4. Drones

Image: Dennis Jarvis, Flickr (license)

What could possibly go wrong unleashing a maneuverable bladed disk into a massive crowd? You’d think this one would be common sense, but the issue is apparently common enough that Disney decided to add drones to their list of banned items. No matter how much you want that sweet helicopter shot of Splash Mountain, resist the impulse to try to bring your drone to the Most Magical Place on Earth. You’re just going to look goofy if you do this, and the actual Goofy will definitely not approve.

5. Mega-coolers and most anything with wheels

Image: James Gardiner Collection, Flickr (license)

You’ve got to give props to Disney that they still allow guests to bring outside food into the parks. Like most movie theaters, they really would be well within their rights as a company to ban outside lunches, but picnicking at Walt Disney World remains a fun and permissible pastime for visitors. Go, Disney!

However, yet again, some guests get a little carried away with their Disney picnic plans. Giant wheeled coolers, suitcases, and other mega-bags are a no go at Walt Disney World, but guests still show up every day trying to get enough food for a tailgate party past the opening gate pretty regularly. Instead of having to lug something as massive and unwieldy as a cooler or suitcase through the parks, opt for small soft-sided coolers or sack lunches that can fit in a backpack. The specific dimensions Disney caps bag sizes at is 24" (61 cm) long x 15" (38 cm) wide x 18" (46 cm) high.

The same goes for segways, rollerblades, roller shoes, roller derby gear, bicycles, skateboards, Penny-farthings, and other various jalopies. If it's not a stroller of appropriate size, mobility scooter, or wheelchair, you are out of luck. 

6. Anything that looks like a weapon

Image: Dean Hochman, Flickr (license)

This one is obvious in the case of guns, pepper-spray, and knives (yes, even your Leatherman, my handy friend), but the issue here isn’t so much real weapons as fake ones.

Anyone who cosplays on a regular basis has probably become long familiar with the policy of not attempting to bring costume weapons into conventions, movie screenings, and public events without checking with venues about their rules. The issue at Walt Disney World isn’t so much adult costumes (which are banned anyways) so much as actual kid’s toys—and boy, can it get awkward when parents don’t realize this when they arrive at the parks.

It doesn’t matter how plasticky, lime green, or glittery pink your child’s toy weapon is—if it looks like a gun, you cannot bring it into Disney parks. It doesn’t matter if it squirts water, blows bubbles, or makes fart noises. It doesn’t matter if your little angel bursts into tears at the prospect of being separated from their favorite Han Solo blaster— it’s not getting in and trying to sneak it in after the fact will only make things worse. Disney has even gone so far as to change all of their old bubble gun toys into bubble wands in recent years.

I will give it to Disney cast members that they generally handle this issue pretty delicately. My husband and I goofed up on this issue at the premiere of Rogue One in Disney Springs after being told by AMC that peace-tied toy blasters were okay for fans watching the movie in costume. A wonderfully polite Disney manager in the Springs area let us know that while lightsabers are cool, we needed to return our prop blaster to the car. The issue was easily fixed and we carried on with our day happy that Disney takes safety so seriously. For families with small kids visiting the Magic Kingdom however, things could get way more uncomfortable since kids might not understand these complexities. Avoid this situation entirely by making sure your little pirate or Jedi leave any toy guns behind.

What other odd things have you seen people try to sneak into Walt Disney World?