Jim Hill of Jim Hill Media gets "escorted" out of DL

[leftcoaster]

Anyone hear about this? I think it's hysterical. :D:

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles ... hp?ID=1356

Greetings from not-so-sunny Southern California. Where -- this past weekend -- I was supposed to be running JHM's latest set of Disneyland tours. But things didn't go quite according to plan.

How so? Well, Disneyland Security actually pulled the plug on my Sunday afternoon tour.

I'm serious, folks. 20 minutes into my 2 o'clock tour, I was suddenly interrupted by two officials from the park's security staff. They quietly pulled me aside and said that they'd had complaints about my tour. That they'd heard that I was saying negative things about their theme park. More importantly, that my JHM tour was somehow undercutting Disneyland Guest Relations' ability to sell its own tours of the theme park.

Needless to say, I was somewhat surprised by this reaction. As were the 10 or so people who were taking my 2 o'clock tour and watching all of this unfold from 5 feet away. I mean, yes, the JHM Disneyland tour does contain a few juicy stories. Which is why Chuck Oberleitner once called it "The 'E' True Hollywood version of Disneyland's history." But is that really reason enough to shut the tour down?

To be honest, I'm not sure. I can't help but think that the First Amendment sort-of, kind-of covers this issue. The right to tell somewhat embarassing stories about the Mouse. That's somewhere in the Constitution ... isn't it?

Well, that's clearly not how Disneyland Security sees it. The next thing I know, I've got an Anaheim police detective advising me that -- should I decide to continue with my tour -- the park's security staff could have me escorted off property. Worse yet, they could have me arrested. Which -- to my way of thinking, anyway -- wasn't exactly the best way to end my day at "The Happiest Place on Earth."

So I caved. I agreed to stop giving that tour and immediately vacate the premises. And the Mouse -- as a sort of a "make-good" to all the nice folks who'd signed up for yesterday afternoon's tour -- then offered to treat these JHM readers to a "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour. Which I've never taken myself. But I hear is quite snazzy.

So what happens now? To be honest, I'm not sure. Given that I cooperated fully with Disneyland Security and -- when asked -- provided their staff with my driver's license, my home address, even my annual pass info ... I sort of feel like a marked man right now. That -- from here on in -- everyone but me is invited to take part in the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth." Which is kind of depressing.

I have to tell you, folks: In the 25 years that I have been writing & telling stories about the Walt Disney Company, this is the first time ever that Mickey has made an effort to gag me. And -- to be honest -- it wasn't a very pleasant experience.

My apologies if this morning's story seems somewhat self-serving. I don't mean it to be. I just figured that -- once those JHM readers got back home from taking their "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tours -- that they were going to get on the site's discussion boards and start talking about what they'd seen happen on Sunday afternoon.

So I figured that -- rather than let the rumors fly -- that I should address this issue head-on. Get everything out in the open immediately.

So -- yes -- Disneyland Security did shut down yesterday afternoon's JHM tour of that theme park. All because three women (Who took Saturday afternoon's JHM Disneyland tour by accident. They were somehow under the impression that the fat-bearded-man-in-the-loud-Hawaiian-shirt-who-wasn't-wearing-a- Disney-nametag was the official tour guide for their "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour) complained at City Hall about some of the stories that they'd heard.

Mind you, no one from Disneyland Security ever took the JHM tour to determine whether or not the tales that I was telling actually were in questionable taste. All they had to go on was the word of these three rather confused women (Who evidently couldn't handle stories about land searches, C.V. Wood and/or attractions that never quite made it off the drawing board). But that was thought to be a good enough reason to shut me down & attempt to shut me up.

Well, rest assured, folks. I'm not gonna shut up. I'm going to continue to tell those sorts of tales here at JHM. But I've given my last tour of Disneyland. In person, that is.

"What do you mean by 'in person'?," you ask. Well, for the past few months, Jeff Lange and I have been talking about doing a CD version of my Disneyland tour. So that JHM readers can then get to hear all of these stories about how "The Happiest Place on Earth" was actually built without having to watch me waddle around that theme park.

So you wanna hear the stories that Disneyland Security felt were totally inappropriate to be told inside the berm? Give me a week or so to get back to my home in the woods of New England. Then Jeff & I will get started on that CD project ASAP.

Soooo ... How was your Sunday?

[CBeilby]

Wow, Jim! That just bloody sucks! I hope that this prompts you to write a complaint letter to Guest Relations. Normally, I'm not one to advise this, but under the circumstances, I think it needs to be done.

Also, as for the CD version, may I suggest that you make it a flat out audio tour, with a specific list of stops, and instructions on when to pause the disc related to the tour itself?

[CujoSR]

Wow, Jim! That just bloody sucks! I hope that this prompts you to write a complaint letter to Guest Relations. Normally, I'm not one to advise this, but under the circumstances, I think it needs to be done.

Also, as for the CD version, may I suggest that you make it a flat out audio tour, with a specific list of stops, and instructions on when to pause the disc related to the tour itself?

JIm Hill is mot the one posting. It's an Excert (sp?) from the JIm HIll site.

