A resurfaced police bodycam video is shedding new light on a violent confrontation involving an intoxicated guest at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. The newly circulating footage—uploaded years after the original incident—captures an intense physical struggle at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn that ultimately sent guests running for safety as deputies attempted to make an arrest.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is well known for its nightlife, from the high-energy atmosphere around its lounges to the popularity of its bars with adults visiting EPCOT, a short walk away. That same reputation played a major role in events that unfolded in the early morning hours of April 20, 2022.
According to the bodycam footage and police records from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn after reports of a disturbance involving a group of adults. When the officers approached, the situation began deteriorating quickly. One of the men allegedly involved in the dispute, who appears intoxicated in the video, immediately moved away from deputies while shouting at other members of his party.
Deputies initially attempted to escort everyone safely out of the area and toward a rideshare pickup spot. One member of the group warned officers that the man in the red shirt—identified in the police report as Christian Gedell—was “dangerous,” asking deputies not to get too close.
“I understand,” a deputy replied. “Everyone will go to jail.”
As deputies confirmed that Walt Disney World Resort intended to trespass the group, tensions escalated. While officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, Christian appeared increasingly agitated, prompting concerns that the situation would escalate into violence.
“I think this is going to turn into a fight,” a deputy radioed. “The other guys are going to try to fight me if I go hands-on.”
The confrontation escalated when Christian shoved a woman in the group to the ground—hard enough that officers said they heard her body hit the pavement. Deputies immediately moved in to detain him, but Christian sprinted away, triggering a foot chase through the BoardWalk area.
The bodycam footage shows deputies tackling Christian moments later as he resisted arrest. Injured and bleeding from the fall, he began yelling at law enforcement as they struggled to restrain him. At one point, he shouted, “Shoot me!”
Once subdued, Christian was placed in handcuffs and escorted to a patrol car. Meanwhile, the police report notes that families in the area had already run from the escalating confrontation, alarmed by his behavior. One deputy wrote that Christian’s actions “were causing hotel [guests] to run away from him.” Parents reportedly begged officers to do something.
The report also revealed that deputies traced the origins of the disturbance to an earlier incident at EPCOT’s United Kingdom Pavilion. According to OCSO records, Disney cast members had removed four intoxicated guests from the Rose & Crown Dining Room after one member of the group cursed at employees. After being escorted from EPCOT, the group walked toward Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, where the situation quickly spiraled.
The man in the blue shirt, who assisted deputies throughout the video, was identified as Christian’s brother, Robert Gedell. He repeatedly apologized for his sibling’s behavior but became increasingly confrontational after Christian’s arrest. Deputies eventually arrested Robert as well after he refused to comply with instructions and continued approaching officers, demanding to know where his brother was being taken.
Both brothers, residents of New Jersey, later pleaded not guilty to their charges. Christian faced several misdemeanors, including resisting an officer without violence, disorderly conduct, and trespassing. Robert was charged with misdemeanor trespassing. Public records do not clarify whether either man ultimately faced legal consequences.
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You never read stories like this before alcohol was served at the Disney eateries. I don’t think the Disney corporation will be going into bankruptcy if they stop serving alcohol and if they do, there has to be a two drink minimum..There has to be some sort of way for the servers and bartenders to send to your account on how much alcohol the guest has consumed, with the time and place and if the guest tries to get another alcoholic beverage at another location, the bartenders would know and they could deny you service.