Disney Influencers Upset Over Parade Spot, Sparking Controversy

Two “Disney influencers” allegedly attacked a guest waiting for Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park this week. The Walt Disney World Resort guest sought help identifying the content creators online after the two men attempted to intimidate them into giving up their parade viewing spot.

Disney influencers are a hot-button topic in the Disney Parks fan community. Social media content creation has ramped up in the last few years at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After all, it seems like a dream job. Who doesn’t want to get paid to Drink Around the World Showcase or taste test the latest Gideon’s Bakehouse creation?

However, with the influx of theme park content creators comes increasing conflict. One controversial Disney influencer’s behavior often sparks fury–he’s proudly posted photos of himself posing with a stranger on a stretcher at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, “snorting” Pedialyte at EPCOT, licking a dirty Disney Park pole, eating theme park maps, and more. Another Disney influencer allegedly “threw a tantrum” when Space 220 cast members wouldn’t change her table, yelling that reviewing theme park food was her job.

The situation has reached its boiling point. Thousands of Disney Parks fans have called on Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort to follow in Tokyo Disney Resort’s footsteps. The Japanese Disney parks enacted strict filming and auxiliary equipment rules that effectively ceased all vlogging and live streaming throughout the Disney Resort.

This week’s incident strengthened some Disney Parks fans’ fury against influencers. Redditor u/Neat-Flan-2855 sought help from the community, hoping to identify two men with large cameras and other filming equipment who allegedly threw a fit over a parade viewing spot.

“Who [are] these influencers?” the guest asked. “Apparently they were upset [because] we had gotten [to] a spot before they did to watch the parade. I was thinking WDW News people? Guy w/big camera threw his bag next 2 me aggressively & made a loud statement that nobody better touch his bag.”

Who r these influencers? Apparently they were upset b/c we had gotten 2 a spot before they did to watch the parade. I was thinking WDW News people? Guy w/big camera threw his bag next 2 me aggressively & made a loud statement that nobody better touch his bag.
byu/Neat-Flan-2855 inDisneyInfluencers

The guest stood their ground and enjoyed Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade from the spot they waited for.

Neither Disney Parks fans nor Inside the Magic could identify the two men as part of any fan site or social media team. One fan called the angry Disney influencer a “man child.”

“Absolutely nobody important [because I don’t know] who they are and I don’t think anyone else does,” u/Infamous_Stop_8282 wrote. “Just two snobby guys thinking they’re hot sh*t.”

“I don’t see how Disney doesn’t flag them for filming permits,” said u/Creepy-Criticism-321.

Disney influencers exist in a gray area. Walt Disney World Resort does not limit camera types or lens length. The Central Florida Disney park does prohibit “photography, videotaping or recording of any kind, or otherwise engaging in any activity, for unapproved commercial purposes.” Without more specific rules about social media content creation, it’s difficult for Disney cast members to differentiate visitors taking photos and videos for personal use and influencers filming for ad-supported social media posts.

Should Walt Disney World Resort ban influencers from Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs? 

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