Man camping on Disney World’s Discovery Island arrested for trespassing

An Alabama man was enjoying the “tropical paradise” of Walt Disney World’s abandoned Discovery Island before being arrested and charged with trespassing, according to reports.

Richard McGuire, 42, of Mobile, Alabama was caught camping on the island while the Walt Disney World resort is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to police and jail reports.

Deputies said they were called to 4301 N. World Drive Thursday after McGuire was spotted on the Disney-owned property. Authorities then searched and eventually found the man.

McGuire told deputies he was not aware the property was off limits and he had been camping there since earlier in the week. Deputies told McGuire they had been using a loud speaker to address him, he said he didn’t hear them because he was sleeping inside one of the buildings on the island, which he referred to as a “tropical paradise,” according to the report.

McGuire was charged with first degree trespassing.

Discovery Island is an abandoned 11.5-acre island in Bay Lake. Between 1974 and 1999 it was an attraction guests could visit by boat to observe animals and bird.