MNSSHP: Have Guests Ever Been Denied / Kicked-Out Because Costumes Are Too Real?

[Crockett]

I can't remember where I read this. There was a story awhile back from a poster who claimed his wife was either not allowed to enter, or asked to leave MK's MNSSHP because her Cinderella costume was so lifelike, that she highly resembled the CM Cinderella(s) too closely. If I remember correctly, this also happened once to a "Jack Sparrow" who looked even more realistic than the CM on park.

I was always under the impression that as long as the costume does not cover your face or have inappropriate content, then it is allowed on park. But I can also understand why Disney would not want children & guests getting costumed characters confused with their CM characters.

Have you ever seen this happen, or heard of someone looking too much the part, that they are not allowed to the party? I might have misread these stories, and they may not have happened during a MNSSHP event. Which if that be the case, then it certainly makes sense as to why the park would not allow them to enter.

But has this ever happened at a party?

 

[drew81]

Disney has the right to refuse admission to anyone they choose. I have never heard of it happening at MNSSHP but that's not to say it hasn't.

 

[Master Yoda]

I have never heard of anyone being denied entry due to a costume and I have seen many guests in professional looking costumes, but people have been asked to leave for signing autographs and taking pictures with guests when in authentic looking costume. I have gone as a fairly good Captain Jack several times and have been politely asked not to take pictures with guests or sign autographs.

 

[G00fyDad]

As drew81 said, they have the right to refuse anyone. I have seen them turn away quite a few female guests that had their underwear showing under the belts they were using for skirts. Okay, that is an exaggeration but their "sexy nurse" and "sexy pirate" costumes were too much for the CMs to handle and they were turned away. While getting my wristband for the one and only MNSSHP we've ever done I asked the CM if anyone had been denied entry due to their costume being realistic. She said that a group of women were refused the year before because their costumes looked like three of the princesses too closely. She said that they looked exactly like the Disney CMs in those parts. She also said that it doesn't happen as often as you'd think and that the time she mentioned was the only time she has ever seen it.

 

[minniemickeyfan]

At a party a few years ago I saw Belle (yellow dress) and Beast (dressed as the prince). I could tell they were not officially by Disney but yet somehow people were coming up to them and asking for autographs and pictures. This was in Town Square and I didn't see any CM's putting a stop to it.

 

[bgraham34]

About 4 years ago I know a quest was refused admission because she was dressed like a playboy bunny and everything was hanging out. The costume was shorter than it should have been all around.

 

[G00fyDad]

At a party a few years ago I saw Belle (yellow dress) and Beast (dressed as the prince). I could tell they were not officially by Disney but yet somehow people were coming up to them and asking for autographs and pictures. This was in Town Square and I didn't see any CM's putting a stop to it.

But were they actually signing things? If so then they may have been Disney CMs.

I personally would never want to go as a Disney character that looked that close to the Disney CMs because I wouldn't want that confusion with other guests. Next trip we have decided to do the whole costume and MNSSHP thing for a second time and while I do think our costumes will be dead on and perfect, I doubt we'll get any of the people asking for autograph's. We're going as Fred and Wilma Flintstone. I'm 6'5 with dark hair and my wife is 5'5" with red hair. We have actually been told that we already look like them without the costumes. I can't wait to see what it looks like with the costumes on.

 

[peachykeen]

Yeah as others have said, it really only becomes an issue if they start to sign things and are "pretending" to be the actual Disney character for other Guests.

I once saw two women, one dressed as Cinderella and another as the Fairy Godmother, on just a regular park day, no party, sitting on benches in Fantasyland and taking photos with Guests and signing autograph books, they actually had a line of about 5 people at a time waiting for photos. They were asked to stop.

 

[fosse76]

Disney has the right to refuse admission to anyone they choose. I have never heard of it happening at MNSSHP but that's not to say it hasn't.

In accordance with the law. They can't refuse admission to people based on discriminatory reasons (i.e., race, age, color, etc.). And while it is provate property, it is open to anyone who buys a ticket, which opens it up to even more regulations as codified by state law.

