In recent months, Disney World has taken steps to address rude, inappropriate, and sometimes criminal Guest behavior. The Resort has also implemented measures to stop those behaviors before they get started. In mid-December 2022, Disney World posted a warning on its official website for Guests who intend to visit the parks and act, well, less than respectable. (Who knew grown adults would need so much coddling just to behave while at a Disney theme park resort?)
Once upon a time, families could visit the Walt Disney World Resort, take in all there was to see and do, and never think about the possibility of a fight breaking out while they were there. Today when families visit the parks, the chances are higher than they’ve ever been that they’ll witness some type of verbal or physical altercation during their time at Disney World.
In January 2022, an all-out brawl broke out between members of two different families just outside the exit to the Toy Story Mania attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Things got so bad that in a video of the fight, a Cast Member can be seen running away from the angry Guests in an effort to keep himself safe. The next month, a verbal altercation between a man and a woman took place at EPCOT, and when a Cast Member tried to help diffuse the tension between the couple, things only got worse.
In April 2022, a family’s wagon was stolen at Disney Springs by another visiting family, and a wildly heated verbal exchange ensued. A major fight was narrowly averted as the wagon was finally surrendered. Then in June 2022, a Guest visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom with her husband and two children claimed “stress from the family’s Disney vacation” got the better of her, and she went into full-on attack mode toward her husband in the parking lot just outside the park entrance.
And in late October, a man with no park tickets and no park pass reservation smuggled his child into Magic Kingdom, and when Cast Members attempted to catch up with the man to stop him, the Guest assaulted both of them.
For these and hundreds of other reasons, Disney World was forced to post a new warning with associated consequences for failure to comply with the rules:
“Be the magic you want to see in the world,” the new post reads. “You must always remember to treat others with respect, kindness, and compassion. Those who can’t live up to this simple wish may be asked to leave Walt Disney World Resort.”
(We love that Disney specifies how “simple” it should be for Guests to act respectable.)
Now, new warnings about Guest behaviors at Disney World Resort Hotels have been posted–this time relating to Guests being loud during hours when many are asleep (or trying to go to sleep). It’s no secret that Disney World hosts high school groups at its Central Florida parks, many of whom stay at Disney’s All-Star Resorts. From cheerleading competitions at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports to high school marching band performances along Main Street, U. S. A. at Magic Kingdom, young people have reasons to visit Disney World outside of their regular family vacations.
But recently, Guests at the All-Stars Resorts have complained about the noise levels late at night. Cheerleading groups have reportedly been practicing in the wide open lawn areas, and band members have been using their Resort Hotel rooms as practice rooms. As such, new signage popped up this week at the Resorts, directing Guests to observe “quiet hours:”
“Hey there, Musicians! We hope that you are enjoying your stay! Please remember that quiet hours are between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am.”
Quiet hours, however, are not a new thing at Disney World, and they apply to all of Disney’s Resort Hotels. On Disney World’s official website, rules about quiet hours are posted, with one slight difference from the new signage at the All-Stars Resorts:
“Quiet hours at the Disney Resort hotels and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser are from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.”
It’s important to remember that guidelines at the Walt Disney World Resort are in place as Disney puts in its best faith effort to keep Guests happy and safe and to encourage them to be courteous to others. Failure to adhere to any of Disney World’s rules can have less than magical consequences–not only for the Guest responsible for the rule-breaking but sometimes for his or her entire traveling party. Disney World is very clear about expectations for Guests’ behaviors, as well as about potential fallout for those who can’t seem to act their ages:
We reserve the right to deny admission, prevent entry, or require a person already admitted to leave the Walt Disney World Resort or any part thereof, without refund, liability, or compensation, for failure to comply with any of these rules, for unsafe, illegal or offensive behavior, to ensure safety, security or order, or if we consider that the circumstances otherwise so require, in our sole and absolute discretion.
Seriously, if you have difficulties in getting along with others, if you don’t understand what it means to be respectful to others, or if you simply don’t feel that these kinds of parameters apply to you, Disney World is the last place on Planet Earth you need to visit. Save yourself the stress (and everyone else the heartache), and just stay home. It doesn’t cost you a dime to be a homebody, and Guests who are paying all those pretty pennies to be in the parks can enjoy all the magic they offer without you ruining it for them.
