News Round Up 2020

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah, that's the part that I don't get. The guy made a "joke" and the CM admonished him. Should it have gone any further than that? Why should the guest be pulled from the line for making a bad joke? Maybe the guest got combative immediately and then was asked to step out of line. Of course, no matter the case, there is never justification for striking a CM. He should be banned from the parks and face prosecution as warranted.

It goes beyond a bad joke. You really can't joke about that kind of stuff especially when people have actually intentionally spit and sneezed on people. It's just not a joke with this public health issue and we shouldn't reduce it to simply it's just a bad joke and shrug it off.

That said I don't know what Disney's stance is but IMO the CM shouldn't have gotten involved but called security and let them handle it.

 

[rteetz]

I feel that a CM blocking a guest in a queue is an escalation path that is confrontational. I want to believe if WDW security (likely 2 persons) shows up and asks this same guest to leave, there would not have been a physical confrontation.

Regardless, I would use this as a lesson to train the CMs to call upon security in situations that mirror this.

I do wonder if maybe this is a point in the queue where it’s not easily accessible for security. Obviously they didn’t want the guest to continue in the queue. It’s possible they did contact security and holding them there is protocol until they arrive or the guest is free to leave the queue.

 

[BrianL]

It goes beyond a bad joke. You really can't joke about that kind of stuff especially when people have actually intentionally spit and sneezed on people. It's just not a joke with this public health issue and we shouldn't reduce it to simply it's just a bad joke and shrug it off.

That said I don't know what Disney's stance is but IMO the CM shouldn't have gotten involved but called security and let them handle it.

Well, I agree that saying that was in poor taste, but does it warrant being pulled from line? Maybe it does - I am not familiar with the policy on such. I am NOT defending the guy at all.

 

[hertamaniac]

I do wonder if maybe this is a point in the queue where it’s not easily accessible for security. Obviously they didn’t want the guest to continue in the queue. It’s possible they did contact security and holding them there is protocol until they arrive or the guest is free to leave the queue.

If they are authorizing a CM to hold a guest, then that immediately becomes an escalation path. I can't see Disney condoning a CM to physically hold a guest from proceeding.

If that queue has security access issues, then there could be the option to have security at the attraction's exit to escort the guest(s) out of the park.

 

[tlmadden73]

Lovely story out of the Animal Kingdom on Monday. Man was getting in line for a ride and made a sneezing gesture directed at a CM while muttering “coronavirus.” When he was told that’s not funny and to leave the line, he then proceeded to punch the CM in the face twice. This guy is on the show “Love and Hip Hop”

https://www.wesh.com/article/spectacular-smith-disney-cast-member-punch/34841311

Seems to be some details missing from the story.

Why did the CM ask him to leave the line? I don't think a CM would (or should) ask someone to leave the line because he made a joke in poor taste about the coronavirus. Why block him from getting on a ride? Was he not wearing a mask? Did it escalate and the man get verbally abusive (using foul language)? Physically abusive? Causing a scene? Did the man just not let it go?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Also was just reading on twitter that it looks like Disney is cancelling Ducktales after this 3rd season citing low ratings. Most of the cast has moved onto other projects, so it doesn’t even look like there’s a chance to save it either by going to Disney+ or petitioning Disney. Sad, that was my favorite of the old Disney afternoon series and I thought the reboot was excellent. Also loved how they tied in a bunch of the other Disney afternoon series as well. Plus, any show with David Tennant and Danny Pudi is a must watch for me!

Do we know the status of the World Showcase Ducktales game/change to the current version? Could this impact that? I mean, they just had a relatively new Phineous and Ferb movie so Perry is nearly as current as Ducktales if that is getting cancelled


Might be fun if instead of just one property it was like a collection of the Disney cartoons - so have some Perry, some Ducktales, some Darkwing Duck, etc. (Maybe Big City Greens, etc.)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Seems to be some details missing from the story.

Why did the CM ask him to leave the line? I don't think a CM would (or should) ask someone to leave the line because he made a joke in poor taste about the coronavirus. Why block him from getting on a ride? Was he not wearing a mask? Did it escalate and the man get verbally abusive (using foul language)? Physically abusive? Causing a scene? Did the man just not let it go?

I agree there are details missing - but if that guest is even jokingly insinuating he or someone else actually has Covid, then that isn't just a joke it is a public health issue. It would be akin to shouting "fire" in a crowded building

Not saying the CM handled things 100% the best way, but they may have felt they needed to stop him from continuing in the queue if there was even a chance they actively had Covid.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well, I agree that saying that was in poor taste, but does it warrant being pulled from line? Maybe it does - I am not familiar with the policy on such. I am NOT defending the guy at all.

It depends on their policy which I do not know. I'm saying it goes beyond poor taste. It's not a bad joke, it's not an in poor taste joke, it's not even a joke. One moment a person says it the next they actually do something and no one could anticipate that. Plus what if the guy had said that and then 5 mins later actually honestly sneezed. Now he's made a comment and did an action and people are supposed to figure out that he wasn't intentionally trying something? Would you (speaking in generalities here) like to take that risk? That kind of behavior has gotten people arrested during this pandemic.

Anyways don't want the thread derailed so I'll just leave it at that

 

[skeeter31]

Well, I agree that saying that was in poor taste, but does it warrant being pulled from line? Maybe it does - I am not familiar with the policy on such. I am NOT defending the guy at all.

Seems to be some details missing from the story.

Why did the CM ask him to leave the line? I don't think a CM would (or should) ask someone to leave the line because he made a joke in poor taste about the coronavirus. Why block him from getting on a ride? Was he not wearing a mask? Did it escalate and the man get verbally abusive (using foul language)? Physically abusive? Causing a scene? Did the man just not let it go?

