Walt Disney World Resort is known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” and sometimes, it truly is. It is full of incredible rides and attractions, delicious dining options, memorable character meet and greets, and so much more. Unfortunately, sometimes, there are people who visit Disney and don’t care about making magic. They care about making someone else’s day a little worse.
Back in October 2023, police were called to Disney’s Magic Kingdom after a woman reported being assaulted by an elderly couple. According to the woman — identified in the police report as Mikal Guthrie — she was sitting on a curb waiting for the theme park parade to start. Guthrie told police that two elderly people told her they were saving the area for their family, and told her to move.
Guthrie said that she refused to move, and that is when the couple allegedly began assaulting her.
Mikal stated Bruce began to kick her buttock region repeatedly and pushed her towards the end of the curb attempting to remove her from the area. Nancy also positioned herself behind Mikal and began to kick her and pull Mikal’s hair.
Ms. Guthrie stated that she asked the couple to stop kicking her and pulling her hair. That is when a Disney cast member approached Ms. Guthrie and told her that she had been selected to be moved to a special parade viewing area.
Law enforcement also spoke to the cast member, who confirmed the incident, and provided police with a written statement.
Lauren [the cast member] was on mainstreet [sic] in Disney guiding guests to safe areas in preparation for the upcoming parade. Lauren observed an elderly male identified as Bruce yelling at and kicking Mikal telling Mikal to get out of the spot she was sitting in. Lauren then approached Mikal and told her she was randomly selected to go to a special viewing area of the parade to get Mikal out of the situation.
The police officer spoke to the couple in question — identified as Bruce and Nancy Klaff. The Klaffs did confirm that they were holding the area for their family and that Ms. Guthrie sat in the spots they were saving. However, Mrs. Klaff claimed that it was Ms. Guthrie who assaulted her by kicking her. Bruce admitted that he tried to “nudge” Ms. Guthrie out of the spot.
It should be noted that Disney does have a guest courtesy policy that says spots cannot be saved. While the site specifically states no saving places in line, it is important to know that spots along parade routes can also not be saved. Many people will put down a blanket or a bag to mark the area they are sitting in. However, the police report does not indicate that the Klaffs put anything down to save a spot:
Please show common courtesy to fellow Guests and our Cast Members by not using profanity or engaging in unsafe, illegal, disruptive or offensive behavior, jumping lines or saving places in lines for others. For your safety and the safety of others, please refrain from running except in designated areas.
While Ms. Guthrie and the Disney World cast member provided law enforcement with sworn, written statements, both Mr. and Mrs. Klaff refused to provide statements.
Based on the information the officer was provided, he found probable cause to arrest Mr. Klaff on battery charges. The report states that he found probable cause that Nancy Klaff had committed battery as well, but did not say why she was not arrested.
In addition to being arrested, the arrest report states that the Klaffs were issued trespass notices. That means that they are not allowed on Disney property for a certain amount of time.
Further court documents state that Mr. Klaff has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Pre-trial motions are scheduled to begin on January 18.
