A Disney World intern was fired — and then promptly re-hired — after Tweeting a photo of a sign that instructed workers to downplay the presence of alligators in the theme park to guests.
The sign read: “If a Guest asks if we have gators in the water around Tom Sawyer’s Island (or any bodies of water), the correct and appropriate response is, ‘Not that we know of, but if we see one, we will call Pest Management to have it removed.’ Please do not say we have seen them before. We do not want our Guests to be afraid while walking around Frontierland [part of Disney’s Magic Kingdom]. As a reminder, this is a serious matter. Please do not make jokes with our guests about this.”
Shannon Sullivan, a member of the Disney College Program, took a picture of the sign and posted it to social media, where it quickly began to circulate. Though she was dismissed for her actions, the very next day she was paid a personal visit by Magic Kingdom Vice President Dan Cockerell, inviting her back.
Disney claims that the sign was unauthorized and went against company policy.
Sullivan understood that publicizing the sign might get her fired, she said, but “at this point it became my morals and my integrity and what I believe in. I thought if I lose my job because of that, it’s worth it to me.”
Disney’s college internship program is a dream come true for many, offering a chance to work in the famed park, meet fellow interns, and spend the summer outdoors — a particular benefit compared to some other internship sites, as the more people working in tight quarters, the more sick days they take.
Concerns about alligators at Disney have been high ever since a two-year-old boy was snatched and killed by one at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa last week. Sullivan, who has a two-year-old brother, felt it her responsibility to keep guests safe.
“I was very offended by [the sign] and I was pretty vocal about it,” she said. “I think you need to be telling people to be cautious, letting them know this could happen.”
Disney has since removed the sign and says they are taking steps to ensure the safety of guests on all of their properties.
