An ex-Marine was banned from Walt Disney World after holding up a Trump sign on Splash Mountain for a picture:
Vet banned from Disney World after holding 'Trump 2020' sign https://t.co/Nd2wD3Wi9J pic.twitter.com/JeSGPpnzCc
— New York Post (@nypost) November 13, 2018
Walt Disney World banned an ex-Marine from the Upper West Side from all its parks last week for waving a “Trump 2020” banner on Splash Mountain, he says.
“Forty Disney employees escorted me out,” recalled Dion Cini, 49.
“I held up the sign for two seconds so I can take a picture,” he told The Post. “You’re allowed to hold up signs on Disney rides — cameras, cellphones, and other stuff like that. People have been doing it for years. They just kicked me out ’cause of the context of the sign.”
Cini is banned from ALL Walt Disney World properties:
“Trespassed from all of Walt Disney World properties to include, but not limited to, Theme Parks, Water Parks, Resorts and Disney Springs,” the order says.
Disney claims it’s a violation of their rules:
According to Disney rules, “unauthorized events, demonstrations or speeches, or the usage of any flag, banner or sign for commercial purposes, or to incite a crowd” is prohibited.
Cini has a history with Disney and banishment…
Cini had been temporarily banned from Disney World property in 2017 for a similar incident, but management eventually decided to let him back in. He noted how that stunt involved a 20-foot “Trump 2020” banner and was done in a much more public place — just outside of the Main Street Railroad Station in Magic Kingdom.
“The first time might have been borderline inciting the crowd, and they called me back and said they’d let me in,” Cini explained. “The second time, I just help up a small sign…and I did not incite a crowd. So I actually proved my own theory. That they kicked me out ’cause of the context of the sign and not the policy.”
Disney says it’s not about content, but about the danger the sign poses to other passengers on the ride:
Disney insists, though, that Cini’s dismissal was not about the content of the banner or a political issue.
“Walt Disney World welcomes all Guests to enjoy our parks,” a spokesperson said in a statement to The Post on Tuesday. “However, demonstrations and the display of signs and banners is not permitted on the premises.”
The spokesperson explained that flags being held on attractions that have drops or operate at high speeds are considered harmful to other guests and unsafe to the operations of the attraction.
“We have previously reminded this guest about our rules,” the spokesperson said.
I guess they have a point. That Trump 2020 sign could have easily flown out of his hand and stabbed a liberal in the heart and then tweeted about it!
But seriously, I can see the danger that it might pose to other riders and why they would ban such any material. My gut reaction is to suggest they might not have done the same for an Obama sign, but maybe they would have if it were done like this.
What do you think? Should Trump angrily tweet at Disney over this?