David Koenig gets the Jim Hill treatment.

**Cory Mitchell** · 04-18-2005, 07:51 PM

Looks like Disneyland is applying the "No Tours" rule to everyone.

Originally Posted by Jim Hill

Slight of build and a basically mild-mannered fellow, David is hardly the sort of guy that you'd single out as being a possible security threat. Yet this past Sunday morning, that's exactly what Disneyland's Security staff did. They closely monitored Koenig's movements as he slowly strolled along Main Street U.S.A., watching his every move.

As you might imagine, Koenig found this treatment somewhat unnerving. Which is why he finally decided to approach the officer who was following him and ask him what the problem might be.

The next thing he knew, David was aggressively interrogated by this Disneyland Security host for his "suspicious activity."

"And what exactly was this 'suspicious activity'?," you ask. Koenig was just jotting down some notes on a clipboard. In preparation for a free tour of the theme park that he'd be giving to some of his readers later that afternoon.

Did Disneyland's Security staff over-react? Oh, yeah. But wait. This story gets better. Just wait 'til you hear what Disneyland's Guest Relations Department did once Koenig actually brought his tour group back into the theme park later that same day.

Now let me stress here that absolutely no money changed hands between David & the people that he brought back into the park with him this past Sunday afternoon. That this tour was completely free. It was something that Koenig offered just as a special "Thank You" to all those folks who come out to attend his book signing at Downtown Disney's Compass Books store.

More to the point, we aren't actually talking about a whole lot of people here. Just nine loyal readers of David's Disneyland history books joined him on this tour. Folks who driven down to Anaheim from as far away as Northern California. Just so they could spend some time with their favorite author as he pointed out the 1955-era sites that you can still find inside this fabled family fun park.

But almost from the moment that Koenig led this pleasant group of people back into the "Happiest Place on Earth," he felt like the Mouse's eyes were on him. That his every move was being watched.

And -- sure enough -- David's instincts proved to be correct. His tour group had barely made into Town Square when Koenig suddenly found the assistant General Manager of Disneyland Guest Relations at his elbow. Right there in front of the fire station, another interrogation began.

This woman got right to the point. She said that she had heard that Koenig was charging guests for an unauthorized tour of Disneyland.

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/artic...le.php?ID=1398

**Uno** · 04-18-2005, 08:00 PM

Well he was giving tours on private property. . . Thats like someone walking up to your house and taking people on a tour of it. (kinda)

**Club 33** · 04-18-2005, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Uno

Well he was giving tours on private property. . . Thats like someone walking up to your house and taking people on a tour of it. (kinda)

While I do see what you're saying, they had all paid for admission, and the tour was free. I mean, isn't the whole point to get people to go there? It's not really private. That's like saying I can't take my friend on a tour of the park because I'm stealing from the Disney tours.

These people didn't want a tour of Disneyland. Disneyland was only the canvas. What they were there for was to hear insight from the author of two of the greatest books on Disneyland I've ever read.

The sad part is how that women was clearly trying to shut him down despite the fact she had no right or reason to. They did not break any rules. I wanted to go on that tour but couldn't make it. Sad, sad sad sad sad.

**Not Afraid** · 04-18-2005, 08:08 PM

I'd better be careful when I give away good DL information to my friends while at the Park.

**Cousin Orville** · 04-18-2005, 08:09 PM

It's funny that no one blames matt.

**Importance** · 04-18-2005, 08:10 PM

Unfortunate. Of course, when is Koenig's audio tour CD going to be available?

**dramaqueen** · 04-18-2005, 08:11 PM

If this turns into another "jim hill" bashing thread I am going to scream. Lets keep in mind that the tour issue has been debated to DEATH!!!

Plus, it doesn't sound from his article like the tour was stopped, just harassed a bit.

**pineapplewhipaddict** · 04-18-2005, 08:12 PM

That kinda stinks. He was following the rules. They just didn't want anything negative to be mentioned about the park.

**mickhyperion** · 04-18-2005, 08:21 PM

At this point, they probably feel the need to be consistent in their handling of unofficial tour groups so no one can say they were singled out.

**Club 33** · 04-18-2005, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

If this turns into another "jim hill" bashing thread I am going to scream. Lets keep in mind that the tour issue has been debated to DEATH!!!

Plus, it doesn't sound from his article like the tour was stopped, just harassed a bit.

It's not that the tour was stopped, its the fact that they bascially did everything they could to shut down his tour for no reason. He wasn't doing anything illegal, but they had to come and harras him about it.

**dramaqueen** · 04-18-2005, 08:33 PM

I do think they went to extremes to make sure he wasn't charging for the tour- I know they have to cover their bases, but it sound like they were a little too aggressive in their treatment of their guests. However, the title of this thread makes it sound like he was kicked out and he wasn't- he was able to finish his tour without incident after the initial interrogation. He wasn't given the Jim Hill treatment, his treatment was an aftermath of the Jim Hill incident, albeit an unfortunate one.

**Tom Chaney** · 04-18-2005, 08:53 PM

Perhaps.

Or perhaps misery loves company.

**fearsnda** · 04-18-2005, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Cousin Orville

It's funny that no one blames matt.

Isn't that interesting?

Guest Service is improving - YAY MATT!
Guest Relations harasses author of book about Park - Not his fault.

Park gets new parade - YAY MATT!
Guest is run down by old parade float - Not his fault.

Park attendance is up - YAY MATT!
Overcrowding, poor crowd control and understaffing - Not his fault.

Disneyland looks fantastic - YAY MATT!
DCA looks worse than it did a year ago today - Not his fault.

Oh how the mighty have... proven to be human.

**Dustysage** · 04-18-2005, 09:05 PM

You've got a point. If you are going to give him all the credit, you need to give him some of the blame as well.

**Club 33** · 04-18-2005, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by fearsnda

Isn't that interesting?

Guest Service is improving - YAY MATT!
Guest Relations harasses author of book about Park - Not his fault.

Park gets new parade - YAY MATT!
Guest is run down by old parade float - Not his fault.

Park attendance is up - YAY MATT!
Overcrowding, poor crowd control and understaffing - Not his fault.

Disneyland looks fantastic - YAY MATT!
DCA looks worse than it did a year ago today - Not his fault.

Oh how the mighty have... proven to be human.

I wont deny we like to focus on the good things, but hey, the fact is, there is no doubt he has improved the park. He can't do everything. However, there is no doubt in my mind this will reach him. What he does then will be the question.