Many people visit Walt Disney World Resort because they love the incredible rides and attractions. Guests can board a train and venture up to the Himalayas, or become a rat and join Remy on a race through a Parisian kitchen. Those who love thrills can board Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith, and Disney’s newest ride, TRON: Lightcycle/Run. There are dozens of rides and attractions that Guests can enjoy. There is something for everyone, whether they love tame rides like “it’s a small world” or thrill rides like the ones named above.
At each Disney theme park, there are rides that Guests have on their “must-do” list because of the nostalgic feel they have. At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, one of those attractions is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. The PeopleMover takes Guests on a 10-minute tour through Tomorrowland, and even through some rides like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Space Mountain.
Typically, a ride on the PeopleMover is a really enjoyable experience, but it wasn’t for one family and one Cast Member.
According to a report recently released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened in late March. A family was visiting from California and tried to board the PeopleMover. Each cart on the attraction can only fit so many Guests. Once it is full, a new cart must be filled. The report states that some of the family filled up one car. A Cast Member then tried to direct the rest of the party to another car.
One of the Guests, named Jennifer, did not want to sit in another car. The report says that while the Cast Member tried to direct Jennifer to another car, Jennifer pushed the Cast Member’s arm away and tried to sit in the already-filled car. The report reads:
“Jennifer told her that the rest of the people on the PeopleMover were her family, and moved past to get on the ride.”
Officers from the Sheriff’s Office were called and came out to the ride. While speaking with Jennifer, she said that she did not mean to put her hands on the Cast Member. She said that she was already moving forward and it was an accident. Guests boarding the PeopleMover must walk along a moving walkway to get into their assigned car.
The sheriff’s report says that there are no cameras in the boarding area where the incident happened, so it was a he said/she said situation. The officer determined that Jennifer’s actions were “not only incidental, but not intentional, and without the express purpose of causing bodily harm.” No arrests were made, and no charges were filed. A report was filed to document the incident.