“I’m Not Some Criminal” – Disney Refuses to Let Select Guests Into Its Parks

As first reported in October, Walt Disney World started clamping down on third-party guest tours in its theme parks.

These tour guides were met by park security when they entered the park, were given a trespass notice, and were told to leave the park. These tour guides have worked in Disney World for decades, while Disney turned a blind eye to their practices. They provide guests with a lower-cost alternative to the Disney guided tours, which can cost $450-$900 an hour, depending on the season.

Related: Did Disney Just Cost Itself Millions? 

With Disney World becoming more complicated recently, many guests have turned to third-party tour guides to help them navigate their Disney vacation. These tour guides are not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company and, technically, are breaking the company’s rules. However, they have been allowed to operate in the parks without issues. That is until recently.

Trespassing at Disney World

But now, these people, who clearly love Disney, have been trespassed from Disney Parks and are not allowed to return to any park, hotel, or restaurant in the Walt Disney World Resort. They are desperately trying to get themselves allowed back on the property. But many of them have found the process difficult, if not impossible.

Alayan Crutchfield, who owns Elevate Amusement and was recently trespassed from Disney World, told the Washington Post:

No one ever thought this would happen. We would like a seat at the table. They’ve really knocked out every bit of ability that we have to fight this.

Related: The Definitive Guide to Getting Unbanned from Disney

Crutchfield was banned from the Parks on October 5 while trying to enter with a friend. She was escorted off the property by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office told the Washington Post that it was entirely up to the property owner who is allowed or not allowed on their property. Once they are removed, it is up to the property owner to determine when those people will be allowed back.

Crutchfield reached out to Disney to resolve this issue and hoped to be allowed back into the Disney Parks for her benefit, not as a tour guide. She received a letter from Walt Disney World security vice president Linda Reid. It read in part:

We reviewed your request and the information concerning the conduct that resulted in the trespass being issued against you. Regrettably, we decline to lift the trespass at this time.

Abused the System?

For their part, Disney argues that these third-party tour guides have abused the system, including helping guests circumvent the Disability Access Service, which allows guests with disabilities to skip the line. Reports have surfaced that guests are instructed to tell Disney World that they have fake diseases or illnesses to skip the line.

Related: The Weird Things Banned from Disney’s Theme Parks

A Disney spokesperson told the Post:

When this activity happens, it impacts the experience of other guests following the rules — including our guests with disabilities — and impedes our theme park operations. Just like Starbucks would not permit a third party to come into their stores to sell coffee to their customers, Disney does not permit unauthorized commercial activities in its theme parks.

These third-party tour guides find themselves outside, looking in at Disney World. Disney sees it as a prohibited activity, violating their park policy and not allowing unauthorized solicitations within the parks. However, the tour guides see it as an opportunity to share Disney theme parks with people who would not have otherwise been able to afford a guided tour.

So, what’s next for third-party Disney tour guides?

They will not be allowed back in a Disney Park for at least the following year. And after that, it is up to the Walt Disney World Resort if they can get back in. And their careers as unauthorized tour guides are seemingly over.

Do you believe third-party Disney tour guides should be banned? Let us know in the comments. 

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