Posted on 12/16/2006 12:51:26 PM PST by surfer
The happiest place on Earth just said "no" to the jolliest man on Earth.
Walt Disney World resort gave an ultimatum to a Santa lookalike who was visiting the park Sunday, warning him to ditch his festive gear or get out.
J.D. Worley, 60, is used to being mistaken for Santa Claus. But it had always been something that brought him joy, until a recent visit to Disney World.
Worley, who has a long white beard and bears a striking resemblance to St. Nick, was followed around by many an awed youngster during his recent visit to the park.
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(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Actually, I see Disney's point...people would probably assume he worked for the park, which is a closed environment.
Although there are many things I find wrong with Disney, I am not sure this is one of them.
I believe Disney has a policy of no costumes (except on Halloween).
Disney doesn't allow park visitors to wear costumes, aside from the princess merch you buy for your kids. There's no comment from a Disney rep actually saying that Santa is a Disney character either, just the word of the self aggrandizing "victim".
If Disney isn't make a buck off it, they don't want it in their park. Walt would be appalled I'm sure.
Baloney!
what 'festive gear' was he asked to ditch?
It sounds like it was more than his 'beard'.
Umm, Disney's Santa is a Disney Employee.
This guy is not.
"Santa Claus will be meeting and greeting Magic Kingdom guests from 10:00am - 6:00pm at the Tour Guide Gardens next to City Hall.
You can also visit Santa during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party until he's needed for his very important role in the parade."
Okay, I disagree.
It is easy to bash Disney for a whole variety of things, but you cannot seriously think this is baloney.
Let me paint a scenario, and you tell me if you think it is baloney for the Disney Corporation to be concerned.
People play a lot of money to get into Disneyworld. Disneyworld is a closed environment, everything that happens in there is on company property. If a guest slips on water, it is Disney's fault. If they are hurt on a ride, it is Disney's fault. If one of the employees has an altercation with a customer, it is Disney's fault. It is private property.
A guy dresses up like Santa, much like any other visitor might do if given the chance. So let's say there are 20 people on a given day around Christmas who might be dressed as Santa. People in the park do not know any better, and are going to assume (and rightly so) that these people are employees of the park. They are going to trust these Santas, let their kids hug them and hold them on their lap.
What if one of these Santas abuses one of the kids? Is anyone going to stand up for Disney and say "It's not their fault..."
Nonsense. Like many posters on here, people are only too happy to see Disney get screwed in any way possible. After all they screw us all the time! Make movies that our kids force us to see...make us pay exorbitant prices to get into their park, that our kids FORCE us to pay...etc.
I have issues with them as well...the whole homosexual friendly week they have down there, for starters.
Bu I agree with them on this. I disagree with everyone who paints Disney as the bad guys here.
I say baloney too. Look at all the freaks walking around out there and they want to kick a guy out that looks like Santa. Unless he is harming or making money illegaly; let him stay. The kids like him.
You are quite right. I don' think there is any grounds for criticism of Disney in this case.
How can one bear a striking resemblance to a make-believe person?
Sure they do...at Halloween. I have a very nice Captn Hook costume that I wear every year to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. My wife has a Malificent costume. The first year I wore it, they told me not to give out any autographs, but, didn't have a problem with it. The next year and this year, they didn't even bother telling me (of course this year I was riding in an electric cart due to a knee injury).
Next Halloween, I will be dressed as the Mouse himself. We'll see what happens with that!
I agree...I actually love Disney and spent time with my wife and daughter there last December for their Christmas celebration...
I posted the story of how delighted I was to see them decisively incorporate the real meaning of Christmas in their theme parks...they had a big, beautiful Nativity scene in MGM and every park had seasonal hymns blaring from the loud speakers every day...
I could understand why they would not want this guy walking around in a Santa suit...
We were at the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and I think I saw this guy. They may have been right. I thought it was Santa.
The problem wasn't that the guy looked like Santa. He was dressed like Santa and was posing with guests and identifying himself as Santa. He either needs to get a job as a Santa or find a public place to play Santa. Most department stores would throw him out, also.
Yep.....that be a no-no..ARRRGHGHGH!
so if Disney doest want costumes why dont they kick out all the gang bangers dressed in thier garb ? Instead they invite and promote the culture as part of own entertainment.
Disney.Overhyped,overpriced,and unaffordable for the average middle class family.It makes me sick to see the hype they pour on for a sick or deprived child being 'blessed'with a visit.If you doubt that,do some research on how expensive it is.Just check the price of admission to get in,before they take what is left of your wallet.If you think a hot dog at the ball park is expensive,compare it to Disney World.
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