Beating up the Characters

Theme Park Where · Post by **Theme Park Where** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:31 am

At SW it involved a stern "talking to" by the character escort in most cases except the really extreme. Even that was up to the escort and whether they saw what happened or thought it was actual abuse. I was once helping OP Otter and nearly was strangled by a guest who wanted to pick me up and pull my head off. My escort did nothing until I was actually hitting the guy upside the head to try to get him to put me down. Later, my rather useless escort told me that she thought I "was playing." Yeah, right.

In extreme cases, we had security escort the guest out or called OPD to press assault charges. I have a friend who's disabled for life because someone thought it would be funny to "ride Shamu" by jumping off a planter onto his back. Unfortunately, what appears to Shamu's back is the performers head and neck, and they crushed some of the vertibae in her spine when they landed on her.

We could hear people discussing potential attacks, and often had eyes on the backs of our heads and could sense someone about to go after us too. It was a developed skill. Dorsal fin pulling was the biggest problem with Shamu and we learned to turn really fast to avoid it just in time when you sensed someone behind you. Or, being rather mobile in those days, we could just get away.

Now, the only hope is for the shark character to come to your rescue ....

:sharkbait

ktulu · Post by **ktulu** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:37 am

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

It should be protocol. I know if I was a character and someone struck me to the point that I felt it (or cause a migraine!!!), I'd have press charges. There is no need for that type of behavior anywhere, except maybe boxing, UFC, wrestling or hockey.

joanna71985 · Post by **joanna71985** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:11 am

Thank goodness I have never had to deal with anything like this yet. And I hope I never have to.

DisneyMom · Post by **DisneyMom** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:45 am

This thread really upsets me. I do think anyone who assaults a character should be arrested and banned from the park forever. :mad:

EeyoresButterfly · Post by **EeyoresButterfly** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:18 pm

I have been told that it is no longer the person's discretion whether or not to press charges, but this is an unconfirmed rumor. In all three cases, the party was not kicked out of the park. The boy who punched me did not get a picture with me, and at least the parents were actually taking responsibility for him. They were as shocked as we were! I was told the mom of the teenager who punched me in th back of the head was completely livid, sadly, nothing happened to the father.

I do know of people who have been kicked out of the parks, but they are few and far between. One group at Crystal Palace was actually humping characters and they wouldn't kick them out of the restaurant! It really depends on the attendants and captains who are there, and the guest. If they do a hit and run, it's tough to find them in the crowds.

Big Wallaby · Post by **Big Wallaby** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:33 pm

As someone who is not a character performer, it's easy for me to say that in that situation I think I would go down so that now there's a big show that security (and police) *have* to respond. If the person has possibly knocked you out, and at least to the ground, then maybe they would be held responsible?

Of course, I say that knowing full well they *don't* like you to make contact with the ground except with your feet...

February · Post by **February** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:36 pm

I have a friend who's disabled for life because someone thought it would be funny to "ride Shamu" by jumping off a planter onto his back. Unfortunately, what appears to Shamu's back is the performers head and neck, and they crushed some of the vertibae in her spine when they landed on her.

That's horrible!!! :(

As far as humping a character in a park...OMG. How anyone could be that perverted. . .

joanna71985 · Post by **joanna71985** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:04 pm

Theme Park Where wrote: In extreme cases, we had security escort the guest out or called OPD to press assault charges. I have a friend who's disabled for life because someone thought it would be funny to "ride Shamu" by jumping off a planter onto his back. Unfortunately, what appears to Shamu's back is the performers head and neck, and they crushed some of the vertibae in her spine when they landed on her.

Oh my gosh! That is horrible! :(

drcorey · Post by **drcorey** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:56 pm

I think I see now why every once in a while Pluto is filmed trying to attack a kid...

Syndrome · Post by **Syndrome** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:37 pm

This idiotic behavior goes on on the cruise line too. I remember once waiting in line for Stitch on Pirate Night where he wears an eye patch and hat/bandanna. Kid pulls off the eye patch while SG parent chortles with glee and snaps away with the camera. Not only did Stitch not appreciate it, but he had to go offstage to get his costume fixed, taking valuable time away from all the others who were waiting in line, since the characters are only out for a very limited amount of time. I think they should have had their camera confiscated and tossed overboard and been banned from coming within 100 feet of another character for the duration of the cruise.

Stupid Guest Tricks

Beating up the Characters

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