A dispute between two heads of Disney-obsessed social clubs has laid bare the ‘gangster’ like tactics used by the groups to stake claim to the beloved park.
While there are hundreds of social groups devoted to the attraction park around the world, two in Anaheim, California – where some of the most dedicated fans are – are at odds.
They are the White Rabbits and the Main Street Fire Station 55 Social Club, two separate groups of enthusiasts who meet up on a regular basis to enjoy the park’s rides and bond over their mutual love of it.
In a lawsuit obtained by The Los Angeles Times, John Sarno, 44, the head of the Main Street Fire Station 55 club, alleges that he was threatened by the head of the White Rabbits over his club’s plan to host a charity walk on the premises.
Sarno claimed that members of the White Rabbits, including Jakob Fite threatened him by saying he would have to pay them $500 to ensure ‘protection’ for the people taking part in the walk.
If he refused, he claims Fite told him he would never get in to the park again.
White Rabbits boss Jakob Fite has been accused in a lawsuit of threatening a rival Disneyland club head, allegedly demanding $500 from him to host a charity walk at their beloved Anaheim park. Fite is pictured with his wife Missie
John Sarno and his wife Leslee are members of the Main Street Fire Station 55 social club. They claim they were threatened by the White Rabbits and have filed a lawsuit against them
Sarno and his wife Leslee are now suing Fite and 18 other members of the White Rabbits for defamation, invasion of privacy, conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
They are also suing Disneyland, claiming it failed to take action against the group they say is at wrong.
Sarno alleges that after he refused to pay for the ‘protection’, Fite, who has a podcast, started spreading malicious rumors about him.
He claims he accessed his medical information and discussed his health.
Fite denies the claims and says Sarno is angry at him because he besmirched his character by speaking badly of him to other Disneyland fans.
The friction between the two groups lays bare the extent of fandom in the hundreds of Disneyland social groups.
The lawsuit lays bare the fascinating world of Disneyland social clubs which identify themselves with badges sewn onto clothes, much like Hell’s Angels
The White Rabbits is a large group with a dedicated following who all proudly wear its logo
White Rabbits take in the view of the Magic Castle. The group’s members who were named in the lawsuit deny ever making threats
It is typical for the groups to all wear an identifying piece of clothing when they visit the park together.
The White Rabbits, so named after the character in Alice in Wonderland, favor denim vests with their club logo stitched on the back.
Fite has been seen wearing black jackets with subtle lettering on the breast which spells out the club’s name too.
The Main Street Fire Station 55 club is named after the famous fake fire station within the park above which Walt Disney and his family keep a personal apartment.
Other social clubs which have not become involved in the same acrimony are Flynn’s Riders, so named after a character in the film Tangled
The Big Bad Wolves are another social club. They are not involved in the legal dispute
They are less visible as a group and have no public Facebook page, unlike the White Rabbits.
Other groups which are not accused of any of the acrimony described in the lawsuits include the Big Bad Wolves, the Wonderland Warriors and Micky’s Little Monsters.
There is also the Main Street Elite, which also take their name after the famous walkway in the park.
Fite did not respond to DailyMail.com’s questions about the lawsuit on Saturday.
He denied them to The Los Angeles Times.
Beyond filing suit in Orange County, Sarno and his wife, who live in Sacramento, have not commented publicly.