$10K Bond and No Way Home: Disney Guests Still in Jail Weeks After Arrest

A 55-year-old woman from Philadelphia remains behind bars weeks after her arrest at Walt Disney World Resort — an incident that turned a planned trip home into a prolonged legal ordeal. Latanya Wright, who was vacationing at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, has been held at the Orange County Jail since September 7 following an alleged altercation that resulted in charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence, and trespassing.

Arrest at Disney’s Pop Century Resort

According to public records, the confrontation began after Wright, who was reportedly pre-drinking before her flight home, was asked to leave the resort because of her “level of intoxication.” The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest report details how staff at Pop Century refused to serve her additional alcohol once they determined she was too intoxicated. That decision, deputies say, quickly escalated into a confrontation involving profanity, aggression, and physical contact with a responding officer.

Deputies wrote that Wright became “aggressive and defiant” when told she could not continue drinking and needed to leave the hotel. Resort management called a taxi to take her to the airport early, but also asked that she be trespassed from the property. While waiting for the taxi, the situation reportedly deteriorated.

“While waiting for the taxi to be ordered and arrive, Latanya kicked her luggage into my leg while being verbally aggressive,” a deputy wrote in the arrest report. “She was warned that such an action could lead to her being arrested for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.”

The deputy continued: “A short time later, Latanya kicked my leg while I was standing near her a subsequent time.” When asked to comply and leave the property, Wright allegedly refused, saying, “I’m not going b**** and I’m not listening to anything the f*** y’all have to say.”

According to the report, Wright “braced, tensed, and ultimately attempted to defeat my efforts to secure her in the restraint device” during her arrest. She was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody “without sustaining injury.”

Still in Custody Weeks Later

More than six weeks after the incident, Wright remains in custody at the Orange County Jail. Court records show that her bond was set at $10,000, and her public defender, Melissa Vickers, has filed motions seeking to have her released on her own recognizance or to reduce the bond amount.

Vickers, who serves as the Orange-Osceola County Public Defender, told the Orlando Sentinel that tourists arrested while visiting Central Florida often face added challenges when trying to secure bond. “Many times the judiciary are hesitant to give lower bonds to people out of state because they need a guarantee that they’ll come back to court,” Vickers said. “That sometimes makes it difficult, especially for tourists to have a more reasonable or lower bond.”

The public defender also acknowledged the hardship Wright has faced while being detained so far from home. “Being detained far from home, especially over an incident that began as a vacation, creates an enormous burden,” Vickers said. “It’s difficult for people in these situations to coordinate legal representation, contact family, or even manage employment while waiting for their case to move forward.”

Adding to Wright’s frustration, formal charges were not filed until more than 33 days after her arrest, delaying her case and extending her time in custody.

Disney’s Safety and Conduct Policies

The incident took place at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, one of Walt Disney World’s value-tier hotels themed around pop culture from the 1950s to the 1990s. As with all Disney properties, staff at Pop Century are trained to de-escalate confrontations and involve law enforcement only when necessary.

When guests become intoxicated or aggressive, Disney policy requires management to restrict alcohol service and, in some cases, remove the guest from the property to maintain a safe environment for other visitors. If a guest refuses to cooperate, Orange County deputies are called to assist, as was the case with Wright.

Reports of physical altercations at Disney hotels are relatively rare, but when they do occur, authorities respond quickly. Under Florida law, battery on a law enforcement officer is considered a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. The charges of resisting arrest without violence and trespassing are misdemeanors but can still result in jail time or fines.

Out-of-State Tourists Face Added Hurdles

Legal experts say Wright’s ongoing detention underscores a broader problem facing tourists who find themselves in legal trouble while visiting popular destinations like Orlando. Judges are often reluctant to grant leniency or reduce bonds for out-of-state defendants because they lack community ties.

For Wright, what began as a final night of celebration before leaving Florida has turned into an extended stay behind bars. Whether her bond will be reduced or she will be released ahead of trial remains to be seen.

Her situation highlights a sobering reality for travelers: vacations can end suddenly — and permanently alter one’s life — when judgment lapses meet strict law enforcement policies. As her case continues to unfold, Wright’s experience stands as a cautionary example that even at Walt Disney World, the happiest endings aren’t guaranteed.