A father has found himself permanently excluded from the enchantment of Disney World following an incident that led to his arrest. Diego Rodriguez has been banned from the beloved theme park after reportedly shouting at and physically grabbing a staff member, according to an arrest affidavit reported by Oxygen.
In addition to his ban from the park, Rodriguez faces battery charges and was subsequently booked into the Orange County Jail in Florida, as court records reveal. Despite these serious charges, Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty. Attempts to reach his attorney for comment were not immediately successful, according to Oxygen.
The incident unfolded on April 21, when a performer dressed as Mirabel from the popular film “Encanto” noticed Rodriguez’s family persistently trailing her around the park, calling out her character’s name. As detailed in the affidavit, the family ignored repeated requests to wait until the performer was available, escalating tensions.
The situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting park staff and adhering to their guidelines to ensure a magical experience for everyone involved. Disney World continues to prioritize the safety and enjoyment of all its guests and employees.
On April 21, a performer dressed as Encanto’s Mirabel noticed a family of four following her around the park while shouting her name, according to the affidavit.
The family “kept persisting to meet her,” she said in the affidavit according to police, and wouldn’t listen to repeated instructions to wait until she was ready.
Soon, the mother started waving an autograph book in her face and the child ran up to her, interrupting her time with other guests, per the affidavit.
At one point, according to the affidavit, Rodriguez “forcibly grabbed” the assistant and shook her while asking why his child couldn’t meet her.
Then, Rodriguez shouted—according to a witness in the docs—”Why [can] everyone take a picture but us?”
Because she’s unable to defend herself in character, she asked a colleague to step in to assist. Shortly after, management escorted the family to the Epcot Center Security Office to speak to police. Now, as the assistant told police, she plans to press charges.
As a result, Rodriguez is banned from Walt Disney World according to the affidavit, “never to return.”
A spokesperson for Disney World did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.
