need to change to go to Disney?

I'm not saying people "flock" to my father, as happened with this guy, but obviously the people at the laugh floor thought he resembled Santa, as have other small children and adults. I can't imagine Disney telling my Dad, in his shorts, and T-shirt, white thinning hair and trimmed white beard that he had to change his look to stay. They would have been reading about me in the paper- j/k...but I would have been extremely angry. Like you, he is not attempting to look like anyone else but himself.

But was your father signing autographs as Santa Claus and taking photos with kids? Probably not.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's a difference between seeing a guy with white hair and a beard and joking around that Santa Claus is vacationing, and asking that guy if he's Santa Claus (or letting your kids ask him) and he behaves as if he is. And this guy admits he likes to play up the Santa thing even when he's not on the job playing St. Nick. It's July and he's wearing Christmas-themed clothing. The story is that there weren't just a couple people chatting to him while standing in line. He was attracting a group that was queueing up for photos and autographs. Even in the Christmas shirt if he hadn't been signing autographs as Santa Claus there wouldn't have been an issue. They certainly don't ask all white-haired dudes with beards and a belly to change their clothes.

I know what he's saying..."they're going to ask me anyway, how can Disney tell me to break their hearts and tell them I'm not Santa and I can't sign an autograph or pose for photos?" Because it's their park, and they don't want people thinking he works for them. And it's not that big a stretch to think Disney could have hired some guy to walk around and pretend to be Santa on vacation. Especially after they see him signing autographs.

 

[delmar411]

I think both Disney and the guy were in the wrong. Disney for telling him to change/leave/whatever and him for not discouraging the children even if he had to tell them that he was on vacation and even 'Santa' deserves some downtime.

He could of easily said no in a way that no one would take issue with and then no crowds would have gathered.

Personally I wouldn't of allowed my kids to go up to him, let alone ask for an autograph or a picture! I might of snapped a pic just to show my friends 'Santa' was vacationing at Disney but not been in his face about it.

 

[palmtreelover08]

But was your father signing autographs as Santa Claus and taking photos with kids? Probably not.

Definitely No,

 

[Alesia]

Sorry, but you don't let your child run up to anyone. These boards weren't around when my children were small, I didn't let them run up to anyone. The parks have been open way before these boards were born. As far as Santa inspired, it still isn't a Santa outfit, there is a difference.

Why are you assuming that parents just let them run up to him? The very well could have been with them the whole time. When the kid goes up to the guy (with their parents) and asks, "Are you Santa Claus?" The correct response is, "No, I'm sorry, but people ask that alot." and then to go on about his business. The correct response is definitely not to sign an autograph and pose for a picture.

 

[Herbie]

Hi-ho hi-ho ? NO!

its Ho Ho Ho, out the park you go!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Why are you assuming that parents just let them run up to him? The very well could have been with them the whole time. When the kid goes up to the guy (with their parents) and asks, "Are you Santa Claus?" The correct response is, "No, I'm sorry, but people ask that alot." and then to go on about his business. The correct response is definitely not to sign an autograph and pose for a picture.

Yes, but exactly who would have been taking the picture?????? The parent.

 

[Alesia]

Yes, but exactly who would have been taking the picture?????? The parent.

Okay...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Okay...

Perhaps I misunderstood but you said you felt the guy was wrong for posing for a picture or signing an autograph - as if the parent didn't have any control. My point is that the parent was most likely the one taking the picture which would be either endorsing or affirming the white haired gentleman rather than correcting - if they wanted to.