Disney’s theme parks have earned the nickname as The Happiest Places on Earth because of the immense joy and fun they provide for millions of families each year.
But if you break one of Disney’s strict rules, your magical vacation may be transformed into a nightmare – because the company takes its regulations very seriously.
One man has learned that the hard way, after his bizarre act with a character during a recent visit to Shanghai Disneyland in China reportedly resulted in him being hit with a two-year ban.
According to multiple reports, the unidentified male jumped on stage during a show on August 10 and began touching one of the characters.
He reportedly attempted to dance with someone who was dressed as the red panda Mei Mei from the film Turning Red before he was escorted off stage by staff.
Shanghai Disneyland said the man’s behavior disrupted the park’s normal operations and violated the park rules, per Inside the Magic.
He was reportedly told to leave and banned from stepping foot in Shanghai Disneyland for two full years.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Shanghai Disneyland for comment.
A man at Shanghai Disneyland in China was reportedly banned for two years after he jumped on stage during a show and tried to dance with a character. Shanghai Disneyland is seen
Shanghai Disneyland said the man’s behavior disrupted the park’s normal operations and violated the park rules, per Inside the Magic (stock image)
Under its rules and regulations section on its website, Shanghai Disneyland states, ‘Please show common courtesy, both on-site and online, to fellow Park guests, our Cast Members (including but not limited to staff and performers) and the Disney Characters, and do not use profanity or engage in unsafe, illegal, disruptive or offensive behavior.’
An ex-Disney World character attendant previously shared the craziest things he saw guests do at the theme park exclusively with the Daily Mail – from someone who lied about being in Make-A-Wish to adults who had ‘full-on meltdowns.’
Patrick McKee, 35, from Atlanta, Georgia, spent years working at the Happiest Place on Earth as the ‘person who made sure the magic ran smoothly.’
Part of his job was to assist in character meet and greets – and he said he witnessed some ‘truly wild behavior’ along the way.
He recalled ‘overbearing’ parents trying to ‘cut the line’ or ‘demand something special’ for their kids.
And according to the worker, adults without children were ‘just as extreme.’
‘Some adults could completely lose themselves in the experience,’ he shared. ‘[They set] expectations so high that when reality didn’t match up, things got… interesting.
‘Picture grown adults having full-on meltdowns – it was like watching a toddler tantrum, but with much bigger stakes.’
Ex-Disney World character attendant Patrick McKee, 35, from Atlanta, Georgia, previously shared the craziest things he saw guests do at the theme park exclusively with the Daily Mail
Patrick (seen in the park) said someone lied about being in Make-A-Wish, while some adults had ‘full-on meltdowns’ over not getting their way
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He recalled one time when he told a guest that the meet and greet for a princess had ended, and they became so ‘furious’ that they ‘threw their drink on him.’
‘I couldn’t believe it, but unfortunately, situations like that weren’t as rare as you’d think,’ he continued.
‘When you’re working with characters, you never quite know how a guest will react.
‘I’ve had the most delightful conversations in line, only to see that same person do something totally unexpected when they finally met their favorite character.’
Patrick said one of the most ‘disturbing’ things he ever saw while working at the park was a family who ‘lied about being a part of the Make-A-Wish program to take advantage of the special benefits.’
Make-A-Wish ‘grants wishes to children with critical illnesses’ in order to ‘create hope and happiness for the whole family,’ per the organization’s website.
‘It was heartbreaking because the Make-A-Wish program is designed to bring joy to children dealing with life-threatening illnesses, and seeing people try to game the system for their own gain was beyond disappointing,’ Patrick said.
‘There were times parents would say something along the lines of, “I wish my kid had cancer,” just to get those benefits, completely oblivious to the weight and cruelty of their words.
‘It’s almost like people don’t realize the impact of what they’re saying, or maybe they just don’t care in their desperation.’