Two domestic violence arrests at Walt Disney World Resort within the span of four days are casting a somber shadow over what is supposed to be The Most Magical Place on Earth.
What Happened at Magic Kingdom on May 15
The first incident was reported at Magic Kingdom Park on May 15, when deputies arrived following a disturbance involving a couple who had been together for approximately six years. Law enforcement documents indicate the situation began after the female victim grew upset over the male suspect “looking at other women inside the park.”
The suspect reportedly threatened to abandon the victim at Magic Kingdom Park before pushing her in the chest with both hands. Video footage the victim provided to police showed him slapping her hands, sending a pair of sunglasses to the ground in the process.
When questioned by officers, the suspect acknowledged he “may have” pushed the glasses from her hand but denied the chest shove. The evidence was sufficient for an arrest on suspicion of domestic battery.
Violence on the Disney Skyliner
The second incident, which occurred on May 18, began inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios and grew increasingly dangerous as the family — which included a young child — made their way onto the Disney Skyliner.
An argument that started in a ride queue at the park was still simmering when the couple boarded a Skyliner gondola. In an attempt to calm things down, the victim placed a call to a family member from inside the gondola. According to the victim, the suspect became more enraged and grabbed her before repeatedly punching her in the face, legs, and arms. She told authorities she was approximately 16 weeks pregnant and that the suspect — the father of her child — was fully aware of her pregnancy at the time of the attack.
When the gondola reached Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, the suspect fled immediately, leaving in an Uber while Walt Disney World Resort security brought the victim to a “quiet room.” Authorities photographed a visible bruise near her eye. The suspect was tracked down later at a hotel near Disney Springs and arrested on a charge of aggravated battery on a pregnant woman.
The victim chose not to press charges or provide a written statement, but Florida law permits domestic violence arrests on probable cause without the victim’s cooperation.
Both incidents surfaced on Tuesday by WDW Active Crime, which shared the publicly available law enforcement details. Walt Disney World Resort did not issue statements on either case, in keeping with its standard approach to law enforcement matters on property.
Help is available at any hour. The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788 to reach a trained professional. Services are available in English, Spanish, and more than 200 other languages.
