[Park Hopper]

Michael C. Chartrand, the man exonerated of molesting a 13-year-old girl while playing Tigger at WDW, will get his job back at Disney. Here's the story:

'Tigger' will return to his job at Disney
By Sean Mussenden
Sentinel Staff Writer

August 7, 2004

The suspended Disney worker at the center of the Tigger trial was given his job back Friday and will likely return to playing costumed characters at Walt Disney World by the end of the month.

But the worker, Michael C. Chartrand, will not don a Tigger suit anytime soon, his attorney Jeffrey Kaufman said.

"Even though he loved playing Tigger, the suit is a constant reminder of the whole ordeal," he said.

Chartrand had been suspended without pay since early April, when he was arrested and charged with groping a 13-year-old girl while portraying Tigger at the Magic Kingdom. On Wednesday night, an Orange County jury acquitted him of those charges.

On Friday afternoon, Chartrand, his mother, and a representative from Teamsters Local 385, the union that represents costumed characters, met with Disney officials to discuss reinstatement.

Disney lifted the four-month suspension and returned an estimated $5,000 in back pay. It also restored his old position in the costumed character unit. In that role, he will perform other duties in addition to dressing up as popular Disney icons, including escorting other costumed characters around the parks.

In the meeting, Chartrand told his bosses that he would prefer not to play Tigger, at least initially, said Donna-Lynne Dalton, a business agent for the Teamsters who sat in on the meeting. Disney told Chartrand they would accommodate that request, she said.

Chartrand could not be reached for comment.

Talking with reporters in the courtroom after his acquittal, Chartrand suggested that he would prefer a non-costumed job after returning to Disney. He changed his mind, Dalton said.

"He did consider not going back to being a character. The whole experience has been very traumatic for him. But, ultimately, he remembered that being a character was why he came to Disney," she said.

Kaufman said he expected Chartrand to return to work within the next week or so and be wearing costumes by the end of the month.

During the trial, Kaufman -- himself a part-time Disney character who has played Tigger -- put on the bulky orange, black and white costume for jurors. Just seeing the costume in court made his client tear up, Kaufman said.

"He won't be playing Tigger for a while, and that's not for Disney's benefit -- it's for his benefit," Kaufman said, adding that one day Chartrand might want to play Tigger again.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak could not say exactly what characters Chartrand might be playing. The company would not have a problem with Chartrand playing Tigger again, she said, if he decided he felt comfortable in that role.

[ZarSu]

That's great to hear, I'm glad for him and for Disney doing the right and proper thing.

[ilvminnie]

What a wonderful ending...I just hope he recovers emotionally from all this. Just the fact that Disney took him back so quickly tells me the previous postings about what other CMs were saying was bogus. I hope everyone just helps him recover & get the magic back.

[tragic312]

oh that is great news to hear!! i'm so happy for Mr. Michael C. Chartrand for getting his job back!! that is great. thanks Park Hopper for keeping us posted on this story. you're a treasure!!

[skwak]

Nice to see that Disney is taking the high road.

[Disnatic]

ZarSu,

Being a cat person myself, I really like your avatar. Is that your cat?

[llama]

I'm so glad that Disney has done the right thing in giving Mr. Chartrand his job back. I hope he recovers from this ordeal. Kudos to him for wanting to go back.

[Dana]

I am so glad that I was wrong about him getting his job back. I am even more glad to see Disney "take the high road" as someone else has said. A very nice ending to a horrible situation.

[Metalfan]

It is every nice to see he got his job back! Good for him!

[ZarSu]

Originally Posted by Disnatic

ZarSu,

Being a cat person myself, I really like your avatar. Is that your cat?

Yes the is one of my twin sisters, that is Seek, her sister is Hide. I was bored one evening and modified the image so it looks more like Mouse ears, and if you are quick you will notice the the back of her eye lids have hidden mickeys on then


Yes I was real bored that evening.

[mickaholic4077]

Very cute avatar,ZarSu!! I am also glad Mr. Chartrand got his job back.

[jeannej]

I am happy to hear he was aquitted and that he is getting his job back. It is such a shame that all those involved had to go through this.

jeannej

[inluvwithdisney]

I am happy for him!!! Disney obviously stands behind him!!!!

[noahsark45331]

I was wondering what the outcome of his job was. Thanks for posting this Parkhopper. I am glad he got his job back.