Credit: Shanghai DisneylandWalt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are the Most Magical and Happiest Places on Earth. When entering a Disney Park, many guests of all ages hope to meet their favorite Disney characters, whether they’re fans of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or a Disney Princess.
Related: Universal Orlando Character Rushes Away From Argumentative Guest in Viral Video
Behind every Disney character is a dedicated Disney cast member. These character performers work hard to bring Disney stories to life for guests at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Most guests walk away delighted after meeting Disney characters. But some entertainment cast members have allegedly been involved in serious incidents that left guests scarred and disappointed.
Mickey Mouse Assaults Numerous Guests
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are perhaps the most iconic characters at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. They’re spotted regularly throughout the Disney Parks, sometimes greeting guests on Main Street, U.S.A.
Related: Disney Character Quickly Escorted Out of Magic Kingdom Parade by Security
Because he appears frequently, many Disney Park character horror stories involve Mickey Mouse. In one instance, the Disney cast member portraying Mickey shoved and startled a guest.
Reddit user u/cam_breakfastdonut met the beloved Disney icon at his Toontown house at Disneyland Park. After a lengthy wait, they were excited to take pictures with Mickey Mouse.
“Friend and I walked through Mickeys house, extra busy, long line, seemed like forever,” the guest recalled. “We finally get to Mickey and get our picture taken. My friend tries to get one more hug before we leave, Mickey puts his hand right on my friends face, smooshes it and pushes my friend to the floor.”
In another instance, an “aggressive” Mickey Mouse disappointed theme park guests.
“I was trying to encourage my 3 year old, who was new to the character thing,” u/mrsjettypants recalled. “They reeeally didn’t want me kneeling with him for pictures, and told me so by grabbing my chin/face and hanging up, and then pushing me to where they wanted me in the photo.”
“[What the actual f**k]… I’m trying to talk to my kid so he doesn’t cry,” they continued. “They were just super focused on pumping people through the line. It was so disheartening.”
More Disney Characters Cause Nightmares
When you think about Disney nightmares, you might think of Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). But the kindest on-screen characters cause the most fright when they act unexpectedly at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.
In 2022, a now-deleted video of Donald Duck and Clarice the Chipmunk caused quite a stir online. Before going backstage at Disneyland Paris, Donald spanked Clarice and made a giggling gesture. Many users speculated that The Walt Disney Company fired the pair for behaving inappropriately in front of families, though those reports were unconfirmed.
In another Walt Disney World Resort video, Phineas and Ferb reacted physically to inappropriate guest behavior. Ferb can be seen swatting a teen boy who grabbed at his ear. From @hmb.27:
@hmb.27 :/ tough day #disney #disneyworld #phineasandferb #ferb #fyp
Another TikTok from Hong Kong Disneyland shows Disney Princess Rapunzel accidentally launching her shoe at dozens of guests during a parade! Thankfully, no one was injured. Watch the video from @kenyip41 here:
@kenyip41 Oops, Princess Rapunzel accidentally dropped her slipper!#princess #disney #rapunzel #princessrapunzel
Disney characters seldom intend to harm or scare guests. Their heavy, restrictive costumes sometimes make communication difficult, especially for those who only speak through body language. Chat with Guest Services or a character attendant if you are concerned about a Disney cast member’s behavior.
Have you had negative experiences with Disney characters at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Share your story with Inside the Magic in the comments.
Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on personal Disney Parks Guest experiences. No two Guest experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with Inside the Magic’s personal views on Disney Park operations.