Heartless Disney Guests Make Fun of Disabled Child

Fans took to social media to slam park guests who were making fun of an autistic child who was standing in line to ride an attraction at the Disneyland Resort.

Guest etiquette should be a no-brainer during a visit to a Disney Park. Behaving appropriately sets the tone for a memorable experience for all guests. Unfortunately, instances of improper behavior and insensitivity among park attendees are much too common.

In the past, we’ve written about guests who choose to pick fights with cast members and other park visitors, and cause a scene and wreak havoc on the magical atmosphere of the Disney Parks—be that the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort.

Being mindful of one’s actions and showing consideration towards others throughout their time at the park, is the bare minimum when at Disney. This is especially relevant when it comes to accommodating the needs of individuals with cognitive disabilities, such as autistic children.

However, while this might seem like an obvious thing to many of us, a guest reported some shocking behavior from fellow fans at the Disney Parks.

One Disney guest took to Reddit to share that some park-goers were “making fun of a kid with autism.”

The guest was appalled at the behavior, questioning, “Have you never seen a human being before? Why were you staring at him like he was growing a third eye? It’s not his fault he was born that way. His parents are probably angels with immeasurable patience. They deserve the VIP treatment for sure.”

For those who were making fun of the kid with autism by RSR around 6:30ish..
byu/Oneinseven-4billion inDisneyland

Fellow fans in the comments were equally frustrated at the situation, with some noting their own experiences of a similar vein.

One wrote, “Grownup of a special needs child- I swear to god I’m going to make him a shirt that just says “stop staring” for every time we go to Disney. People are downright rude. Just asking a question would be less rude. I’ve started stepping in between staring person and him and staring back. Some people get it. Others who are blatant I just tell to stop being rude because I give zero f’s anymore.” 

Another added, “As someone who is 50+ years physically disabled it never gets better. People with disabilities will always be the objects of attention, the butt of the joke and the reason your ride has been interrupted. I don’t mind the stares and non filtered comments from children who have no clue. It’s always the comments you hear from adults.” 

It should go without saying that this kind of behavior is completely unacceptable while at a Disney Park. The Disney magic is meant for anyone and everyone, which is what founder Walt Disney intended when he envisioned the space back when Disneyland was first founded.

Behaving in ways that allow all guests, irrespective of their backgrounds, to have a good time is paramount to upholding the safe and magical environment that cast members work hard to create for guests.