Trigger warning: Child Abuse
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A trip to Disney World should always be memorable. It should be the happiest day of your life with hopefully some happy tears streaming down your face during the fireworks, or when you see the castle for the first time, or ya know, all of the above! There are though some things can make for a bad trip like not getting the reservation you wanted, or maybe getting some massive blisters on your ankles from walking. In 2008, I had a very memorable experience in Disney World, I witnessed a parent physically abusing his child.
It was a perfect mid-October day in Orlando, it was in the 80s temperature-wise and it was a Not So Scary Halloween night. The Magic Kingdom was moderately crowded as it was nearing time for those of us without wristbands to exit for the evening. My family decided to hit up Dumbo before we went back to Disney’s Pop Century Resort to have a movie under the stars and pool night. The wait was only 20 minutes and the line seemed to be moving fast.
There was a cute little boy in front of my family in line with his father. He started to fuss with his father like all kids his age do. The little boy was of course, complaining he was hot and the line was too long. It’s the typical thought you have multiple times a day in Disney World. The child continued to fuss and then started to cry as we were nearing the front of the line. This is where it got scary. The father removed his flip-flop from his foot, took it in his hand, and slapped his young child across the face with it. There was a loud whack. The child’s face was visibly burning red and he was wailing now louded. There also was a collective gasp from nearly everyone else on line. Mothers started to call 911, and tried to separate the father and son. Other dads in line were confrutning the father who was now yelling and pushing. All the time his child there holding his red face sobbing. Ride attendants were made aware of the situation and security swiftly came and escorted the father and son away separately.
We were told to stay in line and more security came over to question us and tell us what had happened. In the end we got free park hopper passes for the experience but it left a mark on us all that would and will last a lifetime. I think tomyself now, if this man did what he did in broad daylight, in an extremely public place surrounded by thousands, I cannot image what he would do behind closed doors. Maybe that day in Disney World, that boy’s life was saved.
If you know of a child that might be in danger, please visit ChildHelpHotline.org.