Walt Disney World in Orlando is so big and expansive that sometimes guests need help navigating the theme park—especially if they are disabled.
Now Disney World is contemplating banning third-party tour guides. These guides are private and separate from Disney. They hire themselves out as an accompaniment to people who have trouble getting through the park. Quite often they are used for the disabled, who are shuttled to the front of the line for rides and attractions so they don’t have to wait too long. That includes their entire party.
Disney World is cracking down, however, after the practice has been abused by guides. It has been reported that several third-party tour guides have received trespass notices from Disney World. And they have been banned from the parks.
By law, officials from Disney World have to wait until the group actually enters the park before they remove the people, and that often means that customers not only pay for the tickets, but they lose their money for paying the guides.
Disney World is calling the practice “unauthorized commercial activity." That is, these tour guides are outside entities who are making money while at Disney. Technically, you can’t make money while on the property, unless you work there.
A spokesman said Disney World will use its own employees to provide assistance for the disabled.
The tour guides who are deemed as having violated the rules are subject to a lifetime ban from Disney World. They can appeal the ban, but only after a full year has passed.
In the meantime, Disney is still having financial troubles of its own.
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