Disney characters say tourists inappropriately touched them

Walt Disney World employees who portray Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck each filed police reports this month claiming y were inappropriately touched by tourists.

woman inside Mickey Mouse costume went to hospital with neck injuries caused by a grandmor patting character’s he, while employees wearing Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck costumes were groped by tourists, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Office reports.

incidents come after a 51-year-old man was arrested in vember after an employee portraying a Disney Princess told investigators he groped her breast while getting a photo taken.

“Everyone should feel safe at work, and we encour Cast Members to come forward in any uncomfortable situation,” said Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger in a statement. “We provide multiple resources to protect our Cast Members’ well-being, including on-site law enforcement officers who respond, and are available to m, if needed.”

A 36-year-old woman who plays Mickey Mouse at Magic Kingdom told investigators a woman patted he of her costume five times, causing it to slide down and strain her neck, Orlando Sentinel reported.

employee told investigators she didn’t believe woman intentionally hurt her, and sheriff’s office ruled Dec. 4 incident a civil matter, t a criminal one.

tourist’s family said y weren’t aware employee h been taken to hospital until y were contacted by newspaper Thursday.

Boone Scheer told Sentinel his mor-in-law patted Mickey to prove to her nearly 2-year-old nervous grandson that he shouldn’t be scared of giant rodent.

“She barely touched him,” said Scheer, ding his mor-in-law wouldn’t intentionally hurt Mickey Mouse. “It was very minimal.”

family was confused wher Disney has a -touching rule for costumed characters, since y give high-fives and hugs to visitors, he said.

Scheer said one at park said anything to m after until hours later, when y tried to check into ir Disney hotel. Disney interviewed his wife, and “y definitely tried to insinuate it was on purpose,” said Scheer.

same day, 36-year-old Disney employee who portrays Minnie Mouse posed for pictures with a man and his wife from Minnesota. Minnie Mouse gave man a hug and he groped her chest three times, according to sheriff’s incident report.

She alerted her supervisors and identified pictures of 61-year-old man from Brewster, Minnesota. She decided against pressing charges.

But it wasn’t first time man’s name h been raised by Disney World employees during his trip. man also h “an inappropriate interaction with a cast member” Dec. 5 at Magic Kingdom, according an incident report that didn’t provide any ditional details. Disney declined to elaborate.

Disney took some action to ban man, who is a Disney Vacation Club member, from me parks. “As a result, he was trespassed from all of Walt Disney World property, to exclude Saratoga Springs resort,” sheriff’s report said.

On Dec. 3, deputies received a call about a guest mistreating a costumed character at an Animal Kingdom restaurant. A woman in her 60s asked if she could kiss Donald Duck, incident report said.

Donald Duck agreed, but situation escalated as 18-year-old employee playing character said woman began touching and grabbing character’s arms, chest, belly, and face. employee moved toward ar Disney employee for help, but woman followed her, holding on, and n “frantically” put her hands inside character’s costume, touching her chest, incident report said.

woman’s family shouted for her to stop and attendant led employee to break room.

employee later decided t to press charges, telling authorities she believed woman, who wasn’t identified in report, may have dementia.