Last week, a beloved Disney character was injured during a guest interaction at EPCOT. The incident’s aftermath was caught on video and quickly went viral on TikTok.
The video, posted by TikTok user Stacey Mavilia (@theladymavs), shows Figment, the purple dragon, lying on the ground at his Walt Disney World Resort meet-and-greet location, surrounded by Disney cast members attempting to assist him. Mavilia said she began filming “seconds after” Figment was “rocked” by a guest.
@theladymavs This is just seconds after Figment got ROCKED! #disneyworld #epcot #figment #imagination #travel #disneyvacation
Disney cast members helped the character performer to their feet, but Figment appeared visibly shaken. He shook his head “no” when asked a question, made a heart sign to a nearby guest, and retreated backstage.
Disney Character Signals and Quick Response
Disney character performers are trained to use subtle signals and code words to indicate emergencies, whether due to costume malfunctions, medical issues, or inappropriate guest behavior. These systems are designed to protect the Disney magic, even in challenging situations. Unfortunately, in this case, Figment’s character attendant was unable to intervene before the incident unfolded.
While Walt Disney World Resort has not issued an official statement about the viral video, the footage has amassed nearly 17 million views and sparked widespread discussion online. Mavilia praised the Disney cast members for their professional and compassionate response: “The cast members handled it very well as did Figment!”
What Really Happened?
Reports suggest the guest involved was an “upset or scared” neurodivergent child. Witnesses shared that the child pushed Figment over, causing the character to hit his head on the hard floor. Mavilia confirmed: “They said the boy was older and had special needs. We didn’t see it. We heard the head hit the ground and our heads whipped to see. The family rushed the kid away and came right back to apologize.”
One witness claimed Figment made the heart sign toward the child’s mother, who reportedly stayed to apologize profusely.
Disney Parks Fans Divided
The video’s virality has ignited intense debate within the Disney Parks fan community. Some social media users expressed frustration, blaming the child’s parents for not preventing the situation.
“That level of uncontrollable physical outburst will be well known by the parents,” said TikTok user @prince_the_gsd. “I get its difficult to control, but if you can’t keep others safe in the presence of your child, that’s all on you.”
Others agreed, calling for stricter consequences: “They need to be kicked straight out. That’s just not cool,” replied @crhughes9511.
However, many commenters urged understanding and empathy for the child and their family. “They aren’t going to kick out a special needs child for having an outburst. Kids sometimes can’t control their reactions,” wrote @user1989zzz. Another user, @ravenmoon996, added, “Sometimes they can’t control themselves, and the parent didn’t expect him to do it.”
The Aftermath
It remains unclear whether the Disney character performer portraying Figment suffered any long-term injuries from the incident.
Have you seen another guest misbehave at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, or Disney Springs? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments.
