Gum

Image: Disney

Do you know a key reason why the parks are so clean? The answer is in every Disney store, even if you’ve never noticed. They don’t sell gum at the theme parks. Now you know why. If kids have access to gum, they’re going to chew it and then they’re not going to want it after the flavor diminishes. What do kids do with gum, parents and teachers? That’s right. They stick it wherever they happen to be at the moment.

Disney’s theme parks are a magnificent exercise in cleanliness. You’ll never see another place as populous that enjoys such pristine conditions. There’s simply no chance they’re going to risk the majesty of their park on a cheap stick of gum.

Quick wit is your only weapon

If an employee discovers anything deemed a security risk, they won’t allow you to enter the park. You’re not technically kicked out since you never gained admission, but the situation is functionally identical. The primary items Disney disallows are weapons. Whether you’ve got a knife, a gun, or a Chinese throwing star that was a gag gift, you’ll have to leave them behind prior to heading to the park. Otherwise, you’ll have an uncomfortable encounter with security personnel.

The gun issue is particularly noteworthy. Florida is an open-carry state in theory, but Walt Disney World bans all guns. In fact, even law enforcement officials cannot bring weapons into the parks. If someone forgets or is unaware of the policy, Disney will escort anyone carrying a gun off the property, as this gentleman discovered at Animal Kingdom in 2013. Disney handles its own policing, but it can press criminal charges if they deem a guest as a hostile entity.

Know when to fold ‘em

Image: Disney

The problem with parades is that the seating options are limited at best. You’ll have to fight complete strangers for the right to sit down. Even if you win, there’s nothing to stop the person you just bested for a seat to stand directly in front of you. You can make mortal enemies quickly at a theme park.

A potential solution you’ve probably considered or, at least, fantasized about is bringing your own chair. Alas, you’re not the first person to think about it, and Disney is staunchly against it. If you try to bring a chair into the park to provide your own portable seating, they’ll stop you at the gate and kindly ask you to turn around and go back home. Nobody gets a decent seat at a parade. It’s just a fact of life at a Disney theme park.

No hairy babies…

Baymax from Big Hero 6 uses this phrase to describe his new friend, the family cat. If you’re an animal lover, you actually have a lot in common with the caretakers at Disney. I mean, Animal Kingdom is basically a zoo with rides. Still, there’s a company policy that prevents you from bringing your cat, dog, ferret, or killer yeti with you when you visit the park. On the plus side, Animal Kingdom does provide its own yeti if you want to fill that void.

Seriously, Disney tries to make their properties as tourist-friendly as possible. Some folks do travel with pets, and I’d be one of them if my cats didn’t connect the idea of a car with an impending visit to the veterinarian. If your furry friend is made of sterner stuff than mine, you absolutely can bring them with you on the trip. Disney offers pet care services just as they offer babysitting. You’ll have to pay for it, but you’ll also know that your little buddy is getting world class attention on vacation, same as you. You just can’t bring them into the park.

There is one important exception to this rule, and it’s a surprisingly divisive one. People who have service animals can bring them into the park. It’s actually one of the most frequent complaints Disney receives. Some other guests resent the presence of such animals for whatever reason, so they keep pressuring Disney to exclude all animals from the parks. Thankfully, Disney has held strong thus far, so you’ll see the occasional canine helper if you spend enough time at the parks.

Watch your language!

Image: Disney

Most people swear, but if you plan to visit a Disney park, you’ll have to watch your tongue. A proliferation of swearing around a cast member could lead to cross words. If you’re foolish enough to direct the swearing at a cast member if, say, they mention that you’ve violated any of the other rules above, they’ll send you on your merry way out of the park. A family-friendly company such as Disney has to reduce negativity whenever possible. That includes swearing and overall nastiness to other guests or park employees.

So, that’s the list of things that can get you banned at Disney. Note that the rules are constantly evolving based on current trends. For example, the selfie stick ban occurred within the past year. Disney is already considering another change as well. They are carefully tracking the group behavior of chanting while at the parks. Many guests have complained this sort of behavior in combination with clapping is distracting. Disney cast members allegedly blamed a couple of recent incidents on the distractions caused by chanting as well. It’s exactly the same series of events that triggered the selfie stick ban, but this one seems harder to enforce. 

What do you think should be banned at Disney? Is there anything currently banned that you feel Disney should allow? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.