Child Taken From Parents After Disneyland Incident

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

An odd scene occurred at Disneyland Resort recently that resulted in a strange occurrence.

Known as “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Disneyland Resort is expected to be a place filled with happiness, kindness, and Disney magic. Sadly, some Guests experience yelling, fighting, and misbehaving.

Disneyland Resort is comprised of two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, as well as a shopping and dining district called Downtown Disney. Each theme park offers its own unique experiences and attractions, making it easy for visitors to spend several days exploring all the magic that the resort has to offer.

Guests heading to Disneyland Park can visit one of the several different “lands” that are inside the classic theme park. These “lands” are designed to transport Guests into different worlds of fantasy and adventure. From the timeless charm of Main Street, U.S.A. to the futuristic world of Tomorrowland, the theme park has something for everyone. Some of the most popular attractions include Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, “it’s a small world,” Alice in Wonderland, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance and many more attractions.

Next door at Disney California Adventure Park, Guests can explore Avengers Campus, Cars Land, Pixar Pier and many more locations. Guests can enjoy attractions such as Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Radiator Springs Racers, Jessie’s Critter Carousel, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission BREAKOUT, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, Soarnin’ Around the World and many more attractions.

Pixar Pier

Of course, we all know that crowds making their way into the Disney Parks can cause tensions to arise in ways that we wouldn’t expect or, really, understand. In a social media post, a Disneyland Guest spotted a mother yelling at a child. While we are unsure what was going on, the mother took the child to the first aid building and then started back yelling again.

“This woman was screaming at her daughter (presumably) to change her attitude. But her screaming was super intense and it honestly triggered me a little bit. Then she took her daughter over by the first aid building and started blowing up at her some more. It was so loud and vicious everyone in the vicinity just got sooo quiet.”

While at the first aid building, a Cast Member made a few hand gestures and then another Cast Member stepped in. Even after another Cast Member, the mother was still yelling at the child. At this point, the Cast Members separated them and interviewed them. When the interview was complete, Cast Members took the mother’s ID and wrote something down. The father stood beside the child and seemed to be in shock.

“Then the physician from the first aid building walked out and made a few hand gestures and quickly went back in side. It honestly wasn’t 45 seconds before a man in a white hat and shirt showed up. At this point the woman had kept scolding her daughter but not as loudly. Then the man in the white hat approached her and they separated her from the child and interviewed them separately. I have never seen this here before. They interviewed them for quite a while and even took the woman’s ID and wrote something down. The most bizarre thing is the father and another daughter stood off to the side the whole time and just … didn’t react.”

The child was eventually returned to their parents, but the extent of what happened or what caused this scene to occur still hasn’t been confirmed.

While we hope this situation was worked out, if Guests see something off or wrong while at Disney Parks, find your nearest Cast Member, and they will take care of the situation. Do you think Disney security should do more when parents physically discipline children?

Disneyland Cast members

Disneyland Resort is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves Disney and enjoys immersive experiences that transport visitors into fantastical worlds. With its variety of attractions, themed lands, and on-site amenities, the resort is a truly magical experience for visitors of all ages.

This Magical Moment Between Mickey and a Grieving Family

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney World means many things to many people. For some, it’s just a theme park. To others, it’s escapism. Many call it home. And then, for others, it’s a place to process grief. I myself have grieved loss at Disney and know firsthand its heart-healing powers. One family on TikTok recently discovered this as well.

The family of Rayne Straaseley shared a video of their recent trip to Walt Disney World, but this was no ordinary vacation. Rayne passed away last September after, as her “Aunt Juju” (Jules) put it, “a rough go in her small time on Earth.” Her aunt went on to explain, “She’s been in and out of the ICU multiple times, eats from a feeding tube in her tummy, and has a plethora of medical machines and equipment to help her live her daily life. At this time, there is no umbrella diagnosis for us to understand why these things are happening to her.”

For what should have been Rayne’s 7th birthday, she and her mother took a photo of Rayne to Disney World to meet her favorite characters. This alone is enough to reduce a grown adult to tears, but a video shared to TikTok of Rayne meeting Mickey Mouse was one of the most touching Disney moments I’ve ever seen.

First, Mickey took a napkin and made a blanket for Rayne because he didn’t want her to the cold. Then he waved at the photo and kissed it. He spent time with both Rayne’s mom and aunt, tenderly touching his face to there’s, telling them not to cry. Then he led the family in singing happy birthday to Rayne in a moment they will never forget.

Rayne Straaseley

The touching video went viral and got the attention of the official account for @DisneyParks, who weighed in: “Mickey always knows how to put a smile on our face 🥹 Sending you lots of love and pixie dust 🫶”

Disney (and Mickey) proves once again that “no matter how your heart is grieving if you keep on believing…a dream that you wish will come true.” You can watch the full TikTok videos here and here.

Disney Dining Plans To Return in 2024

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Time to eat! Just announced, Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package with us starting with stays beginning January 9, 2024, which will also open for bookings on May 31.

We know our guests – and families in particular – have missed dining plans, which offer guests the convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for their meals and snacks.

Guests will be able to choose from two popular options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan. Both plans will be a great value for families with young children with access to many spectacular food and beverage offerings across Walt Disney World.

Police Dispatched to Magic Kingdom, Character Under Investigation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

Police were dispatched to Walt Disney World Resort following an incident that led to a character being under investigation.

When visiting Disney World, Guests are treated to all kinds of immersive and fun activities. From classic attractions to entertainment offerings to dining experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy when visiting the Disney Parks & Resorts.

Of course, one of the most popular activities– outside of rides– that Disney World Guests enjoy is meeting their favorite characters in meet-and-greets. Disney World has an unmatched number of characters throughout the day in its Parks, ready to meet Guests. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, and Daisy Duck, as well as many others, including your favorite Disney princesses, Pixar pals, and animated heroes. When visiting characters, Disney Park Guests can get photos– which can be downloaded on Disney PhotoPass— and spend time sharing a few words with them.

While many of these meet-and-greets produce the best family photos, it seems that one did not go as many would have wanted. As a matter of fact, it resulted in the police being called to the scene.

Disneyland

Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russo was the first to report that Orange County Sheriff’s Office was called to Magic Kingdom Park to investigate Tigger after an alleged incident at the Crystal Palace Restaurant in the Disney Park. A 40-year-old travel agent and the travel agency’s owner filed a complaint against Tigger after they shared they believed the Disney character was “acting off.” The agency owner said she saw Tigger’s hand slide down and touch the 40-year-old’s rear end and make a laughing gesture. She captured the moment on video, according to the report.

“As she goes to take the picture, Tigger’s hand comes off of her shoulder, almost at falling speed. His arm goes in the direction of her buttocks but from the angle of the video it’s not completely clear if he touches her buttocks as his arm falls,” the report said.

The two wanted Tigger to be prosecuted, but after an investigation, the Orange County Sheriff Department ruled in favor of Tigger, who remains nameless because he was not charged with any crime.

The 22-year-old said he “cannot see anything below the upper chest level while looking straight, and cannot see anything beyond approximately 30 degrees on either side of him.”

One character attendant described the travel agent as “handsy.”

“They kept touching his tail and making inappropriate comments. Upon getting to table 36 Tigger was bouncing and dancing and having fun with the Guests,” the report said.

This, unfortunately, isn’t the first time that the police have been dispatched to any of the Disney Parks, including Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT. One of the most prominent incidents happened last year when families brawled inside Fantasyland in the shadows of Cinderella Castle. Of course, in that case, several arrests were made.

Disney Changes Advanced Dining Reservation Rules

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Disney’s Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) rules have changed again! Ever since the pandemic, Walt Disney World has tweaked dining reservations little by little until no one is really quite sure what the rules are. Even seasoned Disney World vets have trouble navigating all of the rules.

Pre-Pandemic, you could make an ADR for your favorite table service restaurant 180 days in advance, now it’s 60. You also had to cancel your reservation 24 hours in advance or pay a fee (usually $10/guest). Disney has since relaxed that rule and you may cancel up to 2 hours in advance without penalty. Now it seems the rules have been changed again. (Somewhere in the distance we hear Darth Vadar’s voice: “I’m altering the deal, pray I do not alter it further”).

Previously there was a handy loophole to avoid paying a fee for reservations that you needed to cancel within the “penalty window.” You could simply modify your reservation to a different day and then cancel without incurring any fees. Modifications were allowed up to 30 minutes before your reservation which essentially meant the savvy guest could utilize this loophole at any time.

Disney has now closed that loophole. Modifications cannot be made online within two hours of your reservation. Disney’s website was updated today to say:

“Restaurants offering advance reservations do not allow modifications within 2 hours of the reservation time, and most charge a $10 per-person fee to cancel within 2 hours of the reservation time, or if you don’t show up for your reservation. Each restaurant’s policies are provided when you make your reservation. If you’ve already booked, the policies can be found in your email confirmation.”

Advanced dining reservation chsnges

This change is most likely due to the increased crowds in the theme parks. A higher volume of guests means greater demand for those precious ADRs. Closing the loophole ensures guests will actually show up to their reservation, otherwise, restaurants end up with empty seats that could otherwise be filled (and making money).