Jesse Cole has built an entire brand around a bright yellow tuxedo, but that same signature look got him personally escorted out of EPCOT by Walt Disney World Resort security. Here’s how the iconic Savannah Bananas owner accidentally violated the Disney dress code.
A Book Tour With an Unexpected Ending
Cole recently revisited the story on Instagram, reflecting on what he called a misguided stop on his 2017 “world book tour” promoting his book, “Find Your Yellow Tux.” His plan was to weave through EPCOT’s World Showcase, starting in the Mexico Pavilion, asking cast members and guests to say “Go Bananas” or “yellow tuxedo” in their native languages.
Disney was 100% right when inviting me to leave! Looking back, it makes total sense why they did what they did.
My World Book Tour at EPCOT will go down as one of the not so great ideas I’ve had over the years 🤣
But hey… ideas are everything. In order to get to the great ideas, you have to have some not so great ideas.
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He made it as far as the Morocco Pavilion before a security cast member intervened.
“A security guard has his eyes on me, and he comes over, and he says, ‘Sir, we’re gonna have to ask you to leave,'” Cole recalled. “‘You’re confusing our guests as one of our characters.’ And that was that. He walked me out of the park, and my world book tour was cut short.”
Why Disney Had a Case
A yellow tuxedo doesn’t appear anywhere in Walt Disney World Resort’s written dress code. The rules formally prohibit items like costumes worn by guests 14 and older, overly revealing clothing, and attire with objectionable language or graphics. But Disney’s policies also give security cast members broad discretion to remove anyone whose presence they determine is “inappropriate or attire that could detract from the experience of other Guests.”
Cole wasn’t dressed as a Disney character, but his behavior mimicked one: posing for photos with strangers and filming promotional content inside the park. That latter activity also ran afoul of Walt Disney World Resort’s prohibition on photography or recording for unapproved commercial purposes.
Cole himself doesn’t dispute any of it.
“Looking back, it makes complete sense,” he said. “I believe you either have a success or you have a story, and with this world book tour, we certainly had a story.”
No Hard Feelings
Whatever friction existed between Cole and the Disney parks in 2017 is long gone. His baseball team, the Savannah Bananas, made their second visit to Disneyland Resort on March 26 for an official “Savannah Bananas Day,” which featured player meet-and-greets, a dedicated cavalcade, exclusive entertainment, and a merchandise pop-up at Downtown Disney.
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort security’s decision to remove this man from EPCOT? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
