If you’ve been to the Magic Kingdom before, then you know things can get a little crowded and hectic the closer it gets to the fireworks show. Guests secure their spot on Main Street, U.S.A. early, even sitting down, forcing others to navigate around them. There are certain areas around the theme park where guests can get a great view of the fireworks, even if it isn’t right in front of the castle.
Now, before the fireworks show, certain areas of the theme park are blocked off and guests are instructed to go around. Most notably, Fantasyland is blocked off, since fireworks debris can fall there. The area is closed around one hour before the show begins and opens around 30 minutes after the show ends.
Related: Confirmed: Disney Fireworks Show Canceled Through 2024, New Spectacle on the Way
It can be kind of inconvenient to navigate your way through the Magic Kingdom, especially if certain areas are closed and blocked off. That is no excuse to get angry or aggressive or act violently. However, according to a recently released police record, that is exactly what happened several weeks ago, leading to the arrest of a guest.
On October 7, Andrew Dixon was visiting the Magic Kingdom with his wife and child. A little after 8 p.m., they were headed towards Cinderella Castle. A cast member informed Mr. Dixon and his family that the area was closed, and they needed to use the bridge that leads to Fantasyland — between the castle and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café.
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Mr. Dixon reportedly did not like being told he could not go where he wanted, and tried to force his way past the cast member. The police report states that Mr. Dixon shoved the cast member with his shoulder and then used his stroller as a weapon and drove it over the cast member WITH THE CHILD IN IT.
We have redacted the name of the cast member.
[Cast member] advised she planted her feet and the male proceeded to use his shoulder to push into her right shoulder. [Cast member] advised the stroller containing the child was also used to push into her, running over her feet in the process.
The cast member further noted that Mr. Dixon’s wife apologized to her for her husband’s actions.
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Backing up the cast member’s story was an independent witness who allegedly saw the incident and approached police.
The witness said that they noticed the cast member redirecting traffic when Mr. Dixon and his family approached. The cast member placed herself approximately two feet in front of the family before she was accosted. The witness immediately went to find law enforcement to tell them what happened.
Mr. Dixon, however, told the police that the cast member was the one who assaulted him.
When approached by police, Mr. Dixon claimed that the cast member approached him aggressively, “lunged,” and chest-bumped him. He also said that he did not intentionally touch the cast member.
Mr. Dixon was subsequently arrested and charged with battery, a misdemeanor. However, his lawyer has said they will fight the charges, claiming that his client is actually the victim.
In a statement, his lawyer stated that a video would prove Mr. Dixon’s innocence. In the police report, Disney cast members said there was no video of the incident, but his lawyer does not believe that and has requested security footage from Disney.
We do not know if Mr. Dixon received a trespass notice from Disney, but historically, Disney does ban guests who are arrested while visiting.
Do you think Mr. Dixon should be banned from Disney? Should he be further charged for using his child and the child’s stroller as a weapon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
The post Guest Allegedly Assaults Disney Cast Member, Uses Child’s Stroller as Weapon appeared first on Inside the Magic.
