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Racism at Disneyland: Guests Report Troubling Encounters in the Parks

A large crowd of guests in line outside the gates waiting to enter Disneyland Park with the Main Street station of the Disneyland Railroad in the background
Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic

Disneyland Resort, often celebrated as “The Happiest Place on Earth,” is facing scrutiny as guests report an alarming increase in racist behavior within its parks. While Disney’s carefully crafted environment promotes inclusion and magic for all, the actions of parkgoers remain beyond the company’s direct control.

Disney’s park rules explicitly require all visitors to “show common courtesy to fellow Guests and our Cast Members” and prohibit “profanity or engaging in unsafe, illegal, disruptive, or offensive behavior.” However, recent reports suggest that not everyone adheres to these expectations.

Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle Partners Statue

Credit: Ed Aguila, Disney Tips

Reports of Racist Behavior

Several guests recently took to Reddit to share their troubling experiences. One user recounted an incident near EngineEar Souvenirs where someone complained about overcrowding due to “illegal immigrants” and shouted, “ICE needs to catch all of you already” toward families with children.

That same user described an encounter in the Lightning Lane for Haunted Mansion, where a guest reportedly hurled racist slurs at others, saying, “Go back to Mexico, ****heads.”

Exterior of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion

Credit: Disney

Another guest, who identified themselves as Latina, detailed their experience in line for Pixar Pal-A-Round. After calling out someone for cutting the line, they were met with insults about “white privilege” and a racial slur. “I’m Mexican, and my boyfriend is white,” they explained, noting the individual’s openly racist comments.

Unfortunately, this behavior isn’t exclusive to Disneyland. A Reddit user shared that while visiting EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort, her family received “dirty looks” from other parkgoers. She theorized that Disney’s high ticket prices may create a perception among some visitors that certain groups “don’t belong” in the parks.

Spaceship Earth at EPCOT

Credit: Disney

Previous Incidents

This rise in racist behavior isn’t a new phenomenon. In 2024, a TikTok user shared a distressing experience at Disneyland’s Alien Pizza Planet, where a man loudly made racist remarks about Hispanic guests. “He’s saying things like, ‘You can’t enjoy it with all these Hispanics around,’” the guest recalled.

In 2023, another visitor claimed on Instagram that two women screamed racist comments at her and her son for speaking Spanish in a bathroom at Disneyland Park. “I hate Mexicans! It’s true!” one of them reportedly shouted. Fellow guests intervened, but the victim emphasized how shocking it was to experience such hostility in a place meant for joy and family.

A large crowd of guests in line outside the gates waiting to enter Disneyland Park with the Main Street station of the Disneyland Railroad in the background

Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic

Responding to Racism at Disneyland

Disney encourages guests to report disruptive or offensive behavior to Cast Members immediately. While Cast Members cannot control all guest interactions, they are trained to de-escalate situations and enforce park policies designed to ensure a safe, welcoming environment.

The experiences shared by visitors serve as a stark reminder that racism and discrimination persist even in spaces designed to be inclusive. As one guest urged, “Don’t let this unethical behavior become the norm of Disneyland. Go to Cast Members for help.”

Racism has no place in Disney’s parks—or anywhere else. For those impacted, seeking support from Cast Members and standing together against hate are essential steps in fostering a more inclusive environment for everyone.

Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on personal Disney parks guest experiences. No two guest experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with Disney Tips’ personal views on Disney park operations.

Have you witnessed or experienced discrimination at a Disney park? Share your story.

About Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

One comment

  1. I did see a racist incident a while ago. One guest said in front of cast members and guests “I don’t want to sit next to a Mexican”….that family was removed from the line and told they could not come back on the ride. I give credit to the cast members for being strong and making a clear point that this is not acceptable. Racism is not only wrong, it is disgusting.

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