Social media users have waded into the controversy surrounding a guest who claims Piglet discriminated against her at a Disney park – and people are mostly Team Piglet.
Character meet-and-greets are one of the most magical elements of any Disney park, but it takes some seriously strict rules to maintain this magic.
Disney follows strict safety protocols to ensure a smooth experience for both guests and performers. For example, characters always have a designated handler, a trained cast member who manages crowd control, monitors guest interactions, and ensures the performer’s safety.
Time limits are enforced to prevent heat exhaustion, especially for those in heavy costumes, with frequent breaks scheduled throughout the day. Characters are also trained to handle unexpected situations, from overexcited guests to sudden weather changes, without breaking the magic.
It’s these strict rules that have been discussed on social media lately after one guest claimed that Piglet unfairly discriminated against her during a meet and greet at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Did Piglet Target A Hong Kong Disneyland Guest?
As per am730, a guest was visiting the theme park when she claimed that the Winnie the Pooh character treated her unfairly.
After going to meet Piglet, the guest reportedly asked Piglet if they could make hearts with their hands. However, Piglet either apparently ignored or didn’t hear the guest. She then went to touch Piglet’s ears, which sent him running to the cast members and making an “aggrieved gesture” which she later explained involved him covering his eyes and appearing to cry.
The guest – who shared their story on Xiaohongshu, AKA RedNote – claimed that they apologized profusely to the cast members, but added that being “discriminated” against by Piglet made her “not very happy.”
Other Hong Kong Disneyland fans soon waded into the conversation where they defended the character in question. Some noted that Piglet is famously shy and was likely just acting in character, while others added that she shouldn’t have gone out of her way to meet a character that she didn’t understand.
Even more notable is the fact that Disney characters are often pretty particular about where you can and can’t touch their costumes. The head is often a big no-no, with one Walt Disney World Resort entertainment cast member actually filing a police report in 2019 after a grandmother patted her head while in-costume as Mickey Mouse so hard that it led to her visiting hospital with neck injuries.
Realistically, the guest probably didn’t mean any harm and likely had no clue their actions could be an issue. But at Disney, keeping cast members safe is just as important as keeping the magic alive. Whether it’s an overenthusiastic high five or an accidental rule break, there’s a reason the parks have strict guidelines in place. At the end of the day, the magic only works when the people behind it are protected.
Who do you think was in the right here: the guest or Piglet?
