Police Arrive at Disney World as Guest Takes Drastic Measures Amid Price Increases

Walt Disney World has long marketed itself as a place where memories are made and everyday worries fade, but for many visitors, the cost of that magic has become harder to ignore. Conversations about rising prices have gained traction among Disney fans, especially on social media, where guests share observations about increased admission prices, hotel rates, and merchandise costs that steadily inch upward each year.

The most recent wave of Disney World price adjustments continues that trajectory. Disney announced that beginning in October 2026, the average single-day ticket price will rise by roughly $5 across most tiers. Annual passholders are also affected, facing increases of $20 to $80 depending on the pass type. For large families planning multi-day vacations, these incremental changes add up quickly.

Merchandise and food have not escaped the changes. T-shirts that once sat comfortably at $29.99 now average $32.99. The signature Mickey ear headbands — a near-mandatory souvenir for many — have moved from $34.99 to $36.99. For some longtime guests, these small increases signal something larger: a shift in the financial accessibility of the resort.

One recent incident at Disney’s Beach Club Resort has drawn attention and raised questions about how visitors are responding to these evolving price dynamics.

Guest Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Mickey Ears

According to a police alert, the incident occurred at Disney’s Beach Club Resort on November 2, 2025, at 8:02 p.m.

🔃 Arrest Update from Petit Theft call (11/02)
A guest tried to make her own “Buy One, Get One Free” at Disney’s Beach Club – buying a sweater and stealing Mickey Ears. She was arrested and trespassed; her husband was trespassed as well.
Read the Report below.
#DisneyArrest

🔃 Arrest Update from Petit Theft call (11/02)
A guest tried to make her own “Buy One, Get One Free” at Disney’s Beach Club – buying a sweater and stealing Mickey Ears. She was arrested and trespassed; her husband was trespassed as well.
Read the Report below.#DisneyArrest https://t.co/6lziDyHscA pic.twitter.com/9e4E3EvP8u

— Walt Disney World: Active Calls (@WDWActiveCrime) November 4, 2025

A security manager observed a guest, identified as Katie Green, exit the Beach Club Marketplace with a pair of Mickey ears she did not pay for. The item had reportedly been placed in the basket of her electric scooter and moved into a shopping bag outside the shop.

Green disputed the allegation. She told officers she had told the cashier she wished to buy the ears while purchasing a sweater, and that the cashier had scanned a different pair in error. However, when law enforcement reviewed her receipts, no Mickey ears appeared on any of them. Only the sweater had been purchased.

The cashier’s report contradicted Green’s version of events. According to the cast member, Green asked about the price of the ears, appeared to reconsider, and ultimately purchased only the sweater. The employee believed the ears had been returned to the display area. The pair in question was priced at $36.99 — the recently increased rate.

Green was subsequently arrested for retail petit theft. She and her husband were trespassed from all Disney-owned properties, meaning they are no longer permitted to enter any Walt Disney World Resort locations.

Other Theft Incidents at Disney World

This is not the only theft-related incident Disney has faced in recent months. In September, a man reportedly used scuba gear to swim to Paddlefish — the floating restaurant at Disney Springs — and place bags over the heads of employees before stealing between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash. The story drew significant attention online and in local media due to its unusual circumstances. The suspect remains at large.

Guests have also reported concerns about personal items going missing at resort hotels.

One Reddit user described a situation in which a $5,000 purse disappeared from their room at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The guest claimed hotel staff attempted to direct them through the standard lost-and-found process, despite the item allegedly never leaving the room.

Meanwhile, another group of guests had their wallets stolen at Disney’s Saratoga Springs pool. Their frustration with how Disney handled the situation led to them subsequently canceling their Disney Vacation Club membership.

Have you ever witnessed someone stealing at Disney World?