A guest at Disneyland Resort recently exhibited unusual behavior before a fireworks show, prompting intervention from Disney cast members.
Disneyland Resort, located in Anaheim, California, is the original Disney theme park, opened in 1955 and envisioned by Walt Disney himself. It features two main parks: Disneyland Park, known as “The Happiest Place on Earth,” and Disney California Adventure Park, which showcases California’s culture and history through immersive attractions and entertainment (or, at least, that’s the idea – but we’ll save that conversation for another time).
Even though the parks are designed to be as family-friendly as possible, we do occasionally hear of drama within the parks – typically sparked by the actions of guests themselves.
In the past, we’ve seen guests streak naked through “it’s a small world,” start physical fights with other guests, and even be escorted out of Disneyland Park in handcuffs after trying to sneak her children into the theme park for free.
Now, another incident has occurred involving a guest who clashed with cast members after attempting to remove equipment to improve his view of the fireworks.
According to a Reddit user trying to watch the Fire of the Rising Moons fireworks from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge earlier this week, the man appeared frustrated with his blocked view and decided to take matters into his own hands.
“We found a nice spot outside Docking Bay 7 that overlooks the [Millennium] Falcon to relax and wait for the fireworks,” they recounted. “Naturally, as the showtime approached, more people started filling in, grabbing tables and chairs. By 8:30, it was getting crowded, so some guests started standing around the area. All good so far.”
Then, the problematic guest arrived. “In walks this weird guest, probably in their 60s, pacing back and forth, asking people if the seats around them were taken—even when it was obvious they were being saved,” they described. “They even asked my wife if my seat was available when I stepped away to take a photo for two seconds. She told them it wasn’t, but they kept on pestering.”
After finding an open chair, the guest decided to remove a patio umbrella that would block their view of the Disney fireworks. “They placed it by a tree near us,” they noted. “It made some of the other guests and us nervous, as it looked like it could fall and hit someone. Thankfully, a Cast Member saw it and put the umbrella back in place.”
However, the guest was undeterred. “They sat there quietly for a while, but then, just one or two minutes before the show started, they got up again and removed the umbrella again, laying it on the ground! I had to say something at that point and told them, ‘People will trip.’ They heard me and then picked it up again and tried leaning it against the tree again.”
It was at this point that cast members stepped in. “A Disney Manager (with one of those trash grabbers) and security came over,” they reported. “They told them to stop and put the umbrella back in its place.”
Fortunately, the umbrella then remained where it belonged throughout the Disney fireworks. “The weird guest just sat there pouting because the umbrella blocked their view of the fireworks,” they remarked. “Glad it didn’t turn into a bigger scene, though.”
It goes without saying, but this incident is just another example of how hard Disney cast members work to maintain the magic. It’s not always easy trying to temper the actions of the worst-behaving guests.
What’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen a guest do at Disney?
