Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans at the culmination of an industrial protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans at the culmination of an industrial protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The arrest of the 32 protesters, many of whom wore costumes representing famous Disney characters, came at the end of an hour-long march to the gates of Disneyland in California from one of three Disney-owned hotels at the centre of a labour dispute.

Those who were arrested sat in a circle on a busy junction outside the park holding hands until they were placed in plastic handcuffs and led to two police vans while hundreds of hotel workers cheered and chanted.

The protesters were arrested on a charge of failing to obey a police officer and two traffic infractions, and were expected to be booked and released later, said Sergeant Rick Martinez of the Anaheim police.

Bewildered tourists in Disney T-shirts and caps filed past the commotion and gawked at the costumed pickets as they were hauled away. The protest shut down a main thoroughfare outside Disneyland and California Adventure for nearly an hour.

"It's changing my opinion of Disneyland," said tourist Amanda Kosato, who was visiting from north of Melbourne, Australia. "Taking away entitlements stinks."

The dispute involves about 2300 maids, bell boys, cooks and dishwashers at three Disney-owned hotels: the Paradise Pier, the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel.