Tag: Discovery Island

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has released body camera footage involving the search for a man who was reported to be camping out at the abandoned Disney theme park Discovery Island.

Discovery Island has been closed to the public since 1999, having been used as a Disney wildlife park for the previous 25 years. The company left all of the original buildings on the island and back in April, 42-year-old, Richard McGuire decided to set up camp there to quarantine during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to an arrest affidavit, McGuire was spotted by a wildlife camera on the island, which is only accessible by boat, and which used to house animal exhibits. Disney security called in the sheriff’s office. Take a look at the video below:

They eventually gave up their search, but were called back later when McGuire was seen crossing the lake on a boat. He was arrested and charged with trespassing and is out on bail.

A man has been charged with trespassing after he was found camping on Walt Disney World’s Discovery Island, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Police arrested Richard McGuire, 42, after he was allegedly caught camping out by Disney World security. McGuire told police he was “unaware” that his visit to the abandoned island was trespassing, while describing the island as a “tropical paradise.”

McGuire is from Mobile, Alabama, according an arrest affidavit. He told authorities that he had gained access to the island on Monday or Tuesday and planned to camp there for about a week. He was later spotted by security and before being detained law enforcement had searched for him using helicopter and boats, as well as on foot.

Numerous “no trespassing” signs are said to be visible on and near the island. Before he was arrested on Thursday, deputies used a loudspeaker system at the resort to inform him he was trespassing and needed to leave, with no response.

Discovery Island has been closed to the public since 1999, having been used as a Disney wildlife park for the previous 25 years. However, the company left all of the original buildings on the island, one of which McGuire was believed to have been staying in when he was discovered.

All Disney parks have been closed indefinitely since March 16 due to public health concerns caused by the pandemic. Although it is unclear when Disney World will be back in business, on Tuesday a Florida task force recently gave the company guidelines to reopen in phases, beginning at 50 percent capacity.

McGuire was charged with one misdemeanor count of trespassing and banned from Disney properties.