On my last trip to the World at Christmastime, I had a very interesting encounter with plain-clothed security as we were sitting near the trader's outpost between China and Germany. I was wearing my Mickey-Santa hat and a red shirt, and folks were coming up asking to have their pictures made with me.
I always accommodated them with the pictures but said that I couldn't sign their autograph books, and I never proclaimed myself to be Santa. If a child came and asked if I was Santa I would always say something like, "well, what do you believe? Christmas is all about believing." My Mom asked me why I downplayed things like I did and I started telling her about how Disney has been known to remove 'unauthorized characters' from the park, and why. Anyway, I noticed a fellow at the next table who seemed very interested in our discussion. I guess he figured he'd been 'made' and came over and introduced himself, showing his Disney popo badge, and verified much of what I'd been saying. He said they really aren't too concerned with someone like myself, who is just having a good time with folks, that they are far more concerned with some one who is putting on a show, drawing attention purposefully. Anyhow, I guess he was checking me out to make sure I wasn't some deviant and he didn't ask me to change anything I was doing. Now, would it have been the same if I were wearing white fur trim on my shirt? What if my hat didn't have Mickey ears, would that have been a costume? I had security joke with me one day at the bag check as I went through the 'no bag' line, "Where's your bag, Santa?" Would they have turned me away if I had a red velvet bag? Can a short, portly woman in a blue dress not buy a wand at WDW for fear of being confused with Meriweather? Ultimately I think it has more to do with the individual's actions more than what they are wearing.