Former Disney Park Cast Members Expose The Most Distasteful Things Guests Do

No matter which Disney theme park you step foot in, whether it's Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or one of the other beloved locations around the globe, you're entering one of the happiest places in the world. When guests enter those gates, they get to temporarily escape the worries and troubles of their everyday lives in order to experience the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy as seen in their favorite Disney (or Pixar or Marvel or Lucasfilm) movies and TV shows. However, despite legions of excited fans enjoying their visits to the House of Mouse each year, there are some ways that other guests can really sour things for those around them.

According to the former Disney cast members at allearsnet on Instagram, there are five main ways that Disney Park guests get out of line. Many of these seem like no-brainers or common courtesy, and yet people are still guilty of these cringe-worthy acts all the time.

A general rule in life is to treat others the way you want to be treated. When you visit a theme park with character meet and greets, this rule also extends to "fictional" people. At least it should, as real performers are portraying Mickey Mouse and friends. However, the unfortunate reality is that many Disney Parks guests take "playing along" too far.

For example, a video went viral in 2021 featuring a woman meeting Gaston, the villain from "Beauty and the Beast." In the 1991 movie, the vain rogue objectifies Belle and the other women of the village on a regular basis. In the real world, actions that objectify others are not tolerated, which one guest found out the hard way. As she approached him for a picture, she squeezed Gaston's pec without his consent. The character immediately pulls away, tells her to leave, and reminds her that there are children present.

Putting the irony of the character involved aside, no one puts inappropriate guests in their place like Gaston. But to avoid situations like this, keep interactions with characters in the park light, fun, and PG. Again, treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

While trips to Disney Parks can be a special vacation for some fans that only occur once in a while, others (especially those who live close by) may find themselves visiting multiple times per year. In fact, some residents with annual Disney passes will even swing by for a quick snack or a ride or two after work. With such frequent visits, it may be easy for guests to memorize the pre-ride spiel or spoil a plot point for any number of attractions. But just like you shouldn't talk in movies or sing along with stage musicals, you shouldn't recite the lines in theme park attractions either.

In a slight variation of the "Silence is Golden" mantra, guests should leave the storytelling to the cast members involved in the Disney Parks attractions. Though it may be tempting to talk over the Ghost Host at the Haunted Mansion like it's a screening of "Rocky Horror Picture Show," there may be visitors in the Stretching Room along with you who are about to meet the 999 happy haunts for the very first time. As a courtesy to those guests, it's best to refrain from distracting them with your own dub of the dialogue.

According to Disney lore, Walt Disney mandated that trash cans be placed every 30 steps in his theme parks. That way, guests would always have somewhere nearby to throw away their trash whenever they have finished their popcorn, churro, or other tasty treats. Since Walt also needed every aspect of his parks to tie into the story that each area is telling, the trashcans around the Disney Parks reflect whatever area you may find them in. In fact, the receptacles used in "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" also contain an Original Trilogy easter egg. In addition to looking like they were designed in a galaxy far, far away, the cans have the number 3263827 written on them in the fictional language Aurebesh. This is the sector number of the Death Star trash compactor where Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa found themselves in "Star Wars: A New Hope."

However, despite the multitude of trash cans available in the Disney Parks, the parks struggle to stop visitors from creating a mess. Some guests will still litter. Whether it's leaving their waste behind after a meal, carelessly tossing away a wrapper, or simply missing the trash can when they go to throw something away, it can happen in a number of ways. The Mouse House goes to great lengths to ensure the parks aren't buried in garbage, so it would be incredibly mindful if guests did their small part as well.

As we all know, Disney Parks are imbued with magic. Whether it's Tinker Bell flying high above the Magic Kingdom during the evening's fireworks display, Spider-Man swinging across Avengers Campus, or a guest removing the sword from the stone in front of King Arthur's Carousel, magical moments happen daily at these cherished theme parks. But these once-in-a-lifetime occurrences can happen on a smaller scale as well. cast members may give you a pin if you're celebrating a special occasion, characters might spend extra time with you during a meet and greet, or maybe you might get selected to be a part of an experience like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. There was even one time when a musician friend and I were listening to a piano player on Main Street, USA. After his performance, we had a short chat, and the next thing we knew, my friend was singing and playing "Go The Distance" from "Hercules" on a Disneyland piano. It was truly an unforgettable moment. 

These magical moments are incredible, but they're also organic. Some guests will try to manufacture them, and that typically doesn't work out. In fact, asking for special treatment may just annoy cast members. Even after all this, guests sometimes still have the gall to be unhappy with that result. But what do they expect? If you have to force it, it probably isn't magic.

Finally, one of the most distasteful things that Disney Park guests can do is complain to cast members about things beyond their control. Prices, ride closures, or character meet-and-greet breaks are not determined by the nearest cast member. Those decisions are not the responsibility of the characters in the park, so it's never productive to get upset or yell at cast members if something isn't going your way.

If legitimate complaints emerge during your visit to any Disney Park, the best place to go is the Guest Relations area. That department will do its best to address any problems, concerns, or opposition and try to rectify the situation to the best of its abilities. After all, no one wants visitors to the wonderful world of Disney to have a bad experience. As long as everyone is mindful and considerate to those around them, it should be easy to follow Walt Disney's advice to "Keep Moving Forward" so everyone can have a good time at the Disney Parks.