Santa Kicked Out Of Disney World?

[sunking]

Saw this video on my local news station. Thought you all might find it interesting.
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=34082@kyw.dayport.com

Anyone else hear about this?

Sunking

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

I heard about it on one of the cable news networks. In my opinion I think WDW was right to do what they did. Who is to say that this man was not a sex offender playing on the fact he looks like Santa Claus. Just my two cents.

 

[bytheblood]

I think it is a bunch of BS based on that news clip. It is sad that somebody would ASSUME he is a child molester just because.

I get told all the time I look like Kirstie Ally back in her Cheers days...that is like telling me I have to be licensed to walk the streets of NY or Boston because I look like a "character".

So what if the guy has a Santa beard, he was not doing anything wrong by saying Ho Ho Ho. He could have seen a woman in a short skirt and too much make-up and he was calling her names.

But seriously, until I hear more of that story, I think it stinks. My sister has a good friend that looks like Santa with his white hair and beard....it is not an uncommon look.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I also heard on our news that he was playing the role and started to attrack a gathering. It's one thing for Santa to be on vacation. It's a nother for him to be playing the role under those circumstances.

He did look good though with his rosey cheecks and his little santa hat on during the interview.

Disney has every right to ask him to leave if he's playing the role of any character as well as anyone else.

 

[KingTryton]

I am not so sure I want Disney enforcing those rules. Just think about how many costumes and accessories that they sell in their shops.
And what about during MNSSHP? Have you seen some of the costumes people wear? They are at least as realistic as some of the "face" characters, but I don't see them being asked to leave.

My last point is that WDW/Disney Land is the best place to "live the magic of a fantasy" why spoil it now?

 

[SnwflkCts]

My local news said Disney did not like the fact he was saying he was the "REAL" Santa.

I am sorry, but a man who dresses like Santa 365 days a year (like he said he does) is just a little too off for me. I think it is just a little nutty ... but not BAD nutty like others are intimating.

I'm just not sure what I think should or should not have been done ... haven't quite formed an opinion about it.

 

[bbangel]

I saw this guy at Chef Mickey's with a t-shirt saying he didn't just look like Santa he was Santa. Kids at the table next to us went a little nuts. I can see it being a problem for Disney. They do specify in their dress code that adults cannot enter the parks in costume. The sole exeption are their ticketed halloween events.

 

[Mi3stooges]

I think Mickey had some competition.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Back in January, I stood in line for the AP sneak preview of Expedition Everest next to a man dressed somewhat like Santa Claus. He had the white beard and everything, but his clothes were somewhat more practical (though definitely Santa-theme), and even had jingle bells on his clothes! He was rather thin, not jolly though! I got the impression he was a regular visitor to the parks. I heard of others here posting about a regular guest who looks like Santa. The man I saw was definitely not the Santa in the video, though!

 

[themudd4]

I think Disney was WRONG! My dad also looks like Santa...alot like Santa. Granted he does not go around dressing like him but many kids still come up to him and want to tell him what they want for Christmas. Their are kids that go to church with him that will swear they know he is the real Santa cuz he brought them presents...and he has. This does not make him a child molester, a character in training or even a little off. He enjoys seeing the kids happy and so does Mrs. Claus (aka my mom).

Disney does not own the copyrights to Santa...but they sure do not mind selling Cinderella, snow white, Belle, etc...costumes around the parks. Are they going to start telling these little girls that they can not wear them in the parks because some one may consider them to be the "real deal"? I know adults are not supposed to wear costumes...but does a red shirt and shorts count? If they let him in dressed like that then that is not his fault.

I love Disney but this is really going a little to far in my book.

 

[bytheblood]

I had not seen any of that. If he was doing anything that could be potentially harmful to guests, Disney had a right to ask him to leave. Otherwise, they should leave him alone and focus on the groups that are causing issues and making guests uncomfortable.

I agree, Disney does not own the rights to santa!!!

 

[shellybaxter]

If this man was "playing the Santa part" then Disney did what they had to do. There could be all kinds of legal liability if this "Santa" did or said something inappropriate. People are sue happy and they could sue Disney

 

[Von Drake]

We met a guy in WDW several years ago. Waiting in line for a bus- my kids just stared. This guy looked like Santa 100%. He was obviously quite used to it, and played it up to my kids.

That said, for those of us who work or have worked in a major city (NYC for me) , seeing someone pretending to be Santa is minor league stuff.

WDW was right. Every other business establishment in the country would have likely done the same thing. Do you think a mall would have let this guy wander around? Or how about a Wal-Mart or Target?

 

[Deb & Bill]

At Thanksgiving time, I saw a man who looked like Santa signing kids' autograph books at Disney Studios. There were quite a few kids around him, too. I was wondering what the heck was going on. He was not wearing a Santa suit and just looked somewhat like this guy. A little creepy to me.

 

[King Triton]

Oh My God....let me at this now. Disney was 100% WRONG!!!! So this Santa look alike says, "ho, ho, ho" and get's kicked out of Disney World? That is INSANE! It's just goofy CRAZY!

I'm sorry, but you don't mess with my Santa buddy. I went to the Very Merry Christmas Party a couple of weeks ago and saw several Santa look alikes. I thought that was so COOL. It created more of a festive atmosphere and everyone enjoyed it. I can't imagine how that would offend Disney??? I can't picture the Disney police pushing Santa out the gate just because he said, "Ho, Ho, Ho." Sorry Disney, you've gone too far on this blunder.

With all the serious problems in the world, do we really need to pick on jolly Santa?

Well, I am writing some angry letters to Disney over this. I think Walt would have walked over and shared his popcorn with the Santa dude. NOT KICK HIM OUT! I can't wait to dress up as Santa and yell, "Ho, Ho, Ho" at the top of my lungs at the next Very Merry Christmas Party. I already have the white beard.

Shame on you Disney for trying to crush Santa. This has to be a new low.

I encourage everyone to stand up for Santa!!

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Sorry but I agree with what Disney was doing. They only allow people they hire to play a character part in the parks for a reason. What if he DID do something inappropriate, Disney would probably get the blame. If he was just walking around it would be one thing, but like a poster said, wearing a shirt claiming to be Santa... playing the part... yeah, I don't blame them for what they did at all.

 

[King Triton]

He wasn't there to play the role...he looks like Santa (so what ) and he says "ho, ho, ho" because it's the holidays.....does that mean the Disney police should push you out of the gates?? Should we spray pepper spray in his eyes if he doesn't cooperate?? ::cop: Now if he brings in a sleigh, hires someone to take pictures of the kiddos on his lap, and sets up a booth to sell his own Santa t-shirts, then I see Disney having a point. This was simply a harmless look alike who was in the great Christmas spirit. God bless him. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE HIM.

Do you guys expect him to shave off his beard, make sure he doesn't wear red and for goodness sakes don't mumble the words, "ho, ho, ho?"

Shhhhheeeesshhhhhh!!!!

 

[King Triton]

Should Disney post a sign by the gate that says....."If you look like Santa and say the words "Ho, Ho, Ho" you will be kicked out of the park and banned from Disney for life."

I see tons of people dressed up like elves and Santas during the Very Merry Christmas Party. Should we jumped them from behind and haul them off Disney property??

Oh My God!! How does Disney deal with the Halloween party with kids dressing up? Is that 5-10 years in the slammer??

It's just nonsense.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

You sure do have a lot of energy vested into this King Triton!

If you would have read some of the other posts, he was wearing a shirt that stated that he WAS santa. He was causing some kids to really go nuts about it. This most likely wasn't just a "ho ho ho" situation.

But of course, that's what he's going to tell the news station. Lest we forget the news is biased or anything

 

[finnster77]

Should Disney post a sign by the gate that says....."If you look like Santa and say the words "Ho, Ho, Ho" you will be kicked out of the park and banned from Disney for life."

I see tons of people dressed up like elves and Santas during the Very Merry Christmas Party. Should we jumped them from behind and haul them off Disney property??

Oh My God!! How does Disney deal with the Halloween party with kids dressing up? Is that 5-10 years in the slammer??

It's just nonsense.

Disney is private property. Read your ticket. Disney reserves the right to deny anyone entry or access to their parks.

I think this guy probably had a creepy "feel" to his persona. You have the right to your opinion, but I am happy that Disney errors on the side of caution with people like this. He is NOT a trained cast member. Small children cannot tell the difference. There are just too many red flags here.