Disney Tells Man That Looks Like Santa to Stop Looking Like Santa- Say “What!?”
This is just one of those stories that is absurd. Actually most of my "say what's" are but this one is up there. Thomas Tolbert was on vacation with his family at Disney World when he was approached by officials to "stop looking like Santa Clause". Kind of a weird request right? Well the fact is, the man does look like Santa! So much so that he is hired to do events and malls around the holidays to be Santa! No, he wasn't walking around in a red suit saying "HO HO HO", he was just walking around the park in normal clothes acting normally. Kids approached him, because he did look like Santa, and asked if they could get an autograph and a pic. Thomas, being the jolly fellow that he is, obliged the kids happily.
Park officials became annoyed and asked him to please stop looking like Santa or else he would be kicked out of the park.
Mr Tolbert told local Orlando station WKMG ;
I never had a red suit on, I never wore a hat, I didn't have fur boots on, but that doesn't make Santa. The face and the persona and the heart is what makes a Santa. They're looking at my face and looking at my features. They said you need to say "I am sorry, I'm not who you think I am. I am on vacation and you need to leave me alone.'
Disney World issued a statement in regard to Mr. Tolbert;
The guest was asked to change his attire because it was disruptive to our operations and confusing to our other guests, particularly children who asked to take photos with him.'
I don't know if I agree with Disney's reaction. The guy wasn't approaching anybody, they were coming up to him. Granted he could have not signed autographs or taken pictures but the children believe he was Santa, so who is he to crush their dreams?
What are your thoughts? Did Disney overreact?
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