ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A handicapped man from St. Augustine took to social media after he was banned from Disney World for life due to a goof-up with the hotel staff at Pop Century Resort, where he was staying Labor Day weekend.
David Swindler said it all began with a phone call to book an extra night’s stay.
Swindler said he was on hold with the front desk for about 15 minutes and let his frustrations be known.
He said he hung up and called back.
“And I said, ‘I could have built a meth lab in the length of time it’s taken you guys to answer my question,’” he said.
Deputies later came to the room along with Disney Security and questioned Swindler about the meth lab.
“I said, 'You got to be kidding me. I did not say I had a meth lab, I told the guy on the phone I could have built a meth lab in the length of time it took you guys to answer the question about the extra room,'” he said.
No meth lab was found, no charges were filed, but Swindler and his family were escorted out of the hotel and off Disney property. They were issued a trespass warning.
Swindler said he and his family are Disney fans and would like to able to visit the parks again.
“Quite frankly, I’m a little miffed at the people who overreacted to this that work for Disney. Hopefully, somebody in the higher-up system will go, ‘This is not what Disney is about,’” said Swindler.
A Disney spokesperson said Swindler was instructed to send a letter asking for the trespass warning to be lifted.
They will review the case and determine whether to lift the ban.
Swindler said he will be sending security a letter, as well as every Disney board member.