Santa look-a-like causes distraction at WDW

[Bolt]

This one is just a little creepy - especially when he thinks the solution is to be given celeberity status to help avoid confusion. Maybe you shouldn't stop and take photos or give autographs...

http://www.floridatoday.com/article...d-demands-kid-attracting-guest-less-Santa-ish-

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- A Walt Disney World guest who looks like Santa Claus was asked by Disney officials to be less "Santa-ish" because he was a distraction at the park, FLORIDA TODAY news partner WKMG Local 6 reports.
Thomas Tolbert, who was visiting Disney while on a family vacation, said he was wearing "Santa-related" clothing but not a full Santa suit while recently visiting the park.

Tolbert said people, including children, were asking for photos and autographs, something he said he's used to.

"Do you approach people or do people come up to you?" Tolbert was asked.

"I never approach a person," he said.

Tolbert said he signed autographs at Disney World until a Disney representative saw him in the middle of a crowd.

"He said you can't be portraying Santa," said Tolbert, adding that Disney asked him to change into less "Santa-ish" clothing.

Tolbert said changing clothes did not help.

"I never had a red suit on. I never had a hat. I didn't have fur boots on, but that doesn't make Santa. The face and the persona is what makes Santa," Tolbert said. "They're looking at my face and they're looking at my features."

Tolbert said Disney told him to continue to turn children away -- no matter how curious they were.

"They said, 'You need to say I'm sorry. I'm not who you think I am. I'm on vacation and you need to leave me alone,' " Tolbert said.

In a statement, Disney said, "The guest was asked to change his attire because it was disruptive to our operations and confusing to our other guests, particularly children who asked to take photos with him. He was not asked to leave, instead, we tried to work with him so that he could continue his visit."

"Disney does not own the image of Santa," Tolbert said. "Santa Claus is not owned by anybody, except for the world."

Because of the hassle, Disney gave Tolbert some tickets for a future visit, but he said he'd likely encounter similar problems if he returned.

Tolbert said a possible solution is for Disney to treat look-alikes like celebrities so they are not seen by other guests.

 

[wdwmagic]

I thought we had been through this before? Is this the same guy, or another one?

 

[Nemo14]

I was thinking the same thing. There was a similar story a few years ago, wasn't there?

 

[ExtinctJenn]

This is one of those tough situations where you can go back and forth on who is "right" here. Even if he was wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt kids would still think he's Santa... look at the guy! Maybe he shouldn't be signing autographs but at the same time Disney can't really do anything about the way he looks. If he's not approaching the kids and they are approaching him, sure he could say "I'm not Santa, I just look like him." but is there really any real harm in playing along? You're in the land of Fantasy after all. I guess from Disney's perspective though, they don't want to chance he pinches some girl's butt and they sue Disney thinking he was a character. I dunno... it just seems a little over dramatized on Disney's part. So he signs an autograph for a kid who is convinced he's Santa, big deal. Ultimately it's not a mask he can just take off (like the girl who was too "Tinkish" a month or so ago). As he said, Disney doesn't own the image of Santa so truthfully there's not much they can do other than if he had been wearing a full Santa suit and was asked to change because of the costume rules.

Now all that said... he's taking it a bit far with his comment that he should be treated like a celebrity. If I just happened to look like Jennifer Aniston (oh yeah right) and people occasionally thought I was her, I wouldn't expect Disney to "protect" me from guests by treating me like the real Jennifer Aniston. I also wouldn't sign an autograph as if I was her but she's a real person so it's a bit of a different situation.

 

[rsoxguy]

I think that a simple solution for this gentleman would be to stop wearing "Santa related" clothing to the parks. Quite honestly, he seems to be a bit of an attention monger.

 

[bunnyman]

Many years ago we were at Pleasure Island when it was still in it's glory, and were outside for the nightly New Year's Eve celebration. There was this guy there who kinda looked like Jack Nicholson, but what put him over the top was the fact that he was dressed the part, with dark sunglasses, same hair style, etc.. It created quite a disturbance, until you really looked him up and down and saw that he was built more like Danny Devito.

 

[Vader2112]

I think that a simple solution for this gentleman would be to stop wearing "Santa related" clothing to the parks. Quite honestly, he seems to be a bit of an attention monger.

I agree...I find this type of behavior a little disturbing. Why do you have to potray Santa Claus everyday?
I guess there are worse things to emulate in this world but do you need that much attention or are yopu a pedo?
Disney is not just asking him to cease due to a distraction but out of a concern as to what his intentions truly are.

