Credit: Disney / CanvaDisney parks are all about smiles, rides, and nostalgia. But sometimes, the “world” in Walt Disney World lives up to its name. Now and then, things take a turn that feels more like a reality TV blooper reel than a family vacation highlight.
We’re talking about fugitives getting caught at Animal Kingdom. Former employees hacking into digital menus. And yes—someone even tried to smuggle cocaine into Cinderella’s castle.
These guests didn’t just bend the rules. They turned the magic into mayhem.
Let’s take a year-by-year look at 10 of the wildest arrests at Walt Disney World.
2022: From Castle to Customs
#1 – Bibbidi-Bobbidi…Bomb?!
In May 2022, Matthew Carney, a former Disney intern and Canadian citizen, was arrested by CBP agents at the Canadian border. While the arrest didn’t happen inside the park, it’s still worth noting. Carney had an active felony warrant in Florida for threatening to blow up Cinderella Castle during his 2019 internship. Border officials flagged him during a routine check, and just like that, his travel plans went up in smoke.
He wanted fireworks at the castle, but got flashing lights at the border.
2023: Brawls, Voyeurs, and Verbal Outbursts
#2 – The Not-So-Secret Spy of Batuu
In March, 26-year-old Jorge Diaz Vega of Kissimmee, FL, was arrested at Hollywood Studios after secretly filming over 500 up-skirt videos of female guests, some of them minors. He worked in Dok-Ondar’s Den at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and admitted to taking the videos during shifts. He was charged with video voyeurism and promptly fired.
Turns out the real “Rise of the Resistance” was just HR dragging him straight out of Batuu.
#3 – 100 Years of Wonder—and One Punch
Two families argued in front of the “100 Years of Wonder” sign at Magic Kingdom. One family asked the other to move so they could take a picture in front of the 100th anniversary sign. Words turned into fists, and one man punched another in the face—right in front of Cinderella Castle. Deputies responded quickly, and both parties were banned from Disney property.
Guess they thought it was “100 years of WWE.”
#4 – From EPCOT to Escort Out
Two men from Plantation and Fort Lauderdale were arrested after shouting slurs and verbally harassing a woman in a wheelchair near EPCOT’s entrance. They also targeted cast members who tried to intervene. They were charged with disorderly conduct and promptly banned from the parks.
They didn’t even pass the front gate—they went straight to the exit. We applaud Disney and its zero-tolerance policy on bullying.
2024: Tantrums, Tossed Hats, and Too Much Vodka
#5 – Detective Throws a Tantrum at EPCOT
Duane Danforth, a police detective from Massachusetts, was arrested in January after getting aggressive at EPCOT when denied entry to a private event. He shoved a security guard and threatened a deputy with violence. After the dust settled, he was put on administrative leave back home.
He tried to throw his badge around—turns out Disney doesn’t do police privilege.
#6 – Drunk Guest Spits at Cast Member
Domingo Pagan, a 47-year-old from Orlando, was arrested after spitting through his face mask at a cast member during a drunken meltdown. Witnesses said he was acting erratically and aggressively toward staff. He was charged with battery and pleaded not guilty.
No wonder cast members aren’t as chipper as they used to be.
2025: Chaos, Code, and Cinderella’s Castle Parade Problem
#7 – Underwear Vandalism at EPCOT
On New Year’s Day, a 24-year-old man from Port Orange, FL, allegedly stripped down to his underwear and tried to relieve himself in a bush. He then proceeded to destroy a $1,000 merchandise kiosk. He was arrested for felony criminal mischief and banned from Disney property.
Nothing says “New Year, New Me” like felony mischief in boxer briefs.
#8 – Former Employee Hacks Disney Menus
In early 2025, the FBI arrested Michael Scheuer of St. Cloud, FL, for hacking Disney’s digital menu system. After being fired, he accessed internal systems and changed text to include profanity, false allergens, and Nazi imagery. Damage to the company topped $150,000.
That’s one way to lose your employee discount forever.
#9 – Parade Spot Turns Violent
In July, Martha Lucia Zapata-Echeverri, 51, of Spain, was arrested after grabbing a 17-year-old girl during the nightly parade at Magic Kingdom. She reportedly yanked the girl aside to get a better view, causing visible bruises. She was charged with child abuse and permanently banned from all Disney parks.
When they say “grab a good spot for the parade,” they don’t mean literally.
#10 -Magic Dust in the Wrong Castle
On March 29, 2025, Dustin Lee Wallace, a 44-year-old from St. Augustine, FL, was arrested at the Magic Kingdom bus loop after a security check revealed cocaine hidden in his wallet. He told deputies he’d been using it for “stress relief” over the last month. He was charged with possession, jailed, released on a $2,500 bond, and banned from all Disney properties.
Not exactly the kind of powder Disney sprinkles on churros.
Disney Drama Isn’t Always Fiction
Disney World promises enchantment—but sometimes delivers headlines. Whether it’s a bomb-threat fugitive turning up at the border, cast members recording guests, or guests recording each other in bizarre ways, these real stories remind us that real-life chaos doesn’t respect park boundaries.