When Walt Disney created his theme parks, one thing he made very clear was that he did not want alcohol in the theme parks. Instead, he wanted to create a place where both adults and children could enjoy and have a pure experience. For years, Walt’s dry theme parks remained intact. That changed with the opening of EPCOT in 1982.
Related: EPCOT’s “Drinking Around the World” at Disney is Becoming a Problem
Things have changed A LOT since Walt’s days, and drinking at Disney has become a full-on experience for many people. At EPCOT, Drinking Around the World has become something a lot of adults like to do. Alcohol has even come to Walt’s original theme park. For 65 years, Disneyland remained a dry park, but that changed when Blue Bayou began serving adult beverages.
Drinking at Disney, while very popular, has also become very controversial. Some people think that all the alcohol has had a negative effect on the Disney experience. Mainly because there are some guests who do not know how to control themselves and get way too intoxicated. And when they get drunk, they act foolish, and sometimes violent.
One of the people who apparently gets violent when they drink is 64-year-old John Munro, of Hilton Head Island.
Related: Guest Banned From Disney After Stupid Attempt to Break the Rules
According to The Island Packet, Munro visited Walt Disney World Resort with his family in November 2023. While there, they decided to dine at Citricos, located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Citricos is a more upscale restaurant, and the Walt Disney World website states that guests are required to “dress accordingly.” The site further states, “Clothing should be clean, neat, and in good condition. Please no swimwear.”
Munro was allegedly wearing swimwear. In addition to that, he had been drinking and was quite intoxicated.
Because Munro was wearing “swimming shorts and a T-shirt,” he was told by waitstaff that he would not be allowed to dine with his family, the report says. The man seemed to understand, the hostess noted — but when the family’s table was ready 15 minutes later, he began following them across the restaurant.
That’s when the hostess was approached by one of the party members, who told her, “Please don’t allow him to sit with us,” referring to Munro. “He is really drunk, underdressed. … It’s my birthday and I’m embarrassed.”
Related: Elderly Man Arrested, Banned From Disney After Assaulting Guest
The cast member — who was just 19 years old — repeated to Mr. Munro that he would not be allowed to dine with his party.
That is when Munro allegedly crossed the line. He is accused of repeatedly hitting the young cast member on the forehead. The cast member claimed that she was too shocked to move, and just held the family’s menu in her hands.
The same woman who asked that the man not be seated with them intervened and repeatedly apologized to the woman. A supervisor was brought over, and the police were called. Munro was then arrested.
Orange County police officers reported that the hostess did not have any visible injuries, but appeared to have been crying. They also noted that Munro had slurred speech and his eyes were glassy. He also made comments about how he was going to “sue Disney.”
He has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges against him.
The Island Packet also reported that Munro — who is Vice President at Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head — has been placed on “administrative leave” while he deals with the serious allegations against him.
We do not know if Disney has issued a trespass notice against Munro, meaning that he is banned from visiting any Disney property in the future. However, Disney typically does ban people who assault other guests or Disney cast members.
How do you think Disney should handle intoxicated guests? Let us know in the comments!
This abusive guest should be fully prosecuted to full extent of law and be banned for lifetime from Disney properties.
DRINK EM UP. CHA CHING. $$$