 

[awhit066]

While you can't really blame the guy for looking the way he does, I can completely understand Disney's point of view here. Character interactions take place every second at WDW with cast members who (I assume) have been screened and trained for appropriate interactions with guest. The presence of a look alike, Santa, Jack Nickolson, or otherwise, may seem to unknowing guests to be part of the shtick. Like the ExtinctJenn said, there is a chance that the 'Santa' could do inappropriate things that may reflect badly on the company. Because of this, I can understand how treating him like a celebrity would make some sense. While I don't think 'santa' should be protected from the guests, it could be useful to have a cast member escort him around to make sure guests are protected from him.

 

[Bolt]

While you can't really blame the guy for looking the way he does, I can completely understand Disney's point of view here. Character interactions take place every second at WDW with cast members who (I assume) have been screened and trained for appropriate interactions with guest. The presence of a look alike, Santa, Jack Nickolson, or otherwise, may seem to unknowing guests to be part of the shtick. Like the ExtinctJenn said, there is a chance that the 'Santa' could do inappropriate things that may reflect badly on the company. Because of this, I can understand how treating him like a celebrity would make some sense. While I don't think 'santa' should be protected from the guests, it could be useful to have a cast member escort him around to make sure guests are protected from him.

So say he is an annual passholder and wants to visit once a week - you're saying that the company should pay for a Cast Member to bring him around the park? Average cost of that to guests is $299/hr for VIP guides.

 

[wiigirl]

I think that a simple solution for this gentleman would be to stop wearing "Santa related" clothing to the parks. Quite honestly, he seems to be a bit of an attention monger.

Lol...def an attention monger...and a bit creepy.

 

[alissafalco]

He looks pretty creepy to me... I wouldn't let my kids approach him. I would think that most people would be able to tell if he's part of the Disney team or not. I blame the parents for this also.

 

[bethymouse]

if he didn't sign autographs and dress like Santa, it wouldn't be a problem. We have a custodian at our school w/ the nickname "Santa" because he looks like Santa.

 

[Vader2112]

Lets put it this way I would not let my kids approach him. If he decided to approach them... this Santa will be singing Deck the Halls Soprano this year.

 

[duff527]

He obviously is looking for the attention. Otherwise, here's a brilliant idea that would work ... shave and get a hair cut. he looks like a slob anyway.

 

[IWant2GoNow]

This is one of the most puzzling things I've read about at the parks. I can clearly see both sides & still am not sure how to solve this problem. What confuses me even more is that during Star Wars Weekends they allow guests to come in full costume for their favorite characters & these guests could be mistaken for CMs also but they've never had a problem with that.

He could just wear a shirt that says "I'm not Santa"... Doubt that would work either though.

 

[Bolt]

This is one of the most puzzling things I've read about at the parks. I can clearly see both sides & still am not sure how to solve this problem. What confuses me even more is that during Star Wars Weekends they allow guests to come in full costume for their favorite characters & these guests could be mistaken for CMs also but they've never had a problem with that.

He could just wear a shirt that says "I'm not Santa"... Doubt that would work either though.

Cast Members are trained during Star Wars Weekends to keep an eye on guests signing autographs. No matter what the occasion is, guests are not allowed to form queues and act like a character on property.

 

[wilkeliza]

Cast Members are trained during Star Wars Weekends to keep an eye on guests signing autographs. No matter what the occasion is, guests are not allowed to form queues and act like a character on property.

Also guests aren't allowed to wear their masks or helmets which separates them some from the CMs.

 

[Monty]

Now all that said... he's taking it a bit far with his comment that he should be treated like a celebrity. If I just happened to look like Jennifer Aniston (oh yeah right) and people occasionally thought I was her, I wouldn't expect Disney to "protect" me from guests by treating me like the real Jennifer Aniston. I also wouldn't sign an autograph as if I was her but she's a real person so it's a bit of a different situation.

I'm not sure what you mean... Santa's not a real person?!?!?!?




Guy looks like a white-haired Oompa Loompa with a beard...

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I'm not sure what you mean... Santa's not a real person?!?!?!?

I... errr... uhhhh...... uhm...

 

[Hoop Raeb]

Am I the only one that DOESN'T think he looks like Santa??? He looks like a college kid with a bad fake beard. Maybe it's just a bad photo.

Super creepy.