 

[fosse76]

Yeah as others have said, it really only becomes an issue if they start to sign things and are "pretending" to be the actual Disney character for other Guests.

I once saw two women, one dressed as Cinderella and another as the Fairy Godmother, on just a regular park day, no party, sitting on benches in Fantasyland and taking photos with Guests and signing autograph books, they actually had a line of about 5 people at a time waiting for photos. They were asked to stop.

I remember reading about Disney harassing a man about resembling Santa Claus (he wasn't dressed like him, just looked like him). IIRC, kids were going up to him and asking him if he was Santa Claus, and since he didn't want to disappoint them, he said yes. Naturally, Disney claimed ownership of the "character", but the details of the incident are fuzzy. I can only think Disney did that because it isn't out of the realm of probability that anyone can mistake him as a Disney CM acting as Santa Claus, but what made it an issue was Disney claimed ownership of the "character."

Disney regulates these things because anyone can confuse them with a Disney CM, and their (costumed guest) actions can cause liability issues and/or PR headaches for the company.

 

[G00fyDad]

Let's be clear on a few things here...

In accordance with the law. They can't refuse admission to people based on discriminatory reasons (i.e., race, age, color, etc.). And while it is provate property, it is open to anyone who buys a ticket, which opens it up to even more regulations as codified by state law.

Yes. They can refuse service (entry) for any reason. It is their right as a business. However, I cannot see them doing something as stupid as telling a man dressed as Baron Samedi (look it up) just because he was black. Maybe, if he looked like the character too closely, or was handing out autographs.

I remember reading about Disney harassing a man about resembling Santa Claus (he wasn't dressed like him, just looked like him). IIRC, kids were going up to him and asking him if he was Santa Claus, and since he didn't want to disappoint them, he said yes. Naturally, Disney claimed ownership of the "character", but the details of the incident are fuzzy.

The details are not fuzzy. LOL They clearly asked that man to stop telling kids that he would listen to their Christmas lists and taking pictures. He had a shirt on that said "I am Santa Clause" during the Christmas time at Disney. They asked him to stop and he refused. So they escorted his rear end off the property. They never once claimed that they owned the Santa Clause character. That is just plain rediculous.

 

[Timekeeper]

Let's be clear on a few things here... Yes. They can refuse service (entry) for any reason. It is their right as a business.

This is simply not true. Fosse76 was correct - "In accordance with the law."

If you don't recall, a few decades ago, a number of businesses refused service (or entry) to specific classes of would-be customers using this same flawed argument that it's "their right as a business." A few court cases later, they were proven to be incorrect.

Of course, we all know that Disney would NEVER engage in that illegal behavior, and we also know that a business could come up with some non-discriminatory pretextual reason for denying admission to specific guests, but to suggest that it is "their right as a business" to "refuse service for any reason" is factually inaccurate. :brick:

 

[Timekeeper]

I remember reading about Disney harassing a man about resembling Santa Claus (he wasn't dressed like him, just looked like him). IIRC, kids were going up to him and asking him if he was Santa Claus, and since he didn't want to disappoint them, he said yes. Naturally, Disney claimed ownership of the "character", but the details of the incident are fuzzy. I can only think Disney did that because it isn't out of the realm of probability that anyone can mistake him as a Disney CM acting as Santa Claus, but what made it an issue was Disney claimed ownership of the "character."

This begs the question: What if the costume is incredibly realistic but not a Disney character?

There are an infinite number of "characters" out there who are not "Disney characters" but may nevertheless prompt guests (especially children) to desire photos and autographs if they are realistic enough. Not to mention the fact that most guests don't know exactly which characters "belong" to Disney and which characters do not.

How many times have any of us gone to a Halloween party or event and taken pictures with people in "cool costumes" merely because we live in a picture-happy photo-sharing world?

Would Disney prohibit entry to guests who look exactly like non-Disney characters? :shrug:

 

[Kirk88]

I'm sure Disney has been doing this long enough that they can refuse folks for 'dress code' violations or character infringment.

