The number one rule at any Disney theme park (or any public place) is always to watch your children. Kids are known to be accident-prone, and this problem can cause chaos for unsuspecting Disney character performers. One unsupervised child recently put himself and Toy Story‘s Woody in danger at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Excitement turned to chaos as the unaware Woody character performer waved to the crowd. Toy Story‘s famous sheriff soon found himself desperately trying not to trip as a child clung to his waist, ending with a near miss and a kid on the ground, eyes filled with tears.
Let’s set the scene a little bit. Toy Story Land, located within Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is a popular themed area that transports visitors into the world of Pixar’s Toy Story film franchise.
As you step into this land, you’ll immediately feel like you’ve been shrunken down to the size of toys, surrounded by oversized toys and scenery. It’s also a place where the beloved characters from the movies come to life.
Standout attractions in Toy Story Land include Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, and the endearing Toy Story Mania. This 4D shooting game ride allows you to test your skills at various carnival games, making it a hit with competitive guests.
While the experiences in Toy Story Land are nothing short of magical, it’s worth noting that the popularity of these attractions can lead to crowded walkways, especially during peak visiting hours. The compact space can become quite narrow when large crowds gather.
Iconic characters like Woody, Jessie, and Buzz sometimes appear on these popular walking paths as they move to greet guests at their specific locations. While the drumming green army men cavalcade can easily navigate these crowded areas, it is another story for characters like Woody.
Recently, Woody narrowly avoided a fall when an unattended child suddenly rushed him on his route through Toy Story Land. Let’s be blunt. Sheriff Woody does not have the best peripheral vision, and a small child can easily elude his eyes if he isn’t expecting them.
With no parents in sight, the kid raced into Woody’s path and latched shockingly onto the performer. Shocked by the sudden situation, Woody did his best to maintain his balance, but the child took the fall in the chaos.
Impressively, Woody avoided directly injuring or stepping on the child while evading a dangerous fall. However, the boy was shaken up and beginning to cry by the end of the video.
Furthermore, a random bystander and character attendant seem to be the only ones who respond quickly to the situation. By the end of the footage shared by user All Things Disney on TikTok, no parent or guardian ever entered the chaos. The caption of the video questions whether parents have learned to watch their children at Disney World.
Disney character performers go through training to handle many situations, but they are still at the mercy of attendants and responsible guests for a lot of interactions. This is why it is important to always watch your kids around them. Accidents do happen. However, incidents such as this can be avoided if people are mindful and respectful.
Here’s hoping the unsupervised child wasn’t injured or traumatized by the incident. Furthermore, we have confidence that the boy’s parents will be more aware in the future to avoid another Disney World character accident. Thankfully, this one seems to have ended relatively fine, all things considered.
All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Disney Dining’s personal views on Disney Parks operations.
