A Walt Disney World Guest was arrested after he destroyed a bus door at Disney Springs. The Florida man was mad after he ended up at the wrong destination.
The Orlando, Florida location consists of four theme parks, two water parks, and a shopping and dining district called Disney Springs, which is where the Florida man ended up after riding the bus.
However, he did not want to go to Disney Springs — he wanted to go to SeaWorld.
Florida Man Damages Bus After Missing His Stop
The man was identified as 37-year-old Elijah Thomas, who won’t face charges as the state attorney’s office decided not to prosecute the Florida resident.
The incident occurred on November 17, 2023, when the 37-year-old was riding the Lynx bus from downtown Orlando main station. While aboard, he fell asleep and missed his stop, which was SeaWorld — another theme park located in Central Florida.
Once the bus reached its final destination — Disney Springs — the driver told him he had to get off as this was the last stop on the route. That is when Thomas became “irate” and “started to yell and curse at him,” the Orange County Sheriff’s report said, per WDWNT.
The 37-year-old eventually departed the bus, and the bus driver then closed the doors behind him. Thomas, however, stayed outside the bus and started demanding he had to go to SeaWorld.
The report stated, “When (the bus driver) would not allow him on the bus, Elijah punched the front door glass several times and then kicked the bottom glass of the front door causing it to break in a spider web pattern.”
He eventually left Disney Springs on foot, but police officers caught up with him, and he was arrested.
37-Year-Old Man Won’t Face Punishment Following Arrest
Earlier this month, the state attorney’s office decided not to pursue the criminal charge against Thomas.
“From the investigation which has been made, it is the opinion of the writer that this case is not suitable for prosecution,” Assistant State Attorney Aseye Akos Ablordeppey said in a court filing, according to the outlet. “This action is taken to clear the records and to release subject’s bond if any has been posted responsive to the above charge. If in custody, defendant should be released.”
It cost the bus company $500 to fix the damage.
This is by far the first arrest at Disney World as last year, 42-year-old Sabrina Nagel, who was visiting Disney World from Georgia, started a fight with security guards at the theme park after she was stopped for setting off the metal detectors.
Security began looking through her bags and belongings, which is when Nagel pulled out her underwear from one of her bags and began screaming at the security guards. “Do you want to see my bra?” she yelled, to which the security guard responded with, “No one wants to see her things.”
According to Walt Disney World’s website, the theme parks “take a comprehensive approach to security” which includes “the presence of uniformed police officers, specially trained hazard detection canines, security screening technology, bag checks, and other measures.”
