Disney caters to a wide range of tastes and dietary needs. There are delightful options for vegetarians, vegans, and individuals with allergies, including those allergic to peanuts. Additionally, many gluten-free choices are available for guests with Celiac disease. Disney chefs work diligently to ensure that everyone feels included and can enjoy a wonderful meal.
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When guests decide what to eat in the parks, they rely on Disney’s menus for the most current information about dishes and their ingredients. Disney even features specific sections on the menus to indicate allergy-friendly options.
Most guests would never think twice about the accuracy of the menu information, nor could they envision that allergen details might have been intentionally altered, putting their health at risk.
Unfortunately, a recent FBI investigation uncovered that this is exactly what a former cast member did.
Related: A Disney Cybercrime Investigation Is Underway by the FBI After a Cast Member Was Arrested
Michael Scheuer, a former Disney cast member, was arrested on October 23 following an investigation by the FBI. He is accused of hacking into the Disney menu creation system and significantly altering many menus in the process. The alterations were particularly concerning as they involved the removal of crucial allergen information, specifically regarding dishes containing peanuts.
According to the FBI report, Mr. Scheuer made it appear as though certain dishes did not contain peanuts, even though they did. This could have led to guests suffering from severe allergic reactions or even going into anaphylactic shock.
According to a report from The Orlando Sentinel:
In addition to altering allergen information, the complaint said he changed prices, added profanity and replaced fonts in the menu software with one that depicted symbols known as wingdings. He also altered QR codes on menus to direct patrons to a website listing names of Israeli companies and those with significant activities there for boycotting purposes.
The complaint said it’s believed the altered menus were isolated before they could be shipped out to restaurants, but Disney was still working to identify all of them. Scheuer’s alleged actions are estimated to have caused at least $150,000 in damages.
Scheuer also locked about 14 Disney employees — including ones involved in his firing and former coworkers — out of their accounts with denial-of-service attacks, the complaint said. The accounts would lock after too many failed login attempts and he used a script to make automated attempts totaling over 100,000.
Michael Scheuer worked as a menu production manager for Walt Disney World before his termination on June 13, 2024. His responsibilities included creating and publishing menus across Disney's restaurant portfolio. Speculation surrounding his termination includes allegations of misconduct, leading to a contentious firing that has drawn the attention of federal investigators.
Scheuer's attorney, David Haas, contends that various personal challenges played a role in his behavior. He has a history of mental health issues and was reportedly seeing a psychiatrist for three years. Mr. Haas claims that Disney failed to provide adequate support during his employment, especially when issues arose regarding his medical condition.
“The criminal allegations acknowledge that no one was injured or harmed by any menu alterations. Mr. Scheuer has a disability that impacted his employment at Disney.”
“[Mr. Scheuer had a] medical event that resulted in him being suspended. Disney then failed to respond to his inquiries about why he was suspended, and his suspension was inexplicably changed to termination,” Haas said.
“Disney refused to provide a response as to why he was fired and made no accommodations for him. He subsequently filed an EEOC complaint. I look forward to vigorously presenting my client’s side of the story.”
Following the FBI investigation, Scheuer now faces serious legal ramifications. He has been charged with fraudulent activity related to computer use stemming from his alleged unauthorized access and alterations to Disney’s menu software. A bond hearing is scheduled for November 5, during which the court will determine the conditions of Scheuer’s release pending trial.
Mr. Scheuer's lawyer has requested a pre-trial release, stating that his client has been undergoing psychiatric care for three years.
Do you think Mr. Scheuer should spend time in jail for his actions? What should Disney do to prevent something like this from happening in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments!
