A former Disney World character attendant has shared the craziest things he saw guests do at the theme park, from someone lying about being in Make-A-Wish to adults having ‘total meltdowns.’
Patrick McKee, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, spent years working at the happiest place on Earth as the “person who made sure the magic went smoothly.”
Part of his job was to assist with character meet-and-greets, and he witnessed some “truly wild behavior” along the way.
Now, the former Disney employee has spoken exclusively to DailyMail.com about some of the “creepiest” interactions he saw between park guests and the characters.
He recalled “authoritarian” parents who tried to “cut the line” or “demand something special” for their children.
A former assistant to a Disney character has shared the craziest things he saw guests do at the theme park, from someone lying about being in Make-A-Wish to adults having meltdowns
And according to the worker, childless adults were “just as extreme.”
“Some adults might get completely lost in the experience,” he shared. ‘(They set) expectations so high that when reality didn’t match, things got… interesting.
“Imagine full-grown adults having full-blown meltdowns; it was like watching a toddler tantrum, but with much higher risks.”
He recalled a time when he told a guest that his meeting with a princess was over and they became so “furious” that they “threw their drink on him.”
“I couldn’t believe it, but unfortunately situations like this weren’t as rare as one might think,” he continued.
“When you work with characters, you never know how a guest will react.
“I’ve had the most delightful conversations in line, only to see that same person do something totally unexpected when they finally met their favorite character.”
Patrick said one of the most “disturbing” things he saw while working at the park was a family that “lied about being part of the Make-A-Wish program to take advantage of special benefits.”
Patrick McKee (seen at the park recently), 35, from Atlanta, Georgia, spent years helping out at character meet-and-greets, and witnessed some “truly wild behavior” along the way.
Now, the former Disney employee has spoken to DailyMail.com about some of the “creepiest” interactions he saw between park guests and the characters. He has been seen in the park recently.
Make-A-Wish ‘grants wishes to critically ill children’ to ‘create hope and happiness for the entire family,’ according to the organization’s statement. website.
“It was heartbreaking because the Make-A-Wish program is designed to bring joy to children facing life-threatening illnesses, and seeing people try to game the system for their own benefit was beyond disappointing,” Patrick said.
“There were times when parents would say something like, ‘I wish my child had cancer,’ just to reap these benefits, completely oblivious to the weight and cruelty of their words.
“It’s almost as if people don’t realize the impact of what they say, or maybe they just don’t care in their desperation.”
Patrick claimed he was subjected to a “constant stream of derogatory comments” from guests who “didn’t get their way.”
And to make matters worse, he alleged that Disney’s “leadership” often “sided with guests” and “changed the rules” to make sure park guests were “happy,” even if they acted inappropriately. .
“While I understand the importance of maintaining the ‘Disney magic’ and making sure guests leave happy, from my perspective it could be incredibly frustrating,” he added.
He recalled “authoritarian” parents who tried to “cut the line” or “demand something special” for their children. And according to the worker, adults without children were “just as extreme”
Patrick said one of the most “disturbing” things he saw while working at the park was a family who “lied about being part of the Make-A-Wish program” (file image)
Patrick, who now works as a flight attendant, also recalled a time when he told a guest that his meeting with a princess was over, and they became so “furious” that they “threw their drink on him.”
“I could have told 40 other guests that they couldn’t meet a character, and then leadership would come in and make an exception for someone who had a seizure.
“I felt like I was rewarding bad behavior, which not only created inconsistency but also undermined the boundaries I had set for other guests.”
Despite some of the negative experiences he endured, the former Disney staffer said he had no judgment when it came to adults getting excited about the characters, as long as they “stayed safe.”
“We all have our passions and there is no shame in loving what you love,” he said. ‘If Disney characters brighten someone’s life, who am I to judge?
“Life’s too short to worry about what other people think, and as long as everyone is having fun and staying safe, I’m all for it.”
In the end, Patrick, who now works as a flight attendant, said his years at Disney provided him with “some of the most unforgettable moments” of his life.
“Every day was an adventure,” he joked.
DailyMail.com has contacted Disney for comment.