A grown man was caught on video harassing a wild bird at EPCOT and apparently Disney did absolutely nothing about it. The footage shows a guest inappropriately handling a white ibis, which is not only against park rules but also violates federal law. And according to people who were there, cast members basically gave the guy a slap on the wrist.
Walt Disney World: Active Calls shared the video on X stating: “Horrible person at EPCOT torturing the Wildlife. It is against park rules to feed, pet, touch, harass, or harm wildlife, including birds.” The comments section went off, and honestly, people are rightfully furious.
Horrible person at EPCOT torturing the Wildlife. It is against park rules to feed, pet, touch, harass, or harm wildlife, including birds.https://t.co/a2u1ofVHSF
— Walt Disney World: Active Calls (@WDWActiveCrime) December 21, 2025
@kirstengarcia3 Only at Epcot. Not sure if this guy was drunk or what, but he didn’t even get kicked out! #disneyworld
The Legal Reality Nobody’s Talking About
Here’s what makes this extra infuriating. A former zookeeper dropped crucial information in the comments: “Hi! Former Zookeeper here, this bird is a white ibis and they are protected under the US migratory bird act. You can report this video to the Florida Wildlife Commission and he can be charged for this.”
Read that again. This isn’t just breaking park rules. This is a federal crime. The U.S. Migratory Bird Act protects white ibis, meaning harassing or capturing them can result in criminal charges. This man could literally be prosecuted by federal authorities.
Another commenter pointed out the state-level consequences: “animal abuse is a felony in the state of Florida. this man needs to be charged. Epcot needs to quit serving so much alcohol.” A felony. Not a misdemeanor, not a ticket. A felony charge.
So why did Disney apparently let this slide?
Disney’s Pathetic Response
One guest who actually tried to report similar behavior shared their experience and it’s honestly disgusting: “we were there yesterday. and I spoke to the leader damn Dan and told him what I saw and everything he told me to mind my whole damn business. The guy did not get into trouble or anything just a slap on the wrist.”
Let that sink in. A guest reports wildlife abuse, and a Disney leader tells them to mind their own business. The perpetrator gets “a slap on the wrist” and continues their day like nothing happened.
Multiple commenters expressed exactly the kind of anger this deserves. “Nothing makes me angrier than people who can’t leave the dang animals alone,” one person wrote. Another simply said: “He should have been banned. Poor bird.”
But Disney’s weak enforcement apparently extends beyond EPCOT. One guest described a similar incident at Animal Kingdom: “I was at animal kingdom today eating at the restaurantosaurus and this kid came up and was trying to smack one of the squirrels and his dad literally just watched and didn’t say a word.
When parents won’t correct their kids and Disney won’t enforce its own rules, what’s the point of having wildlife protection policies?
The EPCOT Drinking Problem
Multiple commenters connected this incident to EPCOT’s notorious alcohol service, and they’re not wrong to make that connection.
One long-time visitor shared a disturbing perspective: “We just spent 5 days park hopping disney…Epcot is out of control! For the first time in 35 years of visiting we did not feel even remotely safe visiting this particular park. Far too many people way to overserved!”
Thirty-five years of visiting and they’ve never felt unsafe until now. That should set off alarm bells at Disney headquarters.
Another commenter explained why incidents like this are affecting their decision to visit Disney at all: “Grown man over here abusing wild animals. And i don’t want no ragebaiters telling me he was ‘just holding it’ he was carrying a wild bird by the neck it could of easily flailed and hurt itself. This is partially why i refuse to go back to disney rn cause it’s like everybody going is nuts! This woulda fr ruined my day if i saw it irl.”
EPCOT’s drinking culture has been a topic of discussion for years, especially during Food and Wine Festival and other events where alcohol is central to the experience. But when guests are connecting overserved visitors to wildlife abuse and feeling unsafe in the park, Disney has a serious problem on its hands.
What Should Actually Happen
Let’s be clear about what the appropriate response looks like. First, the guest in the video should be identified, removed from the park, and banned for life from all Disney properties. That’s the absolute minimum.
Second, the video should be reported to the Florida Wildlife Commission so they can investigate potential violations of the Migratory Bird Act. Federal and state charges should be pursued if warranted. This isn’t about being vindictive, it’s about enforcing laws that exist to protect wildlife.
Third, Disney needs to seriously evaluate its enforcement procedures. When cast members are telling guests to mind their own business instead of taking wildlife harassment reports seriously, the system is broken. When leaders are giving violators “slaps on the wrist” instead of removing them from the property, the policies are meaningless.
Fourth, EPCOT specifically needs to look at its alcohol service practices. Multiple guests independently connected overservice to poor behavior and safety concerns. While most people drink responsibly, the recurring mentions suggest a pattern Disney can’t keep ignoring.
The Bigger Issue
This incident represents something larger than one jerk harassing a bird. It’s about Disney’s apparent inability or unwillingness to enforce its own rules, maintain safe environments, and protect the wildlife that shares its property.
When guests witness abuse, report it to cast members, and get told to mind their business, that’s a failure of leadership. When violators face minimal consequences, it signals that Disney prioritizes avoiding confrontation over protecting animals and maintaining standards.
The comments section on this video is full of people expressing anger, disappointment, and genuine concern about the direction Disney parks are heading. These aren’t trolls or haters. They’re guests who care about the Disney experience and are frustrated watching it deteriorate.
White ibis are protected under federal law. Animal abuse is a felony in Florida. Disney has clear rules against wildlife harassment. None of that apparently mattered when this incident occurred, and that’s the problem. Rules and laws only work when they’re enforced, and Disney’s enforcement seems to be failing spectacularly.
