Law enforcement responded to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT after a confrontation between two strangers over a bump in line at EPCOT during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Woman Allegedly Knocked Down at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
A woman named Tiffani claimed an elderly man pushed past her, knocking her down in the line for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster. She fell and twisted her ankle, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s report released this week. Tiffani declined medical treatment, but insisted on pressing criminal charges.
But the man, Michael, insisted he hadn’t intentionally done anything wrong, and the sheriff’s office believed him. Michael, 65, stood 5-foot-5-inches tall and weighed 130 pounds, the report emphasized. He was not arrested, and Disney did not trespass either party.
The confrontation happened after Michael, who was from Northern Ireland, took his grandchild to the restroom, and then rejoined the rest of his family in line on July 3.
In Tiffani’s version of the event, the 37-year-old Tennessean told authorities “she was approached by a woman and a child asking to pass them in line to meet up with their husband. Tiffani suggested that she ask her husband to stop and wait for her to catch up. Tiffani then heard a man’s voice ask her, ‘So you’re not going to let us pass?’ Before Tiffani could respond, the white male pushed her out of the way.”
There was plenty of space for Michael to go around her in the Cosmic Rewind queue without touching her, said Tiffani, who wanted to press criminal charges.
Other guests witnessed what happened, according to Tiffani, although authorities didn’t interview them.
In Michael’s version of events, he walked past Tiffani in line. He claimed that Tiffani thought he was cutting in line and refused to let him pass.
“[Michael] explained to her that he was passing back through the line because he took his grandson to the bathroom and he walked around Tiffani. [Michael] advised at no point did he touch or push Tiffani,” the report said.
If there was physical contact, Michael acknowledged it might have been from his backpack.
Michael said he wasn’t “walking fast enough through the line to cause anyone to come off-balance or fall down because the line was crowded,” the report also said.
The deputy listened to both sides, noting that Michael had a thick Irish accent which made it difficult to understand him and get his statement. After hearing both sides, the deputy decided not to take action.
“I don’t feel there is substantial evidence to enforce an arrest for battery. At no time was (‘Michael’s) encounter with Tiffani meant to intentionally cause harm and if there was contact between the two [it was] unintentional,” the deputy wrote in the report.
Michael’s day at EPCOT ended after that event, as he and his party decided to leave. Tiffani and her family remained at the theme park.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.