[llama]

Originally Posted by KentB3

They told us that Santa was considered a Disney character,' said Worley

Somehow I can't believe that Disney said that....or that it's been twisted...

However, if they did, then they are overstepping. Santa most definitely is NOT a Disney character. If he wasn't dressed SPECIFICALLY as Santa, then they don't really have the right to tell him to change his appearance. If he was dressed SPECIFICALLY as Santa, I can see that they would feel children would be confused. But kids usually take stuff like that in stride. It's more an adult problem of "over-analyzing" how children perceive situations like this.

[GrumpyDad]

Unless I am mistaken, the popular representation of Santa is a Coca-Cola product. Santa had several iterations prior to the 1930s marketing effort, but the Santa we know today, red suit trimed in white, etc. was the one penned for Coca-cola, or so the legend goes ( some dispute this including snopes, but even they backhandidly acknowledge the current view of Santa is the coke one ).

That being said, I have to agree that if the guy was acting like a CM he should not do it inside WDW. Can you imagine the lawsuits if he did become "unprofessional" with a guest!

[palmickey]

Originally Posted by ddoll

It was the representing himself as Santa that was the problem.

I agree, if he was not telling guests that he was Santa nothing may have happened but he admitted he was telling guests he was Santa.

It is a shame that it ended up in the news, for Disney and Santa!

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by Andrea

But you never see two of them at the same time, right? I can really see both sides of this.

If you watch the finale of Fantasmic, you can't help but know you're looking at 3 different Mickey's inside of one minute.
1. Steamboat Willy Mickey
2. Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey
3. Conductor/Tuxedo Mickey.
No, they're not all onstage at once, but still....

[Soundgod]

This werves all over the place. The guy's natural appearance is very Santa like, but so is a person I've known for years who shops at the same Publix as I do. The gentleman in question was not fully dressed as Santa, but a big round guy with half rim glasses and a thick white beard, wearing a Santa hat makes him look like a CM, especially if he was attending the Christmas party. The hat is where he starts to get into trouble. He hurts himself by answering children's questions about his Santahood in the positive. I can agree with his logic that he doesn't want to tell the kid he isn't Santa and blow that piece of magic either. When he tells kids he's Santa and dressed in what can be considered an official costume, Disney is within their rights, and perhaps even their obligations to their guests to ask that guests refrain from impersonating CMs.
Go to the CNN website, they're running the clip of the story, so you can see how much this guy lookes like Santa andit could cause a problem.

[Jen]

I can't make up my mind about this.

I can see why Disney would want to protect their guests and their intentions were good...but, I can also see how fun it would have been for little ones to see him ~ and honestly, I don't see the harm in it.

[bikedealer]

I still see the harm in the fact that the only way to conrol it is to let nobody act as a CM. Because if you let 1 person get away with it you opened pandoras box.
The next person if they were being a jerk or at least acting out of place and they stopped them they could file a lawsuit due to past precedent on this matter. They always have to think ahead on all of this. You can bet that while this was going on in the park many of the brass got together to make the call. Maybe even talked to the legal department before they stopped him.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by RowdyRAider

I've seen him several times on parade route at DAK. While he didn't have the coat, boots and a few other things, a bearded jolly round man dressed ALL in red? And he did admit he tells children he is Santa. The man is very nice, but being with the characters I also understand Disney's stand on the matter. A perfect example is my roomie at the time. A HUGE Pirates fan. She hand-sewed an Elizabeth Swan dress for Halloween but was so proud she couldn't wait for a party, so she went to the park dressed in it. (Actually she changed after going inside). Went and watched Captain Jack's show. She never said she was Elizabeth or anything like that. Just wore the dress and the medallion. Security asked her to go take it off.

It all boils down to protecting the magic. Not to be mean or think he's muscling in on Disney. Far from it. As long as he says, "no I'm not Santa" then everything's OK...and prolly shouldn't dress in all red anymore.

All dressed in red? And telling people he's Santa?

Yeah, I think Disney has a right to ask him to stop. That's MHO.

But maybe that comes from the rigorous training we went through as characters to ensure the Magic was preserved at all times.

If the guy wasn't telling people "Yes I am Santa" then I wouldn't have a problem with it, but the fact that he's continuing to play a role is the same as impersonating CM. Disney is going to get the brunt of things if this guy ends up doing anything to offend a guest!

[bethishooked]

How could he not possibly know that this may cause a concern for Disney. Yes I can understand he wanted to have fun and see the children's faces, but he certainly knows that Disney does protect the magic, and I would imagine he had to be somewhat prepared for being questioned. There should be no hurt feels. Disney handled it in a professional manner. It seems to me that he wouldn't be providing interviews about this incident if he truly was concerned about the children. He should have just abided by Disney's wishes, and went on his merry little way enjoying the rest of the day at Disney. Now, it's plastered all over the news and newspapers for every child to see.

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

If you watch the finale of Fantasmic, you can't help but know you're looking at 3 different Mickey's inside of one minute.
1. Steamboat Willy Mickey
2. Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey
3. Conductor/Tuxedo Mickey.
No, they're not all onstage at once, but still....

You're not looking at 3 "different" Mickeys. It's all the same Mickey! That's the magic of Disney and Mickey. He's just one mouse who's showing off how magical he is by quickly and instantly changing his appearance and location. It's all Disney magic.

You'll never catch me,

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by woohoo

that is a tough one- I think its sad that he was asked to tone it down but also sad that since you can have several Mickey's throughout the parks and on the boats- why cant there be more Santa?

Cause there's only one Santa, just like there's ONLY ONE MICKEY MOUSE!!!!

[Cavey]

I completely side with Disney on this one.

Can you think of any store or mall that would allow this to take place? No, because left unchecked, they becomes liable for what this man might do as a "trustworthy figure" to children.

Guests should not be calling attention to themselves. That's why wedding dresses are not allowed into the parks. Why self-made costumes are not allowed (except at MNSSHP). Why offensive tatoos are covered.

At my camp, counselors are told that NO ONE--not caseworkers, not police officers, not even parents--are to be interacting with campers until it is cleared by me or the program director.

I'm sure the guy brings a lot of joy to people this time of year, but he has no business being mad at WDW for reasonably controlling the safety of their guests.

[Cavey]

Originally Posted by bethishooked

How could he not possibly know that this may cause a concern for Disney. Yes I can understand he wanted to have fun and see the children's faces, but he certainly knows that Disney does protect the magic, and I would imagine he had to be somewhat prepared for being questioned. There should be no hurt feels. Disney handled it in a professional manner. It seems to me that he wouldn't be providing interviews about this incident if he truly was concerned about the children. He should have just abided by Disney's wishes, and went on his merry little way enjoying the rest of the day at Disney. Now, it's plastered all over the news and newspapers for every child to see.

I agree. I bet if pressed, he'd admit to being asked to leave other places for the same reason (malls, department stores, etc.)

Oh, imagine if this guy showed up at your child's school without being invited by a facilty member.

I'm not saying this guy is dangerous, but Ted Bundy made a great clown!

[alilmagical32]

I gotta say, I think I'm with Disney. When I saw this man (I am assuming its the same one cause I was shocked when I saw him) He was wearing red shorts, and white t-shirt, red suspenders and a santa hat. (This outfit is very similar to the one Tim Allen wears under his suit in the Santa Clause) He was also posing for a picture with a young family. People were very definitely confused

[llama]

Wow - he really does look like Santa - no doubt about that! Actually, he looks far better than the WDW Santa. But, I suppose the bottom line is it's Disney's property and they have the right to tell him to leave.

If Disney was smart - they'd hire him.