Disney Bans Zazu's Misguided Tours

[Zazu]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL -- In a surprise development, Disney today informed the management of Zazu's Misguided Tours that they would no longer be permitted to operate their free tours inside the Magic Kingdom, effective immediately.

"Disney also offers tours," explained a Disney manager, "And these could be seen as competition."

A representative of ZMT reacted, "Competition? Really? Wow, I'll take that as a compliment!"

Zazu's Misguided Tours are free (other than admission to the park). The guided tours consist mostly of stories and backstories about the attractions, restaurants, and shops, the history of the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, theme park design, and the incredible level of detail lavished upon the Park by the Imagineers.

The tours have been offered intermittently at the Magic Kingdom since 2003 with Disney's full knowledge and consent, including one tour scheduled as a team-building exercise for a group of Disney managers.

There was no specific statement or action that was cited in the Company's decision, nor was any written policy give that addressed the matter, but great concern was expressed about "setting a precedent" as the primary reason for the ban.

ZMT has agreed to comply with the ban for now, and it is rumored that discussions have been under way for some time with an established publisher to convert the tour into a book. At press time, ZMT would neither confirm or deny this rumor.

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Attn. Disney Legal: The above satire is copyright 2009 by Zazu of Zazu's Misguided Tours. Any pictures, descriptions or accounts of this post without the express written permission of Zazu's Misguided Tour is prohibited.

[Zazu]

Hiyas,

Yup, it's true. My tours are over (for now).

Anyone who has reservations (or just faint hopes) for the tour scheduled on Wednesday 18 March, please come join me for breakfast at the Kona Cafe at 7:45 anyway.

Like the man said, "We dance, we kiss, we schmooze, we carry on, we go home happy. What do you say? Come on."

At least, we do so until the Company bans me from talking in restaurants and hotel lobbies too.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Sorry to hear that!! at least you can get together with SGT'ers and others for coffee and fellowship!

(Perhaps they might make it an offical special invatation only VIP tour?)

[Zazu]

One idea I was tossing around in my head even before this happened (there's enough empty space there it's not that hard) was to approach Valencia Community College about teaching a course in Theme Park Design. Naturally, it would have to include a field trip, and one would certainly be surprised if Disney blocked educational activities....

[mechurchlady]

What about all the tour groups in the park? What if I take 15 friends with me and give them a tour of the site? This is scary as I did a tour with my friend sort of and could we be next? why not you take 7 friends for a walking trek of the parks and you blabber on about things.

Zazu you took away my trouble maker trophy, grr.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

One idea I was tossing around in my head even before this happened (there's enough empty space there it's not that hard) was to approach Valencia Community College about teaching a course in Theme Park Design. Naturally, it would have to include a field trip, and one would certainly be surprised if Disney blocked educational activities....

Thats a pretty good idea, heck you might even be able to tie it in with some of the CP programs(?) and branch out into customer service/management!

[anynamewilldo]

That sucks. I was looking forward to begging for a ZMT in November on our grown-ups only trip. Ah well... if you end up having breakfast 3/22-28, let me know. At least I *hope* you will still be allowed to eat and talk in a Disney restaurant

[Shorty82]

I was wondering if anything more happened than what I saw the day of your last tour.

It's not like you were doing anything wrong and considering you've done the tour for managers before I'm hoping you can fight the ban. You were extremely careful to make sure you obeyed all the rules Disney has.

[BRWombat]

Aw, this stinks, Z. (But they may be right about the competition -- I'd probably pay to take your tour before any of theirs.)

Let us know when the book comes out!

[Mayonnaise]

Awww man, I'm so sorry to hear that. I really enjoyed the tour back in December. It's so sad you won't be able to share that with any one else, at least for a while...

8^(