WOMAN TAKING DISNEY TO COURT; INCIDENT RILES A.V. RESIDENT.

Byline: Larry Gerber Associated Press 

When a former Mouseketeer sues Disneyland, you have to wonder whether Mickey has lost his head.

In a lawsuit scheduled for trial today, Billie Jean Matay says her grandchildren were terrorized in a 1995 armed robbery in Disneyland's parking lot - then traumatized at what they saw when guards took them backstage.

There, the suit alleges, the kids - ages 5, 7 and 11 - had to wait during their grandmother's interrogation as Disneyland characters changed within their view. They even removed their costume heads.

Matay, who lives in the Antelope Valley, was in the Mouseketeer troupe that performed at Disneyland's opening in 1955. She also appeared on television's ``Mickey Mouse Club'' as a member of the ``blue group'' of Mouseketeers. Television viewers were more familiar with the ``red group'' that included Annette, Cubby, Darlene and Lonnie.

Matay's lawsuit may bring her back to television.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Luesebrink has granted a request by Court TV to televise the trial, although the Walt Disney Co. still wants to black out testimony by a security expert.

The judge has yet to rule on that issue, said Court TV attorney Guylyn Cummins of San Diego.

Disneyland has had little comment on the suit. Matay's attorney, Robert O'Connor, refused to return phone calls.

``The safety and well-being of our guests has always been Disneyland's highest priority,'' said park spokesman John McClintock. ``Our security has set the standard for guest security in the theme park industry.''

Indeed, Anaheim police said it was the only armed robbery in memory at the Happiest Place on Earth.

At about 1:20 p.m. on Aug. 17, 1995, Matay, her grandkids and their mother were at the car in the King Louie section of the parking lot when a man appeared and stuck a gun to Matay's neck, the suit says.

He ``instructed her not to move or he would blow her away,'' it alleges. The robber threatened to kill them all and got away with more than $1,500 and jewelry, the suit claims.

``At no time during the robbery were the victims assisted by security,'' the suit says. The family had to hunt down guards, who then held them for hours of questioning, it alleges.

Matay got heart palpitations, it claims, and the kids were rudely disillusioned.

``They intentionally held Ms. Matay and her family against their will, subjected them to hours of questioning and interrogation as well as having employees of the Walt Disney Co. exposing the children to the reality that the Disney characters were, in fact, make-believe,'' it says.

Disney attorneys said in court papers the plaintiffs should have been more careful.

``Carelessness, negligence, and/or wrongful conduct on the part of the plaintiffs proximately contributed to this happening,'' the defendants said in a brief.

The suit doesn't request specific damages. Plaintiffs and defendants last year discussed a settlement, but the record of those talks was sealed by an earlier judge.