An irate Disney customer ripped a worker's name tag off his shirt and shattered drink glasses during a tirade at a resort restaurant, authorities said. Leslie Helen Varley, 57, was arrested after causing a scene at Steakhouse 71, a family-friendly restaurant at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort in Florida, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Independent.
Varley was dining with her family on May 19 when she became upset that they could not all sit together due to the large size of the party, one of the restaurant's managers told investigators. After the restaurant denied her request to push two tables together, she grabbed one manager by the shoulder and moved her, according to the affidavit. Varley then allegedly threw three glasses of ice water at a second manager who tried to assist and ripped the name tag off his suit jacket.
Authorities said Varley walked away with the name tag, prompting the manager to follow her to the front desk to retrieve it. During the altercation, she shattered four glasses after dropping them on the floor. The broken glasses cost about $20 in total. Neither manager had visible injuries, according to police.
Varley told investigators she became upset because the male manager commented on her disabled daughter touching one of the cast members. She said she threw the glasses of water at him and grabbed his name tag to take a picture to report him. Varley admitted to removing the name tag without permission but said she returned it immediately. She was issued a trespass warning and told that returning to the property could result in another arrest.
Varley has been charged with battery, robbery by sudden snatching, and criminal mischief. The Independent has reached out to Disney for comment.
