For more than a year, Christopher and Hannah Martin, creators of the Sparkling Dreamers site selling homemade Disney ear headbands, have been embattled in a legal dispute with The Walt Disney Company over their merchandise featuring Disney characters and properties. Now as litigation continues, one of them was unceremoniously removed from Walt Disney World property today by security Cast Members and asked never to return.
Christopher Martin was escorted out of the Magic Kingdom today by Orange County deputies as well as Disney security, posting an Instagram Reel his walkout flanked by deputies and Disney security. he claimed later on an 18-minute Facebook Live stream from the taxi escorting him off-property that the reason given to him was “something about Annual Pass violations.”
According to Gabrielle Russon on Florida Politics, the Martins sold hundreds or even thousands of unauthorized Disney merchandise items through their “Secret Disney Group” on Facebook, later retitled Sparkling Dreamers. After gaining more than 35,000 followers, Disney sent a cease-and-desist notice in December 2021, stating they wanted to avoid full-scale litigation in exchange for shutting down their unauthorized operations. The company claims the couple instead “made superficial changes to their business and continued selling counterfeit items.”
Additionally, the couple later attempted to trademark the name Sparkling Dreamers, with Disney stating their logo was “evoking Disneyland’s iconic park entrance.”
Martin posted a TikTok in late January detailing his 700-page complaint from Disney related to his merchandise business. In the complaint, Disney states the couple “has not only ignored Plaintiffs’ demand to surrender any and all infringing merchandise within its possession, but has used sales promotions to sell as many infringing products as quickly as possible — including as recently as November 2022.”
Martin says he will be in contact with his attorney over the trespass from Walt Disney World property as well as the continuing litigation, and intends to visit Disneyland Resort next week. As of press, their website is still active and accepting orders despite the ongoing legal battle.
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