Disney enforces a wide range of rules at its theme parks, from restrictions on what guests can bring in with them to behaviors that are likely to get you ejected. Most of them are fairly obvious, and apply at many other theme park chains, too – but some are a little unexpected, and guests do occasionally fall foul of them.
We think it’s unlikely that many Theme Park Tourist readers will need educating about what they can and can’t do on Disney property. But we still thought it might be fun to round up a list of things that Mickey frowns upon…
20 Go topless
It can get really hot at Disney theme parks, especially those in Florida and California. It doesn’t help that you’re probably racing in an excited state from one attraction to another.
Take your top off to cool down, though, and you’re likely to be immediately approached by a Cast Member and asked to put it back on. Refuse, and you’ll be asked to leave.
The same applies to shoes – Disney wants you to wear them at all times. The exception, of course, is at Walt Disney World’s two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
19. Shoot video on a roller coaster
Carrying loose objects onto a roller coaster is a very bad idea. If you drop them, they could strike a fellow rider (or you) at high speed, with devastating results. That’s one reason why Disney forbids video recording on rides such as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Space Mountain.
You’ll also get into trouble for filming during attractions that feature a lot of copyrighted material, such as Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. You’re unlikely to have a problem capturing footage of your ride on It’s a Small World, however, despite it technically being against the rules.
18. Swear at another guest or Cast Member
There are plenty of reasons to get frustrated at Disney parks, such as rides breaking down or other guests cutting in line. Keep your cool, though – if you get abusive with other guests or Cast Members, you’re likely to be removed from the park.
17. Shoot a movie
“Videotaping, recording of any kind, broadcast or transmission for commercial purposes” is forbidden at Disney parks. In reality, this isn’t strictly enforced – if you run a theme park website like ours, for example, it’s unlikely that anyone will stop you from filming footage of a new ride, despite it technically being for commercial purposes.
Try and bring in a full-scale film crew, though, and you’ll soon be stopped. That’s why the few non-Disney movies that have been shot at the parks have been filmed largely undercover using amateur equipment.
16. Take flash photos an indoor ride
It’s not just video recording that’s discouraged on indoor rides. Flash photography can be very annoying to other guests, particularly on atmospheric attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean.
In our experience, this is one of the rules that is most frequently broken by guests at every Disney resort.
15. Ride a Segway
Disney explicitly bans “wheeled mobility devices with less than 3 wheels and devices that cannot maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered or unoccupied” from its parks. The aim is clear – the company does not want Segways rolling up Main Street, USA.
One woman with muscular dystrophy challenged Disney’s ban in court, but a California judge ruled against her. Among the evidence that Disney submitted? That “in 2010, the owner of the company that makes Segways, died when he apparently lost control of his Segway.”
14. Ride a skateboard or rollerskate
Thinking of saving on shoe leather and beating the crowds by skating around Disneyland? Think again. The park, along with all other Disney parks, bans skateboards, rollerskates, rollerblades and just about anything else on wheels (with the exception of strollers and wheelchairs).
13. Wield a weapon
You may want to defend yourself from Darth Vader, Maleficent or some of the other scarier characters at Disney’s parks – but you’ll have to do so in a non-violent way. Since September 11, Disney has protected its parks with extensive bag searches, and bringing in a knife of any kind (or even worse, a gun) is really not a good idea.
12. Sit on a folding chair
Waiting to watch one of Disney’s parades can be a brutal affair. Families gather an hour or more in advance, lining the pavements of Main Street, USA and waiting in the beating sun for Mickey and his friends to come past.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a folding chair with you to make that wait more bearable? Tough luck – they aren’t allowed. Probably understandably, given the amount of precious room they would take up.
11. Drink your own alcohol
Disney may have relaxed its alcohol ban at its theme parks over the years, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to allow you to bring your own in.
Glass containers are also banned, with the exception of baby food jars.
10. Bring in a pet
There are plenty of animals at Disney’s parks – furry ones, such as Mickey Mouse and Pluto. There are even real animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Unless you have a service animal, you won’t be allowed to add to their number. You can bring a cat or dog to the parks – but you’ll have to leave it in a kennel.
9. Bring in a huge picnic hamper
Many guests seem to be under the false impression that they are not allowed to bring any outside food or drink into Disney parks. That is an urban myth – you can bring in sandwiches, drinks, snacks and just about anything else you fancy.
What you can’t do, however, is bring in an enormous picnic hamper. No coolers, boxes or bags larger than 24” x 15” x 18” are allowed.
The rules are stricter at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which doesn’t allow any coolers at all (except for medical pruposes). Juice boxes with plastic straws are also prohibited, in case the animals get hold of the straws.
8. Queue jump without FastPass
Disney asks that you don’t “bump into, push or move ahead of others” in queues for its rides and shows. Your entire party is expected to wait together, and members of a party are not allowed to join those already in the queue (again, this is another rule we see broken all the time).
7. Smoke outside designated areas
There was a time when Disneyland had its very own tobacco shop, right on Main Street, USA. Those days are long gone. Tobacco is no longer sold in the parks, and if you want to smoke you’ll have to do so in one of a limited number of designated areas (unless you’re at Disneyland Paris, where we’ve found that many Cast Members seem to allow guests to smoke just about anywhere).
6. Sell stuff
Thinking of undercutting Disney’s prices by selling your own food and drink? Or offering any other kind of service? You’re unlikely to be allowed to operate for long on Disney property.
5. Bring in dangerous or hazardous materials
We know, we know – you probably haven’t got any plutonium stashed in your bag. But if you do have any dangerous materials on your person, they’ll be removed at the park’s security checks.
4. Hand out flyers or demonstrate
The distribution of printed materials of any kind is banned at Disney parks, so they’re not such a great place to promote your cause. Similarly, if you want to march, demonstrate or give a speech, Cast Members will be quick to stop you.
3. Display a flag or banner
This is one rule we suspect is not always enforced – particularly on Independence Day. But Disney asks that you do not display “any flag, banner or other emblem”.
2. Wear an adult costume
It can be tempting to dress up as a Disney princess or character during your visit. But do that, and you’re liable not to be allowed into the park (unless you are aged under 10).
Of course, there’s a fine line between an outfit and a costume…but Disney bans anything that can be viewed as a costume. So those princess Halloween outfits are out…unless you’re attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, when the rules are relaxed.
1. Wear offensive clothing
Bought yourself a clever t-shirt with a slogan on it from an online store? Think twice before wearing it to a Disney park. Clothing that is “excessively torn”, or items such as g-strings and bikini bottoms, are also out.
Some Cast Members may judge “offensiveness” levels differently, but anything that is even remotely liable to cause offence to another guest could get you thrown out.
Having said that, we recently witnessed a guest at Disneyland Paris sporting a “Sex lessons – free trials available” t-shirt, so it seems that this is one rule that isn’t always strictly enforced.
