Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL – First it was Tunisia. Then it was Bahrain, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen, Albania, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Libya. Now it’s Epcot. Suddenly, civil unrest has erupted in countries, some of which have been under authoritarian rule for decades, all over the Middle East, North Africa and now Central Florida. The most recent developments have seen angry mobs and protesters taking to the promenades of the Epcot theme park near Orlando Florida.

In what can only be described as surreal; Moroccan nationals, mostly college students working to earn school credit, have staged a revolt. 

The Moroccan pavilion was added to the park in 1984 and has peacefully coexisted with neighboring pavilions from Japan and France for the last 27 years. That peacefulness was shattered early Friday morning as protesters demanded independence from World Showcase and called for the end of Disney rule altogether. 

The protestors began marching around the World Showcase promenade but clashed with pro-Disney park visitors and security along the way.

What happened? Why now? And what does the future hold for this volatile region of the park? It appears that the protestors (Moroccan citizens and employees of the park known as cast members in Disney parlance) have been encouraged by the recent events from across the globe. Reports speculate that the protestors do not have a full grasp on the situation; they seem unaware that Walt Disney World is not a country and that Epcot is simply a family fun park. 

Speaking from the capital city of Rabat the monarch of Morocco King Mohammed VI flanked by his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and his 7-year-old son, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan told Moroccans’ in an unusual TV speech that he was unaware of any uprising in the United States and that he was not clear on how Disney’s Fast Pass ride reservation system operates. 

Opposition leader Ahmed Bebakri has angrily demanded that Disney recognize the Moroccan pavilion as a sovereign state and that they be granted the freedom to charge a separate admission to their pavilion or even to create it’s own rival park.

In an interview Bebakri spoke of his desire to “Shun the oppressive rule of Disney and King Iger.”

“Our brothers and sisters in Northern Africa have shown us that we do not have to live under the rule of tyrants and bullies. When King Eisner was replaced we hoped for democracy but that freedom never came. We now demand our freedom. We wish to declare secession and be allowed to independently rule our pavilion as we please.”

Bebakri disclosed how the protestors are unhappy with many facets of the Walt Disney Company. “They put the characters in every attraction, even when they make no sense. “Saludos Amigos” is set in South America and yet they shoved Jose Carioca in there as part of the Mexican pavilion! Do they even understand that Mexico is not on the same continent?” He rationalized while questioning some of the farthest reaches of the company. “Don’t even get me started about “Spiderman Turn off the Dark”. That’s part of Disney’s empire isn’t it? It’s embarrassing.” 

UPDATE: Upon the first signs of protest the pavilion from France has surrendered themselves to the Moroccan protestors. A huge white flag is flying from the scale recreation of the Eiffel Tower that looms over the faux French provincial buildings of the pavilion. It is not clear if the French cast members have deserted the park or if the employees will stay within the pavilion as it is occupied by the Moroccan regime. Park visitors report seeing some French pavilion cast members seeking asylum in nearby pavilions from Canada and the United States. 

Meanwhile park visitors have been confused by the situation some thinking that the protests are a staged Disney event.

Disney has scheduled a press conference for later in the day where company C.E.O. Bob Iger is expected to address the situation and announce further actions.