 

[plaz10]

Who would want to dress up that much like a character to the point of guests asking for autographs and pictures? Get the F outta my way I'm trying to hit up all 3 mountains before the fireworks! :lol:

When I was flirting with the idea of getting married at Disney and/or getting wedding photos done there...the women on the phone told me they only do the photo shoots in wedding attire early in the mornings or in the evenings because...and I quote "a bride can look an awful lot like a princess" meaning that kids may get confused in seeing a girl in a big flowy gown and mistake them for a princess. They're just trying to have as less confusion as possible. And if you've got guests dressed up at Belle signing autographs at MNSSHP and then 2 minutes later they see Belle in Fantasyland...magic ruined! How can there be 2 Belles?

 

[G00fyDad]

This is simply not true. Fosse76 was correct - "In accordance with the law."

If you don't recall, a few decades ago, a number of businesses refused service (or entry) to specific classes of would-be customers using this same flawed argument that it's "their right as a business." A few court cases later, they were proven to be incorrect.

Of course, we all know that Disney would NEVER engage in that illegal behavior, and we also know that a business could come up with some non-discriminatory pretextual reason for denying admission to specific guests, but to suggest that it is "their right as a business" to "refuse service for any reason" is factually inaccurate. :brick:

This simply is true. Of course they cannot refuse service to someone based on race, creed, or sexual orientation. But you are dead wrong if you think for a second that they cannot tell you to get out of the park for any other non-controversial reason. They have every right in the world to refuse service as long as it is not due to race, creed, or sexual orientation.

 

[darksora]

As far as I'm aware, when we're letting people into the park, they CANNOT have masks where we can't see their eyes. Examples this year included the scream mask, the V for vendetta one, and a boba fett one as well.

Our managers kindly let them know they must take the mask off for the remainder of the night but they put it on right after they leave the turnstiles. As for denied admission, never seen it happen.

 

[InLikeFlynn]

Everything I've been told is that you are fine dressing as a character and people can take photos with you....you just have to make it clear you are NOT a CM and can't form lines and sign autographs.
But we were stopped for photos quite a bit during the parties we attended this year...and that includes a couple cm's who chased us down and took photos. No one ever said a thing to us, and we saw others posing for photos as well.

 

[rct247]

As it has been pointed out in a few posts already...

-Disney CANNOT refuse service for discriminatory reasons like race, creed, ______, religion, etc.
-Disney CAN refuse service for guests who do not comply with their Code of Conduct as a business such as improper attire, failing to follow directions, causing a disturbance in operations, or causing a safety concern.

-As far as costumes of any kinds during any time of the year, Disney will allow people to enter as long as they are not inappropriate or cause a safety concern. Guests CAN take photos of them and with them so long as autographs, meet & greet sessions, and/or lines don't form to see them. Examples of this include:
>> Guests wearing t-shirts that say Security on them or Lifeguard (at water parks). They will ask them to turn them inside out. (This is from personal experience.)
>> Guests who look like Santa Clause (no matter what time of year) often get stopped by guests whether they do or do not draw attention to the fact as some do purposely wear all red and special shirts about Santa. If a line forms or it distracts from the "show", Disney will ask them to stop.
>> Guests who dress up for the parties and look realistic to characters (Disney or not), the same rules apply. If crowds/lines form, Disney puts a stop to it. Even if the guest is dressed like Spongebob, if a line forms and Spongebob is inappropriate with guests, then guess who gets the blame, even if Spongebob isn't a Disney character. Guests will assume he is part of Disney's character cast.
>>Other examples include people who have costumes that reveal too much or have masks that are not safe. Offensive costumes are also refused service. If you come dressed as a condom, you will probably not get in. It is just not tasteful for the other guests in the park.

 

[Clever Name]

If you come dressed as a condom, you will probably not get in. It is just not tasteful for the other guests in the park.

Isn't that a safety issue too? :wave: