Santa kicked out of WDW

[GrimReapuh]

When James Worley paid a visit to Disney World in Florida his portly frame and white beard soon had kids asking: "Are you Santa Claus?"

Not wanting to disappoint, Mr Worley, 60, played along with some "ho-ho-hos".

But Disney officials descended, telling him to stop the impersonation or get out of the park. They said they wanted to preserve the magic of Santa.

Mr Worley took off his red hat and red shirt but said: "I look this way 24/7, 365 days a year. This is me."

'Confusing'

Even after bowing to the request to alter his appearance, Mr Worley, from Tampa, said children continued to ask if he was Santa.

"How do you tell a little kid, 'No, go away, little kid'," Mr Worley told local television.

He said Disney had told him "Santa was considered a Disney character".

Officials at Disney World's Epcot park said they had had complaints from "several guests who were very upset".

Disney said it had its own Santa at Epcot and Mr Worley was "confusing" the children.

Mr Worley said he had played a jolly elf at charity events for a number of years, while his wife sometimes dressed up as Mrs Claus.

Mr Worley said he still loved Disney and Christmas.

Not sure if that has been posted or not, just thought you guys would like to see.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6189521.stm

 

[lajones81]

What is the source of this article?

 

[GrimReapuh]

Added source.

 

[sha_lyn]

There are 2 dscussions about it on the community board

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1302410
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1300145

one thread seems to be very "pro" what disney did. The other against it.

 

[WedWay72]

I see this as a lose-lose situation. A company that provides characters in its park has someone who the guests and especially children think is part of the "on stage experience."

I work in a public school and we have these situations all the time. No matter what the leadership does, someone isn't going to be happy.

Guest Relations and security deal with a number of very strange occurances every day. Domestic fights, perceived child abuse, & cultural differences. They had to weigh the pros and cons and as an entertainment company likely had little choice but to ask the gentleman to cease become part of the on-stage experience.

 

[disneypilots]

Best thing to do in these situations is not draw attention to them. Disney was put into a difficult situation.......... Disney Management has to deal with a billion different thing everyday..........just another day at the office for the folks who run the parks !!!

 

[Cass]

I understand his pain, kids keep mistaking me for Ursula the Sea Witch.

 

[tonyolily]

I understand his pain, kids keep mistaking me for Ursula the Sea Witch.

 

[kaceyisme]

I understand his pain, kids keep mistaking me for Ursula the Sea Witch.

OMG you made me laugh out loud

 

[dbm20th]

I understand his pain, kids keep mistaking me for Ursula the Sea Witch.

Wow, I know how you feel. The women keep mistaking me for Johnny Depp

 

[ppony]

HEY! I think I saw him while we were at the MK actually. She scooted long on a scooter rght in front of us as we were sitting by the castle. It was neat.

 

[BensMom]

Cass! LOL

Anyway, I wanted to post that I actually witnessed this guy "working the crowd" at AK. I don't think Disney was mad about the look; I think what got the management freaked out was his posing with people for pics and passing out gobs of business cards. I thought that was a bit out of line on his part, personally.

 

[maelstrom]

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/106655/news_you_never_knew_santa_claus_is.html
A ridiculous article on Associated Content about the incident. Obviously written by someone who hates Disney and will take advantage of any opportunity to bash them.

I'm Kristen Miller in the comments section proudly defending my Disney.

 

[sunking]

Here's the a link to the post that I started on this last week. Pretty lively discussion.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1300200

 

[BensMom]

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/106655/news_you_never_knew_santa_claus_is.html
A ridiculous article on Associated Content about the incident. Obviously written by someone who hates Disney and will take advantage of any opportunity to bash them.

I'm Kristen Miller in the comments section proudly defending my Disney.

I totally agree, Kristen! I was there, I know, I witnessed. Disney did not have a problem with him looking like Santa; the business card thing was the problem. I love my Disney too!