Disney World tells Santa to hit the road..

[borzoimom]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236796,00.html

[Laura's Babies]

You would think they would have been tickled pink to have him there!

[borzoimom]

Considering its a child orientated resort.. I would think so... jeez...

[K9soul]

Since when was Santa a "Disney character?" That is sad.

[GreyhoundGirl]

"I'm still angry with Disney, I'm still hurt," said Worley, "but I'm not going to let it ruin my Christmas. I'm not going to let it stop me from going to Disney, if they let me in. I still look like Santa, and I'm not going to shave my beard off."

Good for him. "applause"

What ideots, and considering it is a child place you'd think he might attract people to it. And how does it bother Disney if someone there looks like Santa?

He really does look like santa!

[borzoimom]

The real joke I find here- any retail store " hires" a santa- you know the kind- beards with rubber bands etc., and here is a old man perfectly willing, even enjoying letting the kids see him. How is that different than Wal-mart- except Disney doesnt get any money from it maybe????

[Lady's Human]

BINGO!

Disney has its own Santa, and people are undoubtably charged money for pics with the "Official" Disney Santa.

He's cutting into their business, even if he isn't getting any money out of it.

[borzoimom]

Maybe Disney should hire him- he sure does " look like " the image--- and its not glued on his face either..

[K9soul]

I don't think it's justified on Disney's part even if they have their own "Santa." If they allow anyone to enter the park dressed in holiday clothing, they have no right to deny this man the same right, just because he looks like Santa. There are people who look like Elvis, for example, and may play up on that and people may ask for their pictures with him. As long as he's not charging and people are using their own cameras to get pictures, I don't see how Disney has any right to interfere. If it is because he is dressed like Santa, then no one else should be allowed to dress up either but according to him others are allowed to.

No reasoning would make me see how what Disney did was justified. If he had set up some kind of booth with a professional photographer and started charging, then I could see it.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

It's a bit ridiculous that he was asked to change his appearance or leave the park, couldn't thay have just asked him to stop saying he was the real santa and to stop taking pictures with their guests.

I have to say that I find it creepy and rather disturbing when people go to the extreme to grow a beard and look like santa. Taking it even further and saying 'yes, I am the real santa" is even more disturbing. I personally wouldn't have let my kids anywhere near that guy.

[DJFyrewolf36]

It's a bit ridiculous that he was asked to change his appearance or leave the park, couldn't thay have just asked him to stop saying he was the real santa and to stop taking pictures with their guests.

I have to say that I find it creepy and rather disturbing when people go to the extreme to grow a beard and look like santa. Taking it even further and saying 'yes, I am the real santa" is even more disturbing. I personally wouldn't have let my kids anywhere near that guy.

I don't think he was really going out of his way...I mean what do you tell a little kid that calls you Santa? It seems to me it would be a lot meaner of him to tell kids to go away and that he isn't santa. My dad when he kept his beard long kind of looked like Santa, and if a little kid asked he indulged them during the holidays lol. Disney needs to lighten up, I highly doubt they have the REAL santa working for them!

[borzoimom]

We have a old man in town that looks like the image " Santa" and plays it in the town parade etc. Nice older man- also a millionaire that gives to the charity organizations all year - you name it.. He said in a recent newspaper article that being " Santa" with a real beard etc, takes the made up commercialism that exists at the holidays. And the faces of the little kids is totally amazing. ...
The man doesnt have any " delussions of grandeur" etc. He looks like what the "image" was created. If the park denied entry in the park with a man because he was " black" ( you get the point) or disabled, they would have a HUGE LAWSUIT on their hands. - So - what is WRONG with a man with a natural appearance of the society " Santa " coming into the park. If nothing else- its a surpise to any kid walking in the park... Isnt this supposed to be a fantasy land anyway????

[finn's mom]

The article linked doesn't go into a lot of detail, but, it doesn't sound like he was going up to people and asking them if they wanted their photos taken, and it doesn't seem like he was approaching children saying he was Santa, either. I don't see anything wrong with it, I've known a couple of older men who look like Santa and during the holidays they would dress up. They make a lot of children smile just by being festive. I don't understand the problem with him being there, but, I don't pretend to know the rules of the Disney theme park, either, as far as what is considered appropriate attire. Doesn't sound like he's letting it bother him too much, so I won't let it bother me, either.

[cmayer31]

Personally I don't think they should have asked him to change his appearance. However, I do understand buisness as well. Really, it's up to him to not act the part of something he wasn't asked to act. Let him walk around in front of Disney, or in neighborhoods all that he wants. Inside of Disney, private property, maybe he shouldn't dress as similar to Santa without their permission.