Trump Supporter Banned From Disneyland for Unfurling ‘Keep America Great’ Banner

Trump Supporter Banned From Disneyland for Unfurling ‘Keep America Great’ Banner
A banner reading "Re-elect Trump" and "Keep America Great!" was unfurled at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2019, leading to the banning of a guest. (Image from Radio Underland YouTube video of incident)
Tom Ozimek
2/14/2019
Updated:
2/14/2019

A Disneyland visitor was kicked out of the California amusement park after unfurling a large “Trump 2020: Keep America Great!” banner on the side of a riverboat.

Dion Cini, a self-described supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump’s anticipated bid for re-election, displayed the banner at the Disneyland Park in Anaheim on Feb. 13 in what he told The Epoch Times was an act of “guerilla marketing.”

“Now, Trump 2020 is splattered all over the internet, all over the news, all over everywhere, and all it cost me was a trip to Disneyland, which was actually kind of fun,” Cini said.

The former Marine donned a red MAGA hat and posed for a selfie with fellow activist Bryon McComb in front of the “Disneyland Resort” sign. He said McComb helped him unfurl the banner on the Mark Twain riverboat.

“Banned from Walt Disney World twice. Now banned from Disneyland once. Twice?” Cini wrote in the post.

The incident was captured on video by a media group called Radio Underland and posted on YouTube.

‘Keep America Great’

Cini—a military veteran and self-described conservative—made headlines last November when he was banned from the Disney World park in Florida after he held up a smaller “Trump 2020” banner while riding down Splash Mountain and then holding up a “Keep America Great” sign on Expedition Everest.
A Disney representative cited by CBS at the time said following the incident Cini was “permanently prohibited” from visiting any of the company’s parks. Disney rules prohibit “unauthorized events, demonstrations or speeches, or the usage of any flag, banner or sign for commercial purposes, or to incite a crowd.”

Cini posted about his experience at the Florida amusement park, including a photo of himself with the banner and a citation he received from Walt Disney World.

“Trespassed from all of Walt Disney World properties to include, but not limited to, Theme Parks, Water Parks, Resorts and Disney Springs,” the citation reads.

“I do things differently,” Cini said in a phone interview with the Washington Post in November. “I do things that will go viral to support the president. I’m trying to let other Trump supporters know that you don’t have to go to rallies; you can do this on your own.”

And in Anaheim on Wednesday, Feb. 13, Cini was at it again.

‘I’m Back’

“Welcome to Disneyland,” said the activist as he live-streamed his actions on Facebook, saying “That’s right, I’m back.”

“So in the next couple of minutes, we’re going to do an unfurling—live on Facebook,” he said, explaining that he felt emboldened by a recent case of a banner being displayed at a Disney property by what he said were staff members and guests.

“This is in response to what I saw was a cast member and some guests walking around holding banners the other day at the Magic Kingdom,” Cini said in the live-stream, adding, “and the guests were interacting with the cast member, and they were both holding up the sign together, so I can only assume that now you can hold up flags and banners at Disney World and Disneyland properties.”

Cini posted on his Facebook page a collage of images showing what appears to be Disney staffers and a guest holding a banner with the words “Hi Trey” written on it with black paint.

“Disney now allows banners!” Cini captioned the post. “And according to their representative the NY Post, the content of the sign is irrelevant! Great news!”

“So enjoy the show, it‘ll probably be another big epic one,” Cini said, adding, “I’d like to thank Disney for allowing us to bring back flags and banners back into the park.”

Cini’s hopes of being allowed to unfurl the banner were dashed, however, when he was met by Disney security guards and Anaheim police at the docking station. He said he was not arrested, however, but was asked to leave the facility.

“It was pretty cut and dry,” Cini told The Epoch Times. “The Disney employees said I’m trespassed, and not allowed back on the property.”

Park officials told the Orange County Register that large banners, signs, and flags are not allowed, because they allegedly pose a safety risk to guests or other attractions.

“We welcome all guests to enjoy our parks; however, demonstrations and the display of signs and banners are not permitted,” parks spokeswoman Liz Jaeger said, according to the Register. “This person has been previously warned, and we have taken appropriate steps to address his behavior.”

But Cini said Disney’s application of the “no signs” policy seemed inconsistent and said so to staff who were escorting him off the property, showing them photographs of the “Hi Trey” banner he referred to in his live-stream.

“You’re not being thrown out because of the banner, you’re being thrown out because you interfered with the show,” Cini said Disney staff told him.

Asked about future “flag drops” or “guerilla unfurlings,” Cini said he keeps his cards close.

“I don’t tell anybody what I’m doing or where I’m going,” he said, citing “an opportunity that was destroyed because I gave people information ahead of time.”

“I can just assure you that once Trump announces the ‘Keep America Great’ campaign, you’re going to see me twice as much.”

Disney is warned.

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
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