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Disney denies teen Tinker Bell park entry

Posted at 1:46 PM, Jun 05, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-05 13:46:18-04

by Mike DeForest

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (WKMG) - Was it a case of too many Tinkerbells?  A teenager said she was was denied entry to Disney World's Animal Kingdom because of what she was wearing.

April Spielman, 15, wanted to make her boyfriend's first visit to the park special, so she spent months putting together Peter Pan and Tinker Bell outfits. The costumed couple said they had no problems getting into Disney's Hollywood Studios, but later that day when Spielman and her boyfriend tried to visit Disney's Animal Kingdom, they were stopped at the front gate. Park officials said the girl looked too much like Disney's official "Tinker Bell" theme park character.

"They just said, 'You look too good, so you're going to have to take off the costume,'" Spielman said.

According to Walt Disney World policy, anyone wearing adult costumes or clothing that can be representative of an actual Disney character may be denied entry

Disney does not want children or other park guests confusing their "Tinker Bell" with an impostor.

"They were talking how the little girls, it ruins their dreams," Spielman said through tears. "But it ruined my dream because I just want to be Tinker Bell."

Disney gave the couple free clothes so they could stay.