[screnwriter]

All First Amendment rights aside - I have to question the ethics involved here. Yes, Disneyland should be open to all who pay admission, and tours are a great thing. But so many people who come to the park each day have never been to Disneyland before, and wouldn't know what a tour guide is supposed to look like. I've never been to Hershey Park, for example, so if I was there, and heard someone leading a tour, telling about how a batch of chocolate got nearly poisoned back in the 50's, I'd be rather upset and wonder how the park would allow such information. Then if I found it was someone like me - a paying guest - playing tour guide to others, I'd wonder why that person felt they had the right to take tours when they're not associated with the park and could give a negative impression by doing so.

I don't know how Jim Hill runs his tours, but basically if you're leading people around, talking loud enough for your entourage to hear you - then you'll be overheard by others. That will make some people think you're a Disney tour and they'll be surprised and possibly offended if you talk about things that aren't "Disney".

This is just my opinion, and others will surely disagree. I would like to hear from others, pro or con, about the idea. Think about it if you're a Jungle Cruise skipper and some non-Disney person has just told their 'tour' about drunken Disney workers, sex backstage on attractions, and other negatives, so some of your boat thinks you're a degenerate while the rest is just trying to enjoy your spiel.

[BirdMom]

You know, as anti-company/Disney management as I can feel sometimes, I really have to agree with their action on this one. Before you start aiming to shoot me, let me tell you why...

Disneyland is a private park. They charge the public admission to the park and there is an itty-bitty contract that the ticket buyers are expected to abide by on the back of the ticket. And as Mr. Fat Hawaiian shirt pointed out, the company runs it's own tours. Why should they allow an outsider to come in and operate on their property, giving "tours" that directly conflict and compete with the service they are offering. What about all the outside operators who come in like Grey Line or other tour companies that operate tours, especially those for foreign tourists? Well, they've made arrangements with the park, and the park pretty much has them doing their own tour spiel on the same page, o.k. chapter, that Guest Relations operates from.

Mr. Fat Hawaiian shirt doesn't feel that he has to abide by the company's rules on the company's property. Maybe what he's forgotten is that Disneyland is a controlled environment - and there was a reason that those two ladies who stumbled onto his tour got confused. Maybe they were first timers who didn't know about Tour Guide Red Plaid. Granted there is a good proportion of visitors who want to know the dirt. But the company does have every right to exert their control over an outsider who is detracting from the controlled environment...that's why there is a berm. I don't suppose it ever occurred to him that there are guests who don't want their kids to overhear some of the randier stories about goings-on at the park. And if the guy is leading a tour of his own 20 paid people, he is going to be speaking in a raised voice. People who aren't part of his group can't help but overhear if they are close enough. You know, it's one thing when someone like Dave Koenig writes Mouse Tales or when Fearless Leader Cujo starts this site. It doesn't interfere with the day to day experience of the guests in the moment that they are there. But I think this Jim Hill guy is one of those who is doing it for his ego - he's one of those passholes who make my eyes glaze over: "look how much I know, see how clever I am, operating these underground tours right underneath the mouse's nose..."

Look at it this way. Let's say you ran a store - make it the stuff of your dreams - comic books, high fashion, what ever. And some bozo comes in off the street leading a dozen people saying "o.k., folks this is where Cujo wanted to put up a whole alcove honoring Wolverine, and he took designs from 6 different artists, but couldn't quite reconcile their concept of what they wanted with what would actually work in this space..." Or, "...this folks, is the spot where BirdMom chased out a spy who was obviously trying to draw one of her original designs on a pad of paper so it could be mass-produced in Taiwan at one eighth the cost. BirdMom very nearly tore the little witch's hair out in the process, much to the amusement of her customers who were browsing in the shop at the time. BirdMom told the interloper that if she ever came back, she'd 'f**king rip her eyes out of their sockets and cut off her sorry hands with the nearest pair of tailor's shears'..." Would that be cool if the bozo had nothing to do with you or your business and you're wondering where he heard this stuff in the first place? Why does an outsider feel that he has a right to come into your business and spin a less than flattering version of events - they could be true, but not what you want your customers to hear unless you bring it up to them. It's not a First Ammendment right. The First Ammendment doesn't necessarilly apply in a situation like that. It's not exacly shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, but it's not political speech either.

If he thinks he can sell CD's for these tours it would be rather ironic if someone put it on a file sharing site and he didn't make any money off of it. As a matter of fact I hope someone does put one up on a file sharing service so everyone can get them for free!

[screnwriter]

You know, as anti-company/Disney management as I can feel sometimes, I really have to agree with their action on this one. Before you start aiming to shoot me, let me tell you why...

I love ya BirdMom. My reply was on the same side, but you were so much more eloquent and detailed. I agree with you 100%.

[BirdMom]

Heheh...great minds think alike ;)

[Weeble]

This dude has some pretty big balls. Where does he get off thinking he would be able to do something like this in the first place? And now he wants to make money off the park? Birdmom had a good idea, file share his cd. I'll host it ;)

[madhatter04]

I agree with Disneyland on this one! Golly, what a weirdo.

[CujoSR]

You know, it's one thing when someone like Dave Koenig writes Mouse Tales or when Fearless Leader Cujo starts this site.

She called me Fearless!

Anyway back on topic... Think of it this way. "Racy" stories aside, what would happen if you walk into your local Wal-Mart and started selling your own clothes? You would find yourself being thrown out the door faster than you can... Well it would be really fast. It's extremly un-ethical to do your own tour and take money for it. And then Publicly annouce that you will be selling a CD of said tour!