Last weekend, two Disney characters had seconds to react after one unruly parent set off a chain of dangerous events at Disneyland Paris Resort. If not for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their Character Attendants, the situation could’ve dissolved into mass injury.
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Disney character meet-and-greets are undoubtedly one of the best parts of a Disney Park vacation, especially for little ones. The highly-trained character performers appear to step off the screen and into the theme parks, making even the most cynical Disney Parks guests smile.
If photo ops and autograph collecting don’t interest you, you can still catch a glimpse of characters from Peter Pan to Mary Poppins around the Disney parks in parades, cavalcades, stage shows, and random roaming interactions. Sometimes, you might even ride the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland Park carousel with a Disney Princess!
It’s important to note that when they’re not at set meet-and-greet locations, Disney characters and their Attendants control any interactions. They don’t typically stop for pictures but might make a magical moment for an extra excited guest. Character performers on stage seldom divert from their script unless audience interaction is part of the show. They’ll wave and say hello to guests while passing by on or in front of parade floats, but they must keep moving.
Acting recklessly around Disney characters is more than disrespectful–it’s dangerous. Some costumes are incredibly heavy with limited visibility, and a surprise hug or sudden grab can impact their balance.
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Days ago, a woman filed a lawsuit against Disneyland Resort, a performer, and an Attendant claiming permanent disability. The guest said she was bent over, tying her daughter’s shoe, when Goofy walked into her from behind and fell on top of her. The courts haven’t determined if Disney or its cast members were negligent, but the guest claimed she was permanently injured.
Such injuries would multiply for little ones, who are even more difficult for character performers to see. So when one father sent his young daughter into a parade route to hug Minnie Mouse, he didn’t know what he was risking.
TikTok user @disney.bylilly shared a video of the terrifying chain of events during a parade at Disneyland Park (Paris). In the clip, a father pushes his young daughter out in front of the parade to hug Minnie Mouse, who stumbles and pushes her back.
In response, the father sends her forward again. Other parents notice, with one pushing another little girl into the road and another holding an infant out in front of the Disney character. A Character Attendant comes running around the corner after Mickey Mouse appears to notice the situation and signal distress.
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Minnie Mouse rejected any further interaction. The cast member ducked under other guests’ waving hands to stop the families from sending their children into the parade route.
Just as the Disney cast member shook his finger “no” at the guests, Mickey Mouse appeared and gave him a thumbs up, appearing to thank him for dissolving the situation. The parade continued normally, with Snow White and Timon from The Lion King (1994) dancing along the route.
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Never step over a taped or painted line unless a Disney cast member explicitly instructs otherwise. Restrictions exist to protect guests and cast members. Disney characters are happy to snap a family photo at scheduled meet-and-greets, which can be found on your chosen Disney park’s app, or by asking for an entertainment schedule at Guest Relations.
Disney characters make some of the best memories at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney parks worldwide. In the comments, share some of your favorite character interactions with this site.
This post originally appeared on Inside the Magic.
