A birthday surprise at the Disneyland Hotel nearly fell flat after a baker said security cast members destroyed most of her balloons at the Downtown Disney District checkpoint, and she's now questioning why.
The Delivery Plan
Monique Rojas, who runs the Instagram account @mos_magical_cakes, shared a video on October 5 showing her and her sister delivering a Toy Story (1995)- and Cars (2006)-themed birthday cake, along with balloons, to a family staying at the Disneyland Hotel. Because parking for non-overnight guests at the hotel was full, they parked in the Pixar Pals Parking Structure and set out on foot through Downtown Disney.
Walking that route meant going through the security checkpoint at the district's entrance.
Rojas wrote alongside the video:
Not every Disneyland delivery is all pixie dust and perfect timing 😅🎈✨
What started as a sweet cake + balloon delivery turned into a whole ordeal with security… 😭 but thankfully, we still made the birthday magic happen in the end. 🎂🏰
Have you ever heard of this balloon rule before? 👀
#mosmagicalcakes #customcakes #disneylanddelivery #disneylandhotel #cakedelivery
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Two Cast Members, Two Answers
According to the video, one cast member told the sisters that Mylar balloons, including the shiny red foil number three in their bunch, can't enter the Downtown Disney District because of a Monorail safety issue. A second cast member at the checkpoint then said none of the balloons were allowed and started popping them.
“They need to be see-through,” that cast member said.
The first cast member intervened to save the remaining latex balloons.
“Then, the other sweet cast member who said we couldn't take the [Mylar] balloons said, ‘Hey, they could keep the latex ones,'” Rojas said. “So…tell me why he popped most of our balloons for no reason? I mean, it is what it is…”
Despite the mix-up, the cake and the surviving latex balloons reached the family at the Disneyland Hotel.
Viewers Suggest an Easier Route
Many commenters said the sisters could have skipped security altogether. They explained that even when the hotel's parking is full, drivers can tell cast members they are making a delivery and use a dedicated drop-off area.
“You definitely didn't have to go through security to get to the disneyland hotel and you could've kept all the balloons,” @_roxy__babby_ wrote. “You just go to the Disneyland hotel parking lot and tell the cast member you are just dropping something off and they let you right through to the drop off. No security, no paying for parking just dropping off!!”
“Drive up to the hotel and do a drop off,” @ebarajas99 agreed. “They give you free 30min for drop offs. No need to walk all the way from the mickey and friends parking structure.”
Is There Actually a Balloon Rule?
The answer isn't clear. Multiple responses on planDisney, an official panel of regular Disney Parks vacationers who answer questions about Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, say Mylar or shiny foil balloons are “on the list of items not permitted at Disneyland Resort.” Still, the list of prohibited items on Disneyland Resort's website doesn't mention Mylar balloons.
The posted rules do leave room for judgment, allowing security cast members to “prohibit the use or storage of any other item not listed above that we determine may be harmful or disruptive, in our sole and absolute discretion.”
Given the uncertainty, guests celebrating a special occasion at the Southern California Disney parks, Downtown Disney, or the Disney Resort hotels are encouraged to buy balloons onsite.
What do you think about this Disneyland Resort guest's response to the situation with security cast members? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
