[dan864]

I can understand disney's point on this,but i do think they overreacted,there goes another kids dream,well done disney,good for you mr worley

[dznygrl]

bethishooked is absolutely, 100% right. This guy can't claim that he cares about the kids (and therefore that's why he continues to tell them he's Santa) and then get on national TV and admit he's not. I mean, gimme a break...

[pumouse]

I would say that Disney did the right thing. What if it were a child predator dressed as Santa, they have no idea who it is. They have to protect their guests.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by pumouse

I would say that Disney did the right thing. What if it were a child predator dressed as Santa, they have no idea who it is. They have to protect their guests.

That's another good point!

I do really feel like Disney did the right thing in this situation. I'm sure a lot of people don't see it that way, but as a guest, I feel like Disney has my best interests at heart.

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by dan864

I can understand disney's point on this,but i do think they overreacted,there goes another kids dream,well done disney,good for you mr worley

It's not overreaction to protect people. And in a way, Disney's trying to SAVE a kid's dream. The man admitted he's not Santa. What's a kid going to do when he heres that after the man said he was? You're definitely entitled to your opinion, but Disney makes dreams. It doesn't destroy them.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by RowdyRAider

It's not overreaction to protect people. And in a way, Disney's trying to SAVE a kid's dream. The man admitted he's not Santa. What's a kid going to do when he heres that after the man said he was? You're definitely entitled to your opinion, but Disney makes dreams. It doesn't destroy them.

Zactly!

I can understand the initial reaction of "I can't believe DIsney did this" - but, what if they allowed every jolly person to shade that area between CM and Guest? What if your kids were all hugged up on some guy that wasn't really a CM, and you didn't know it?? I, for one, would NOT like that. THere are too many people out to hurt kids these days.

[palmickey]

Originally Posted by RowdyRAider

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,

I agree there is only one MICKEY and one SANTA! I agree with Disney, he should not have been telling the children that he was Santa. If you didn't want to tell the children that you were not Santa in the park - how do you think they feel now that you got on TV and said NO - I'm not santa!

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by RowdyRAider

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,

Rowdy, Rowdy, Rowdy, we've touched upon this before. You prefer to be the magician, creating and preserving the magic. I am under no such obligation. Starting at the ripe old age of 9, I called out the magician at the NY World's Fair because I saw the wires while in the front row. OK, that was bad. You do know I've lived all of my adult life backstage, it's hard for me to watch any show without analyzing it and seeing how it works. Besides, you are forgetting that there are shows at MGM that show EXACTLY how this sort of thing is done, e.g. Lights, Motors, Actions' backwards car and the video they show the audience of the relay handoff switch. You don't think I'm going to blow it for some kid during Fantasmic and blurt out "they're three different Mickeys", do you?

[Cavey]

Originally Posted by dan864

I can understand disney's point on this,but i do think they overreacted,there goes another kids dream,well done disney,good for you mr worley

How does it end a kid's dream because a guest is told not to act like a CM or tell people he's Santa????

Besides, my kids (ages 6, 4, & 2) have always been told that Santa is pretend, but that didn't stop them from excitedly climbing onto "Santa's" lap this afternoon and asking about his reindeer. Later 4yo DD was talking about Santa, "He's just pretend, but it's fun to pretend." I could agree more!

[Dana]

I am torn on this one. I have a man who lives in this area who is very santa like. He does not dress anything like santa and kids still go up to him and think he's santa in his "civies"....he truely is a great santa look-alike. I think if the man was dressed normally kids would have still have thoughts that he was santa...he really looks like him.. (the WDW guy). What are people who actually play santa as a living suppose to do...avoid WDW??? So if this man attends the xmas party is he not allowed to wear xmas clothes?? I don't really get this whole thing. Was he suppose to tell kids he isn't santa? Maybe I am just slow today, but I don't see the problem. I have seen children at the MNSSHP going up to adults dressed in disney costumes and getting pictures with them because the kids think they are the character and the adults wearing the costume are afriad to say they aren't. Someone needs to get a grip here. I understand the safety part of it and I wouldn't want my kid hugging on some strange man either, but it sounds like this guy was darned if he did and darned if he didn't.

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

Rowdy, Rowdy, Rowdy, we've touched upon this before. You prefer to be the magician, creating and preserving the magic. I am under no such obligation. Starting at the ripe old age of 9, I called out the magician at the NY World's Fair because I saw the wires while in the front row. OK, that was bad. You do know I've lived all of my adult life backstage, it's hard for me to watch any show without analyzing it and seeing how it works. Besides, you are forgetting that there are shows at MGM that show EXACTLY how this sort of thing is done, e.g. Lights, Motors, Actions' backwards car and the video they show the audience of the relay handoff switch. You don't think I'm going to blow it for some kid during Fantasmic and blurt out "they're three different Mickeys", do you?

It's all good. I know that you know when it's cool to talk about how this, that or the other works. Just playing with ya.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by RowdyRAider

It's all good. I know that you know when it's cool to talk about how this, that or the other works. Just playing with ya.

We're playing off each other.
But seriously there's a guy who shops at my local Publix who looks like Santa. Those guys are just naturally popular this time of year, and they usually wear suspenders all the time. I'm just wondering what Disney wanted him to alter in order to stay. Was it just the hat? Did they expect him to get some other glasses? Or did they want him to shave? Were they willing to assist him in altering his appearance?

[rlb]

I have to agree with Disney on this one. I would imagine that those cm's who work with guest and especially cm's who "help" a trusted and loved character would undergo thorough background checks in order to ensure everyone's safety. This man may be a loving trustworthy individual but Disney has no proof of that. Maybe next year he should apply to be the Santa at DW. Then everyone would be happy.

[Katie83]

I can see why Disney told him to not dress up.. They have thier own Santa running around.

I saw him on the 5th backstage before Candlelight coming out of his trailor, and Saturday night, it's always funny seeing that. One kid from our school shouted that he wanted a Red Rider BB Gun, and Mrs. Claus said "You'll shoot your eye out" one of my favorite moments from the performances.

[RowdyRAider]

Well, as much as I'm on Disney's side with this one, it made me feel really good during MJJP when Goofy's truck was going by and Goofy asked him, "What do you think of my Santy Suit?!" and the guy gave a huge thumbs up to him!