Disneyland Accused of Pushing Adult in Front of Child in Character Line

A Disneyland Resort influencer has called out the park for allegedly allowing an adult guest to “cut” in front of her disabled child during a character meet-and-greet. The incident, which involved Dug and Carl from Pixar’s Up (2009), left her daughter, who has cystic fibrosis, without the chance to meet one of the Disney characters after he unexpectedly left.

The mother, Liz, shares her Disneyland adventures with her daughter, Maddy, on Instagram as @maddyatdisneyland. Her page highlights her daughter’s carefully crafted cosplays and magical theme park experiences, but this time, Liz shared her frustration over what she described as an unfair prioritization of an adult guest.

A Disappointing Encounter with Disney Characters

Liz and Maddy were second in line to meet Dug and Carl during a recent visit. After waiting patiently, the family ahead of them finished their turn, and Maddy prepared to meet the characters. However, according to Liz, Disneyland Resort cast members allowed another adult guest to take their place.

Liz captured the moment on video, sharing it with her followers:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Liz and Maddy (@maddyatdisneyland)

“[She] was thrown in front of us out of nowhere!” Liz wrote in her caption. “I did have plenty to say; it was not fair one bit! Then the cast member tells Carl to go and not to stay to take a photo with Maddy! So outrageous really!!!”

Carl’s Unexpected Exit

After the adult guest’s interaction with Dug and Carl, Carl left the meet-and-greet area, leaving Maddy with only Dug to meet. Liz explained that Carl had “said” he would stay but was ushered backstage by cast members.

“The lady who cut a child is also at fault!” Liz added.

The mom said she stopped filming before “letting [the character attendant cast member] have it,” expressing her disappointment over the entire experience.

“There is no excuse possible to have a reason to cut Maddy,” the Disney Park guest continued. “Nothing I can hear would be a valid reason. I’m sure she maybe was [an] influencer? Don’t Care!!”

Some social media users alleged that the adult guest had been waiting elsewhere for Dug and Carl and was simply brought in by cast members to complete their interaction. However, these reports could not be confirmed.

Potential Reasons for Carl’s Departure

While Liz was understandably upset, there could be other explanations for the character’s actions. Disney cast members are trained to prioritize safety and address issues discreetly, which could mean Carl experienced a costume malfunction or a medical concern that required him to leave the area quickly.

Have you ever been disappointed in a meet-and-greet at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments.