Festive Florida town becomes postal hub for Christmas cheer
FIRE, THOUGH. UNIVERSAL RIDE EMPLOYEES WERE NOT NEGLIGENT WHEN A ROLLER COASTER RIDER DIED IN SEPTEMBER. THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF 32 YEAR OLD KEVIN RODRIGUEZ ZAVALA. WESH TWO NEWS BROKE THAT NEWS LAST NIGHT. TODAY WE GOT A COPY OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S REPORT. WESH TWO NEWS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GREG FOX IS LIVE OUTSIDE OF EPIC UNIVERSE. AND, GREG, THIS HAS BEEN RULED A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. WELL, THAT’S RIGHT. AND THIS COMES AFTER AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK ON THE PART OF THE HOMICIDE DETECTIVES WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, INCLUDING NEARLY TWO DOZEN EMPLOYEES OF EPIC UNIVERSE, AND DETERMINING THERE WAS NO NEGLIGENCE IN THIS MAN’S DEATH ON THE COASTER. CHOPPER TWO WAS OVER. THE STARDUST RACERS DUAL ROLLER COASTER SEPTEMBER 17TH. NOT LONG AFTER, THERE WAS A FRANTIC EFFORT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF 32 YEAR OLD KEVIN RODRIGUEZ ZAVALA, THE AVID THEME PARK GOER WAS WHEELCHAIR BOUND BUT ENJOYED COASTERS AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS AND HAD BOARDED THIS ONE ALONG WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, EMPLOYEES TOLD THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE THEY HELPED ZAVALA, WHO HAD A SPINAL CORD CONDITION, AND SEVERAL PRIOR BACK AND LEG SURGERIES, INTO HIS SEAT. THEY DID SO DESPITE UNIVERSAL’S GUIDE FOR RIDER SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY EXPRESSLY STATING EMPLOYEES ARE NOT TRAINED IN LIFTING OR CARRYING TECHNIQUES AND THEREFORE CANNOT PROVIDE PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE. ZAVALA, HIS GIRLFRIEND CRUZ ROBLES, SAID THAT WHEN PLACING ZAVALA IN HIS SEAT, THE RIDE OPERATOR CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE LAP BAR THREE TIMES UNTIL IT LOCKED IN PLACE, WHICH SHE DESCRIBED AS IN THE GREEN. ON THE FIRST DROP, ZAVALA PARTIALLY CAME OUT OF HIS SEAT AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE METAL BAR IN FRONT OF HIM. AS THE RIDE CONTINUED, CRUZ ROBLES SAID HE CONTINUALLY HIT HIS HEAD ON THE BAR IN FRONT OF THEM AS THE RIDE DESCENDED. A WITNESS ON THE PLATFORM. WHEN THE RIDE STOPPED, DOCTOR ANNA MARSHALL OBSERVED THAT ZAVALA’S GIRLFRIEND HAD BLOOD ON HER FACE AND THEN SAW THE UNRESPONSIVE PERSON NEXT TO HER. ZAVALA. DOCTOR MARSHALL OBSERVED ZAVALA’S FEMUR WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF AND RESTING ON THE BACK OF THE CHAIR. DOCTOR MARSHALL FURTHER SAID SHE CHECKED FOR A PULSE BUT COULDN’T FIND ONE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONCLUDED IT APPEARED THAT ALL EMPLOYEES OF EPIC UNIVERSE FOLLOWED THEIR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND DID NOT ACT IN A CARELESS OR NEGLECTFUL MANNER. THIS CASE WAS DEEMED AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND WAS CLOSED ACCORDINGLY. THAT HASN’T STOPPED ZAVALA’S FAMILY FROM CLAIMING OTHERWISE. I SAY TO THE OFFICIALS AT UNIVERSAL, UNTIL YOU DO RIGHT, KEVIN’S BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS. BUT WESH TWO NEWS TALKED WITH AN EXPERT IN THEME PARK RIDE SAFETY, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND SAYS HE AGREES WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORT. AND IT’S A GOOD PRODUCT BUILT BY A GOOD COMPANY. AND I DON’T SEE ANY REASON AT ALL TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF UNIVERSAL. WESH TWO NEWS ALSO OBTAINED A COPY OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S REPORT, WHICH RULED ZAVALA’S DEATH AN ACCIDENT AND THE RESULT OF MULTIPLE BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES. AN ATTORNEY FOR ZAVALA FAMILY HAS ASKED UNIVERSAL TO HAVE A PRIVATE INSPECTOR, A PRIVATE EXPERT, COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT RIDE AT EPIC UNIVERSE. UNIVERSAL DECLINED AND REOPENED IT IN EARLY OCTOBER, COVERING ORANGE COUNTY LIVE IN ORLANDO, GREG FOX WESH TWO NEWS AND WESH TWO STAYED ON TOP OF THIS STORY SINCE IT BROKE BACK IN SEPTEMBER. YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR PREVIOUS REPORTING RIGHT NOW ON WESH.COM OR THROUGH OUR MOBILE APP. WE’VE GOT ANOTHER CHILLY NIGHT AHEAD BEFORE THINGS START TO WARM BACK UP. FIRST WARNING CHIEF METEOROLOGIST TONY MAINOLFI IS HERE WITH A LOOK AT THE COOLDOWN TONIGHT, BUT TONY, RIGHT NOW WE’RE SITTING PRETTY. WE ARE. I TELL YOU WHAT. AFTERNOON HIGHS UPPER 60S LOW 70S OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW. ORLANDO 72, PORT CANAVERAL 69. MOST OF THE CLOUDS DOWN TO THE SOUTH. BIG DOME OF HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH. WINDS ARE PRETTY LIGHT. THAT’S GOING TO ALLOW FOR THOSE TEMPERATURES TO FALL AT SUNSET, BUT THEY’RE NOT GOING TO FALL AS MUCH AS THE WIND WILL BE LIGHTLY COMING IN OFF OF THE ATLANTIC, THAT WILL BEGIN TO MODERATE THE TEMPERATURES TONIGHT. STILL GOING TO NEED A JACKET, THOUGH. AND IF YOU’VE GOT EVENING PLANS OUTDOORS TONIGHT, YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL SHAPE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THAT UPDATED 12 HOUR FORECAST 68 DOWN TO 61 UPPER 50S BY 11:00. OUT THE DOOR TOMORROW MORNING. 52 DEGREES 42 UP IN OCALA. 36 IN SOME FROST UP THERE THIS MORNING. WILDWOOD 46, DELAND 48. SO YOU’RE STILL GOING TO NEED THE JACKET. BUT AFTER THAT CHILLY START, WE HAVE A ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS AND MUCH WARMER WEEKEND AHEAD. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL CLIMB UP INTO THE MID AND UPPER 70S. I’M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR YOU. COUNTY BY COUNTY. AN HOUR BY HOUR STRAIGHT AHEAD. NEW AT FOUR. HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE RELEASED MORE PICTURES FROM THE ESTATE OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN. THEY FEATURE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND BILL GATES. WESH 2’S STEWART MOORE IS LIVE IN STUDIO TONIGHT IN STEWART. THESE IMAGES SHOW LOTS OF PEOPLE IN POWER AND SOME BIG NAMES. AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, WE’RE TALKING PRESIDENT TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, BILL GATES, STEVE BANNON, WOODY ALLEN AND RICHARD BRANSON. TO BE CLEAR, THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO SHOW ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BY THESE PEOPLE. THE GOP LED COMMITTEE GOT THESE IMAGES FROM THE EPSTEIN ESTATE AS PART OF ITS ONGOING INVESTIGATION. IT WAS PART OF A RELEASE OF 95,000 PICTURES FROM THE EPSTEIN ESTATE. SEVERAL OF THE FACES IN THE IMAGES HAVE BEEN BLOCKED OUT. THE REDACTIONS WERE DONE BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS BEFORE THEY SHARED THE PICTURES WITH THE PUBLIC. THAT INCLUDES A PICTURE OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SURROUNDED BY WOMEN WEARING WHAT LOOKS LIKE HAWAIIAN LEIS. IT IS UNCLEAR WHEN ALL OF THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE CHERRY PICKING PHOTOS TO CREATE A FALSE NARRATIVE. THIS RELEASE COMES AS THE 30 DAY DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO TURN OVER THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FILES RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION INTO JEFFREY EPSTEIN THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN NEXT WEEK. JESSE. ALL RIGHT. STU. THANK YOU. MEANTIME, THE OSCEOLA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS DEPUTIES ARRESTED A MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO REACH OUT TO KIDS ON THE INTERNET. DETECTIVES SEARCHED ZACHARY LASALLE’S HOME IN KISSIMMEE YESTERDAY. THEY SAY THEY FOUND ONLINE CHATS WITH LASALLE, SAID HE WANTED INCEST WITH MINORS. HE’S NOW IN OSCEOLA COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BOND. THE KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE YEAR REBUILDING THE DEPARTMENT AFTER A HIGH PROFILE USE OF FORCE CASE LED TO THE FIRING OF MULTIPLE OFFICERS AND THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF. ONE OF THEM WAS DEPUTY CHIEF WILSON MUNOZ, WHO HAS SINCE BEEN REINSTATED. WESH 2’S LUANA MUNOZ HAS MORE ON THE CITY’S DECISION TO OVERTURN HIS TERMINATION. LUANA THAT’S RIGHT. THE DECISION WAS MADE AFTER DEPUTY CHIEF MUNOZ FILED A GRIEVANCE. KISSIMMEE CITY MANAGER MIKE STEIGERWALD RESPONDED, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, DURING THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WITH MORE EXPERIENCE IN THE DEPUTY CHIEF ROLE, YOU WOULD HAVE APPROACHED THE SITUATION DIFFERENTLY. WELL, THIS REFLECTION DEMONSTRATES PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S CURRENT EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN SUPERVISORY CONSISTENCY AND REINFORCE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR COMMAND LEVEL PERSONNEL. NOW, A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKSTORY HERE. DEPUTY CHIEF MUNOZ WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE IN SEPTEMBER AND THEN GIVEN A NOTICE TO TERMINATE HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH KPD. WELL, POLICE CHIEF CHARLES BROADWAY SAID THE DECISION WAS PART OF AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION RELATED TO THE ANDREW BASEGGIO CASE IN 2023. BASEGGIO WAS ACCUSED OF ENTERING A HOME WITHOUT A WARRANT AND THEN USING EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MAKE A MAN OR TAKE A MAN IN CUSTODY, RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY HARM. THAT SCANDAL LED TO THE RESIGNATION OF MANY HIGH RANKING MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF BETTY HOLLAND. NOW, I DID REACH OUT TO THE CITY TO FIND OUT WHEN DEPUTY CHIEF MUNOZ WILL BE REINSTATED. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT DATE JUST YET. MICHELLE. ALL RIGHT, LUANA. THANK YOU. CENTRAL FLORIDA REALLY SHOWED UP FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS TODAY. ABSOLUTELY. WE JUST HAD OUR 40TH ANNUAL SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE THIS MORNING. AND BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROSITY, WE’RE GETTING TO FEED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGH OUR SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN. WE RAISED. $887,888. THAT’S ENOUGH FOR 3.5 MILLION MEALS. COMING UP AT 430, WE’LL TAKE YOU COUNTY BY COUNTY, SHOWING YOU ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. REALLY AN INCREDIBLE EFFORT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT. COMING UP NEXT AT FOR THE SENATE. REJECTED TWO HEALTHCARE PROPOSALS, LEAVING MANY PEOPLE IN LIMBO. I KNEW WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT I WAS EXPECTING MY PREMIUM TO GO UP. I JUST DIDN’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH. THE TOUGH DECISION MANY AMERICANS ARE NOW FORCED TO MAKE HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. PLUS, KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE AS THEY PLAY WITH OUR BRAND NEW CHRISTMAS GIFTS. WHAT YOU SHOULD LEAVE ON THE SHELF AS YOU DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING. I HAVE PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS. I HAVE ENGLAND, EUROPE. THEY WILL MAIL THEIR CARDS TO US UNDER COVER AND ANOTHER ENVELOPE SO THEY CAN GET THEIR CHRISTMAS POSTMARK. A LOT OF ACTION RIGHT NOW AT A CERTAIN POST OFFICE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. COMING UP, WE EXPLAIN THE MAGIC BEHIND THE TOWN WHERE CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED EVERY DAY. THERE’S A TOWN RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA THAT STEALS THE LIMELIGHT THIS TIME OF YEAR. GET ON HIGHWAY 50, HEAD EAST AND YOU WILL RUN INTO THE TOWN OF CHRISTMAS. IT’S NOW THAT THE POST OFFICE IN CHRISTMAS HAS A LOT OF BRAGGING RIGHTS, AND YOU COULD PROBABLY IMAGINE WHY. AND AS WESH 2’S MICHELLE MEREDITH REPORTS, PRIDE IN CHRISTMAS IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. ON A CRISP CENTRAL FLORIDA MORNING, POSTAL CARRIER DANNY CHAPMAN MAKES HIS DAILY ROUNDS. HE’S A MAIL CARRIER, BUT HE DOESN’T DELIVER JUST ANYWHERE. I LOVE THAT TRACKING MAN. I KNOW RIGHT WHEN IT’S COMING. HE WORKS THE SMALL TOWN OF CHRISTMAS. HIS FIRST DELIVERY TO GILBERT, WHO LIVES ON CHRISTMAS ROAD. I AM ONE HAPPY RESIDENT OF CHRISTMAS. BEST MOVE I EVER MADE IN MY LIFE. SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS THE SEASON WHEN THE TOWN SHINES, WHEN PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO GET THAT SPECIAL STAMP THAT LETS LOVED ONES KNOW THIS IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS, BUT FROM CHRISTMAS. I HAVE PEOPLE FROM OVERSEAS, I HAVE ENGLAND, EUROPE. THEY WILL MAIL THEIR CARDS TO US UNDER COVER AND ANOTHER ENVELOPE SO THEY CAN GET THEIR CHRISTMAS POSTMARK. SO WE HAVE ALL OVER THE WORLD. THAT’S KIND OF CRAZY. IT IS KIND OF CRAZY, BUT IT’S GREAT. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE IT ON THERE SO THAT THEY KNOW IT’S. IT WAS STAMPED IN CHRISTMAS. THE REAL DEAL. YES. YOU KNOW, IT’S THE REAL DEAL WHEN PEOPLE LINE UP TO POSE FOR PICTURES IN FRONT OF A WOODEN SANTA AT A POST OFFICE. NOW, DESPITE ALL THE COMPETITION, THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SAYS THEY HAVE HIT A MILESTONE THIS YEAR. 6 BILLION. THAT’S HOW MANY LETTERS AND PACKAGES THEY HAVE DELIVERED SO FAR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, THE NATION’S FIRST POSTMASTER GENERAL, WOULD BE PROUD. BUT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, HE USED TO BE YOUR BOSS. YEAH, I REMEMBER HIM. WE’VE BEEN AROUND FOR 250 YEARS AND HOPE TO BE AROUND FOR 250 YEARS MORE. WE TOUCH EVERY DOORSTEP IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE FOLKS IN CHRISTMAS ARE PROUD. HO HO HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CHRISTMAS. FLORIDA. BECAUSE WHERE ELSE DOES EVERY DAY FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS? COVERING ORANGE COUNTY IN THE TOWN OF CHRISTMAS. MICHELLE MEREDITH WESH TWO NEWS. AND HERE ARE THOSE ALL IMPORTANT DEADLINES FOR THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. SO UPS GROUND ADVANTAGE. THAT’S DECEMBER 17TH. FIRST CLASS MAIL DECEMBER 17TH. PRIORITY MAIL DECEMBER 18TH. PRIORITY MAI
Festive Florida town becomes postal hub for Christmas cheer
Updated: 5:55 PM EST Dec 12, 2025
The town of Christmas in Central Florida becomes a festive hub each year as people from around the world send their holiday cards to be stamped with its unique postmark.Dawn King, the postmaster of the Christmas Post Office, said, “I have people from overseas, from England, Europe, they will mail their cards to us undercover, in another envelope so they can get that Christmas postmark.”On a crisp morning, postal carrier Danny Chapman makes his rounds in the small town, delivering mail to residents like Gilbert Pack, who lives on Christmas Road. “I am one happy resident of Christmas. Best move I ever made,” Pack said.This season, the town becomes a destination for those seeking the special stamp that signifies their cards are not just “for” Christmas, but “from” Christmas. King added, “So it’s from all over the world. That’s crazy. It’s kind of crazy, but it’s great.”Karen Wayt, who was putting the Christmas stamp on cards, expressed her delight, saying, “It’s so nice to have that on there because they know it’s from Christmas … So that they know it’s from Christmas … the real deal.”Visitors often line up to pose for pictures in front of a wooden Santa at the post office, capturing the festive spirit of the town.Despite the competition, the U.S. Postal Service has reached a milestone, mailing out six billion letters and packages this holiday season.Tiffany Rowland from the U.S. Postal Service said, “We’ve been around for 250 and hope to be around for 250 more. We touch every doorstep in the United States.”Chapman humorously reflected on the legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the nation’s first postmaster general, saying, “Benjamin Franklin he used to be your boss … yeah, I remember him.”The residents of Christmas, Florida, proudly embrace their town’s unique charm, where every day feels like Christmas. “Ho ho ho … Merry Christmas FROM Christmas!” they cheer.
CHRISTMAS, Fla. —
The town of Christmas in Central Florida becomes a festive hub each year as people from around the world send their holiday cards to be stamped with its unique postmark.
Dawn King, the postmaster of the Christmas Post Office, said, “I have people from overseas, from England, Europe, they will mail their cards to us undercover, in another envelope so they can get that Christmas postmark.”
On a crisp morning, postal carrier Danny Chapman makes his rounds in the small town, delivering mail to residents like Gilbert Pack, who lives on Christmas Road. “I am one happy resident of Christmas. Best move I ever made,” Pack said.
This season, the town becomes a destination for those seeking the special stamp that signifies their cards are not just “for” Christmas, but “from” Christmas. King added, “So it’s from all over the world. That’s crazy. It’s kind of crazy, but it’s great.”
Karen Wayt, who was putting the Christmas stamp on cards, expressed her delight, saying, “It’s so nice to have that on there because they know it’s from Christmas … So that they know it’s from Christmas … the real deal.”
Visitors often line up to pose for pictures in front of a wooden Santa at the post office, capturing the festive spirit of the town.
Despite the competition, the U.S. Postal Service has reached a milestone, mailing out six billion letters and packages this holiday season.
Tiffany Rowland from the U.S. Postal Service said, “We’ve been around for 250 and hope to be around for 250 more. We touch every doorstep in the United States.”
Chapman humorously reflected on the legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the nation’s first postmaster general, saying, “Benjamin Franklin he used to be your boss … yeah, I remember him.”
The residents of Christmas, Florida, proudly embrace their town’s unique charm, where every day feels like Christmas. “Ho ho ho … Merry Christmas FROM Christmas!” they cheer.