Countless Disney Guests Break Park Rules, Start Climbing Random Structures
At Disney parks, there are few surprises more jarring than watching a guest ignore the most basic safety rules. Families travel from around the world for the carefully designed magic of Main Street, U.S.A., but increasingly, the experience is being disrupted by guests climbing on structures in pursuit of a better view.
Like many major attractions, Disney has long enforced strict rules for what visitors can and cannot do. The prohibited items list alone is extensive, banning everything from selfie sticks and wagons to shoes with built-in wheels. Other rules are more obvious: violent or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Yet, as many parkgoers have observed, these rules are broken regularly.
In recent years, it feels like a growing number of fights have erupted across the parks and Disney hotels. That includes a recent brawl at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where security staff were forced to break up the violence. A guest was also recently banned after engaging in physical fight at Disney Springs, Walt Disney World Resort’s onsite shopping and dining destination.
Even beyond physical altercations, there is a growing trend of parkgoers testing limits in other ways.
A Growing Climbing Problem Plagues One Disney Park
For reasons even longtime fans struggle to explain, climbing seems to be one of the most common violations. EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion has attracted repeat offenders, many of whom appear intoxicated. At Animal Kingdom, one guest attempted to scale the Tree of Life. At Shanghai Disneyland, another climbed onto a stage and began dancing with costumed characters.
Most recently, attention has turned to structures along Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris. One guest posted on Reddit describing families climbing a pavilion near Casey’s Corner to get a better view of Disney Tales of Magic.
Don't be a jerk. Watch the fireworks from a allowed place… Not on the roof of this.
byu/Okiwilldoitnow indisneylandparis
“Last night I watched not one but two families sitting on top of this (just to left of caseys, it’s a meet and greet spot), which can’t have been safe,” the guest wrote. “One was a group of middle aged Spaniards (5 or 6 of them), who were more on the white wall at the left, but an English lady with her two kids (smaller one maybe 8?) was on top of it! Talk about dangerous.”
According to the same parkgoer, security eventually intervened. Some of the climbers fled before cast members arrived, but at least one family “got caught, and got escorted out and tickets taken.” The guest added: “Security was stunned so guessing no-one has actually sat on top of it before or maybe not caught them. Idiots.”
A Wider Problem
Disneyland Paris visitors have long shared stories of seeing parkgoers climbing fences, lamp posts, trash cans, and props to secure the best view of the evening fireworks or parades.
“When I went there were countless people climbing over the fences to watch from the garden areas, some of them were standing in the actual flowers,” said one Reddit user. “Most moronic part was they did it in front of quite a few staff who were packing up one of the carts. They quickly moved.”
Another added: “Children hanging from the Casey’s corner eating area during the fireworks show was insane. The parents are literally there and do NOT say anything.”
While Disney does not need to spell out that climbing pavilions or fences is forbidden, the consequences are clear. Guests risk both injury and a potential lifetime ban from Disney property.
What’s the worst guest behavior you’ve witnessed at Disney?
