Beating up the Characters

[EeyoresButterfly]

I have never understood the appeal to do this, and it has happened to me personally several times.

1.) I was helping Stitch at the Timekeeper. Since nobody knows we are there, our manager allowed us to go out into Tomorrowland. We had the guests gathered around us and were taking pictures, signing autographs, very casual and relaxed. A mom came up with her 13(ish) year old son. They got their picture and autograph and left. As the mom was walking away, the boy punched me so hard it drove my head into the base of my skull. I had the worst migraine from it.

2.) I was helping Chicken Little when a nine year old hauled off and punched me in the stomach as hard as he could because "he doesn't like to eat chicken!" The parents restrained him and I walked away from that family. At least Chicken Little's fat absorbed the blow and it didn't hurt. :notallthe

3.) I was helping Stitch when a father hit me in the back of the head. He stood there and argued when my attendant told him it was unacceptable and could get him kicked out of the park! He said he was just being funny, she told him Stitch didn't think it was funny, and he had the audacity to tell us to lighten up! :mad:

I really don't understand why most people think costume= beat down. If you are on this site I know that you know better, but if you have friends who think this is funny, please remind them that are real people under those costumes and that the construction of the costumes oftentimes amplifies the blow causing more serious injury than it would have if we were not costumed.

This http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A627699 was posted at one of the parade centers, and I absolutely loved it!

Ok, rant over. Thank you for listening (reading).

[Shorty82]

Anybody who hits a character should at least be kicked out of the party along with their entire party and have their tickets revoked. That is assault, is never funny, and they can be arrested for it.

[hobie16]

There's no reason to argue. Call the police.

[turkeyham]

These SG should be shot! Beating up a character is not cool. Do these stupid idiots know that there is a person wearing the custome? If i saw that happen to a character, I would slap them to the point that they could not get up. :mad:

[Eeyore Tattoo]

What is it with people???????????
I am shocked at what a-holes some people are & how they think a violent "Little Bobby" is funny.. We will see how funny that think it is when he hauls off and smacks down Mom for not doing what he says..
Deb

[February]

3.) I was helping Stitch when a father hit me in the back of the head. He stood there and argued when my attendant told him it was unacceptable and could get him kicked out of the park! He said he was just being funny, she told him Stitch didn't think it was funny, and he had the audacity to tell us to lighten up!

Something exactly like this happened on our last trip, to one of the Pirate characters in Adventureland.

We were either waiting for or had just finished with the Sparrow show, I forget which, when we heard shouting.

I asked my Dad what was going on and he said out of the corner of his eye he'd seen someone haul off and slug one of the characters (I don't remember if he said Hook or Smee)

All I remember hearing was a female voice shouting "Well it's not funny to us!"

I was thinking, if anything could get you banned from the parks for good that should be it. Though I have another thing I'd like to nominate and I'll post that in another thread. . .

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Something exactly like this happened on our last trip, to one of the Pirate characters in Adventureland.

We were either waiting for or had just finished with the Sparrow show, I forget which, when we heard shouting.

I asked my Dad what was going on and he said out of the corner of his eye he'd seen someone haul off and slug one of the characters (I don't remember if he said Hook or Smee)

All I remember hearing was a female voice shouting "Well it's not funny to us!"

I was thinking, if anything could get you banned from the parks for good that should be it. Though I have another thing I'd like to nominate and I'll post that in another thread. . .

I would say that anyone that hits a CM, weather performing someone or not, should have their magic terminated for the day, if not the year!!!

[Andover82]

We were waiting for pictures with Mickey Mouse at his Toontown pavilion and someone ahead of us in line thought it would be funny to yank on Mickey's ear. Mickey pointed to the exit repeatedly and refused to pose with that party. The party thought he was kidding, but he wasn't. A handler had to get involved and tell the people to take a hike. They screamed all the way out.

Idiots.

[Theme Park Where]

I'm always amazed at the parents who TELL their children to beat up the characters. I was helping Baby Shamu at Sea World one morning and as they entered the father whispered to his kid, "go over and give that whale a kick!" and then laughed. Of course, Shamu turned around as the kid was approaching and the handler had overheard as well and was there to intercept. I have news for you people - we hear EVERYTHING you say!

[Big Wallaby]

What is the protocol when someone strikes a character? I hope it includes calling security and Orange County (or Osceola at DAK)