Disney World Disappointment for Teen Tinkerbell
By: CNN
Updated: June 7, 2012
April Spielman wanted her boyfriend's first trip to Walt Disney World to be memorable, so she planned to do something special -- dress up like Tinkerbell.
"My makeup took two hours, my hair took another hour, and then I had to spray my body in glitter and paint my nails," said Spielman, 15, who had purchased a Tinkerbell costume online.
Spielman said she and her boyfriend, who was dressed as Peter Pan, had no problem getting into Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park on Sunday. But when they tried to visit Disney's Animal Kingdom later, Spielman said security officers stopped them at the front gate.
"They said I looked too good," said Spielman, referring to how closely her costume resembled Disney's official Tinkerbell theme park character who poses for photographs with visitors and signs autographs.
Disney officials told Spielman she had to change clothes in order to visit the theme park.
"It just broke my heart," said Spielman as tears rolled down her face. "I didn't want to take off the costume.
Walt Disney World's dress code for visitors, which is published on the resort's website, states "adult costumes or clothing that can be viewed as representative of an actual Disney character" is inappropriate theme park attire that "may result in refusal of admittance."
According to Spielman, Disney officials explained that children might confuse her for the theme park's official Tinkerbell character.
"They were talking how the little girls, it ruins their dreams," said the 15-year-old. "But it ruined my dreams because I just want to be Tinkerbell."
Disney park officials gave Spielman a free T-shirt to wear instead of her costume. The company also provided her family with FastPass tickets, which enabled them to skip the lines on rides they missed while the teenager was changing clothes.
Disney sells children's costumes inside the theme parks and offers princess and pirate makeovers to younger visitors who would not be mistaken for official Disney theme park characters.
"My makeup took two hours, my hair took another hour, and then I had to spray my body in glitter and paint my nails," said Spielman, 15, who had purchased a Tinkerbell costume online.
Spielman said she and her boyfriend, who was dressed as Peter Pan, had no problem getting into Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park on Sunday. But when they tried to visit Disney's Animal Kingdom later, Spielman said security officers stopped them at the front gate.
"They said I looked too good," said Spielman, referring to how closely her costume resembled Disney's official Tinkerbell theme park character who poses for photographs with visitors and signs autographs.
Disney officials told Spielman she had to change clothes in order to visit the theme park.
"It just broke my heart," said Spielman as tears rolled down her face. "I didn't want to take off the costume.
Walt Disney World's dress code for visitors, which is published on the resort's website, states "adult costumes or clothing that can be viewed as representative of an actual Disney character" is inappropriate theme park attire that "may result in refusal of admittance."
According to Spielman, Disney officials explained that children might confuse her for the theme park's official Tinkerbell character.
"They were talking how the little girls, it ruins their dreams," said the 15-year-old. "But it ruined my dreams because I just want to be Tinkerbell."
Disney park officials gave Spielman a free T-shirt to wear instead of her costume. The company also provided her family with FastPass tickets, which enabled them to skip the lines on rides they missed while the teenager was changing clothes.
Disney sells children's costumes inside the theme parks and offers princess and pirate makeovers to younger visitors who would not be mistaken for official Disney theme park characters.
Comments
lifes a [censored] and then you die, its called following the rulesd "WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lloyd b.
June 6, 2012 at 2:17 pm
You can see both sides of this story. I would have to side with the young lady on this one though.
William S.
June 6, 2012 at 10:29 am
