An afternoon at EPCOT turned into a battery charge and a lifetime ban on Tuesday after an adult guest physically attacked a Walt Disney World Resort cast member, all because his family was asked to wait in line for a Mirabel meet-and-greet.
The Line That Set It Off
Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrived at EPCOT at 3:14 p.m. on April 21, responding to a battery involving a Disney Character Attendant working the meet-and-greet line for Mirabel from Encanto (2021).
The trouble started when a family tried to cut the queue while the character was still greeting another group. The cast member stepped in and asked them to wait, redirecting both the parents and their child, who made several attempts to rush toward the character performer despite repeated intervention. The attendant also let the family know that Mirabel was available for photos only, not autographs. The child’s mother responded by shoving an autograph book directly in the character attendant’s face.
Then the child’s father stepped in. Diego Rodriguez, identified in the police report, grabbed the Character Attendant by her right arm, shook her, and began shouting at her. He then attempted to lunge at the cast member before others intervened.
Multiple witnesses backed up the account, including other EPCOT guests and the performer playing Mirabel. One bystander remembered Rodriguez yelling, “Why everyone can take a picture but us?”
Escorted Out, Arrested, and Banned for Life
Walt Disney World Resort security moved in quickly, pulling Rodriguez and his family from the area and taking them to the EPCOT security office. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were waiting. Rodriguez was arrested on a battery charge and transported to the Orange County Jail.
Walt Disney World Resort issued Rodriguez a lifetime trespass notice — a permanent ban from the entire property.
Has another guest negatively impacted your visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