Doesn’t intentionally sneezing or coughing on someone, especially during the pandemic, basically rise to the level of assault? I know spitting on someone does, and this would be the same thing. I think it’s much worse than just being a “joke” as some are saying. So most likely the CM was having him leave the ride due to that and the fact, as @rteetz said, it was probably a portion of the ride where security couldn’t get to easily. I’m also guessing, but it’s only a guess, that he didn’t have a mask on during the sneeze.

 

[Mit88]

Did anyone post about the cosmic rewind vehicles being delivered to EPCOT yesterday?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1333777685458415618

 

[BrianL]

Doesn’t intentionally sneezing or coughing on someone, especially during the pandemic, basically rise to the level of assault? I know spitting on someone does, and this would be the same thing. I think it’s much worse than just being a “joke” as some are saying. So most likely the CM was having him leave the ride due to that and the fact, as @rteetz said, it was probably a portion of the ride where security couldn’t get to easily. I’m also guessing, but it’s only a guess, that he didn’t have a mask on during the sneeze.

The story I read didn't mention that he sneezed "on someone" or that he was not wearing a mask or anything like that. It was framed as "a joke." I agree that something is missing here as I don't think the CM would have intervened if there was not more to the transgression. Regardless, and I will say this again, there was no reason to physically assault the CM. That cannot be tolerated no matter what led up to it.

 

[The Pho]

Ooh that is an awesome idea for a SW show!! Excited to watch the leaked episode. But whoever leaked it broke some laws and agreements didn’t they?

I would doubt there would be no repercussions for whoever the source of the leak is. But the episodes have been sitting for almost 8 years, so some of the agreements could be expired. The video was pulled due to DMCA though.

Doesn’t intentionally sneezing or coughing on someone, especially during the pandemic, basically rise to the level of assault? I know spitting on someone does, and this would be the same thing. I think it’s much worse than just being a “joke” as some are saying. So most likely the CM was having him leave the ride due to that and the fact, as @rteetz said, it was probably a portion of the ride where security couldn’t get to easily. I’m also guessing, but it’s only a guess, that he didn’t have a mask on during the sneeze.

People have been charged with domestic terrorism for intentionally coughing in others in some cases.

 

[skeeter31]

The story I read didn't mention that he sneezed "on someone" or that he was not wearing a mask or anything like that. It was framed as "a joke." I agree that something is missing here as I don't think the CM would have intervened if there was not more to the transgression. Regardless, and I will say this again, there was no reason to physically assault the CM. That cannot be tolerated no matter what led up to it.

Yeah I saw another article on Daily Mail where they state that he sneezed at the CM. So that raises it a level.

 

[rteetz]

If they are authorizing a CM to hold a guest, then that immediately becomes an escalation path. I can't see Disney condoning a CM to physically hold a guest from proceeding.

If that queue has security access issues, then there could be the option to have security at the attraction's exit to escort the guest(s) out of the park.

Clearly we don't know the full situation and full protocol here. In this day and age anything is an escalation path.

 

[BrianL]

Yeah I saw another article on Daily Mail where they state that he sneezed at the CM. So that raises it a level.

Well, if that is the case it is definitely not a "joke" and I can understand the CM's response.

 

[tlmadden73]

Like others have said .. if he pulled his mask down to "jokingly" pretend to sneeze AT someone .. that is a different story than just "pretending" to sneeze to himself with a mask on. Either way, he is basically advertising the fact "I am not taking this seriously" .. and could be seen as a security risk since he is flaunting the clearly stated rules.

Not that any of us here would do that .. but just emphasizes that Disney takes virus safety enforcement seriously (which may be a shock to some that come from areas where enforcement doesn't happen).

Again .. we don't know the whole story, so hard to judge for sure. Someone was being a jerk. Period. It escalated beyond where it needed to go -- either due to one or both parties fault.

 

[The Pho]

Universal News

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/bus...0201202-te7efa24rnfhppa6o2oxep2rsm-story.html

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

On the topic of the sneezing and COVID joke.

This might not be a popular opinion, but if the instigator is a reality TV star they're probably used to being the center of attention and having people fawn over them. I could very well see them thinking a sneezing COVID joke is funny, and then take it too far. As that is basically what their life is, taking things too far for attention.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

On the topic of the sneezing and COVID joke.

This might not be a popular opinion, but if the instigator is a reality TV star they're probably used to being the center of attention and having people fawn over them. I could very well see them thinking a sneezing COVID joke is funny, and then take it too far. As that is basically what their life is, taking things too far for attention.

makes senese ... and very likely might feel the attention they are getting from this is a positive and they are happy about how things developed, and would suspect their "fans" totally have their side and think Disney "can't take a joke", etc

 

[jknezek]

makes senese ... and very likely might feel the attention they are getting from this is a positive and they are happy about how things developed, and would suspect their "fans" totally have their side and think Disney "can't take a joke", etc

Hopefully he won't think it is a positive when, fingers crossed, he gets charged and convicted with assault. Because otherwise we just let people think it's ok to act like imbeciles and use violence when violence is not called for.

I hear this all the time from a few friends who work for the TSA. They literally had to put up signs in airports that making jokes about weapons and bombs in a metal detector line or when being patted down is not ok. Why? Because people will excuse it with "oh they can't take a joke" or "everyone gets offended too easily." When really the point is we just shouldn't have to suffer stupid. And this, joke or not, was stupid. And then going to violence when you get called on your stupid act? That's beyond stupidity. It's criminal.

As someone well trained in martial arts I'm aware of how much damage a couple wild punches can do. This idiot deserves to have the book thrown at him. I doubt Disney will do it, but I sure hope they do. Protection of Cast Members, even if they made a procedural mistake, is way more important than letting guests get away with childish and dangerous actions of their volition.