Tigger in Handcuffs! About This Page:

[TiggGrrrl]

<font color="blue"> That's just wrong </font>

[DisneyDreaming]

That's afwul!
While in Epcot in 2002 I was talking with a cast member that said how Disney had really changed. They use to have a very ridgid or tough hiring interviews,not just one but several and now he said they just hire about anybody.
This makes me wonder if he isn't correct.
How very sad for my magical safe place.
makes me very angry and sad at the same time.

Marylee

[Jennifer2003]

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?
i JUST DON'T GET IT

[Teddysmom]

Oh my God you guys. This is sickening. I thought this thread was a joke. I can't believe it's real.

I would like to think that all the people standing around would be a deterrent but apparently in the 3 cases cited in this thread it wasn't. I really hope this wakes Disney up to the importance of screening the applicants that have that level of physical contact with children. They certainly charge enough in admission to cover this cost. I am incredibly saddened by this.

[goofy4goofy]

[ QUOTE ]
They use to have a very ridgid or tough hiring interviews,not just one but several and now he said they just hire about anybody.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm..I don't think that's necessarily true. I just went through a three hour interview with Disney, so it's still pretty rigid. I also know the characters go through a lot to become a cast member as well (I have three friends who are characters). That being said, I don't think they do any screenings for past criminal records or anything...and I certainly think they need to do so! They also need, obviously, to screen their applicants in a different way if the old way failed them. Then again, you can screen individuals and do police background checks, but you can't always tell who are the criminals and who aren't. Unfortunately, you can't tell a molestor by their looks. Disney isn't necessarily responsible for one man's actions.

All I can say is that I feel so badly for the victims and I'm praying it doesn't happen again to anyone else. It's a shame it happened in a place where adults and children should feel safe.

Kelly

[loobyoxlip]

Oh my gosh

[Sam I Am]

My best friend and I looked at each other when we heard about the "handsy Tigger" and said is that "our handsy Tigger". She had gotten "touched" by Tigger 2 and a half years ago but wasn't sure if it was on purpose or exactly where it had happened.

[AzureHaven]

This of course is very distrubing news. Makes me wonder if character interaction will become a thing of the past.
AH

[Dave Marx]

This is the kind of story you hope isn't true, but due to human nature.... :::sigh:::

I'm sure that Disney takes this very seriously. My guess is that character interaction will most certainly continue - it's just too big a part of the magic for Disney to turn its back on it - if they reopen attractions after serious accidents, they'll certainly continue with character interaction.

There's little doubt in my mind that Disney will invest plenty of time "reeducating" its character-cast members and the character "handlers." No doubt the handlers (there's at least one at every character interaction) have already been instructed to keep an even more watchful eye out for anything untoward.

As to whether Disney runs background checks, I'm pretty sure that they do. If I read the news correctly, though, the alleged perpetrator's behavior may be connected to a medical condition (failure to stay on a prescription, for example). There are strict privacy and anti-discrimination laws regarding medical information and how it can be used, and for very good reason. If the alleged perpetrator did not have a prior criminal record (and we would almost assuredly have heard about it if he did) I'm afraid this may turn out to be the kind of circumstance where background checks could not have helped. Further, one would think that if this behavior was at all regular, it would have been caught a long time ago.

Every time the "real world" intrudes on the magic we have to pause and readjust. Except in places like these boards, we're far more likely to hear bad news about Disney than good. "Family Has Magical Time at Walt Disney World" happens too often for it to be newsworthy. Fortunately, the good far outweighs the bad - that's why we love the place so much. When we let stories like this deter us, we're the ones who lose. Travel always involves some risk, but oh, those rewards!

[LindaLu627]

I am 100% with Dave on this one.

In addition to that....I think there is a false sense of security within the 'World' however. I am not saying that this guy's action were the fault of the girl and her mother. What I am saying is that too many times, I have been carefree and forgot that I am in a public place, not a members-only park. Even though the Disney name is there, it isn't a fairy tale world. The issues from the outside world are making their way in. Security at the park entrances is a perfect example. Now with this situation, the 'handlers' will have to watch both sides of the interaction. No more of watching the clock and line, but what is happening in that one-on-one moment.

It may seem that Disney is slacking, and I'm sure recent events in Disneyland and within the company aren't helping that image at all. But I know this- Walt's ultimate vision has never been far from the minds of every person who draws a paycheck from the company. This issue will be taken care of, and unfortunately we probably won't know what they are doing to insure that it doesn't happen again. It always seems that the bad is press fodder, and the good is ignored. But I will rest easy knowing that it is being addressed and that Disney Co. is making every stride possible to maintain the 'Happiest Place on Earth' image Walt envisioned 50-odd years ago.

Linda