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A father has been permanently banned from Walt Disney World Resort after being arrested for allegedly assaulting a park actor portraying Mirabel from the popular 2021 film “Encanto.”
The incident, which took place last week, underscores the ongoing challenges faced by theme parks in maintaining order and ensuring guest safety, especially during high-demand character meet-and-greet events. Disney parks are known for their stringent guest conduct policies, with any violations potentially leading to ejection or lifetime bans from the premises.
As reported by The Travel, Diego Rodriguez was attending the Epcot area with a woman and child, waiting in line for a photo opportunity with the Mirabel character. The actor was accompanied by another park employee tasked with managing the large groups of families eager for a picture.
This event serves as a reminder of the importance of respectful behavior in theme parks, where the joy of the experience relies heavily on the cooperation and civility of all visitors.
Recently, a father was banned from Walt Disney World Resort property after assaulting a park actor and employee. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Rodriguez reportedly grew impatient and attempted to cut to the front of the line multiple times, despite being told by an employee that he could not.
The child then tried to run to the actor before being stopped. The woman with Rodriguez also asked Mirabel to sign her child’s autograph book, but the actor said she was only taking photos at the time. The woman then waved the book in the employee’s face.
Rodriguez then got involved, reportedly grabbing the Disney employee’s arm, shaking her and verbally assaulting both the actor playing Mirabel and the employee.
Diego Rodriguez was arrested on battery charges after becoming impatient waiting in line to take a photo with a character. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)
Witnesses said they heard Rodriguez yelling during the interaction, saying, “Why everyone can take a picture but us?”
Following the incident, he received a lifetime trespass notice, permanently banning him from Walt Disney World Resort property, and was held on battery charges by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the incident.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and a representative for Disney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
This enforcement aligns with Disney’s official park rules, which state that guests who engage in disorderly or unsafe behavior will be removed without refund and may face long-term bans.
In October 2025, Disney raised prices at both Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
In recent years, Disney has added specific language to its “Guest Courtesy” policy, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to physical or verbal abuse directed at its “Cast Members.”
These rules grant Disney, as a private property owner, the right to trespass individuals for any violation of park safety protocols. Once a lifetime ban is issued, it is rarely overturned, serving as a permanent reminder that the “magic” of the parks depends strictly on guest cooperation and mutual respect.