Dark Disney: Eight Lesser Known Facts About the Parks that will Make Your Skin Crawl!
I love me some Disney whimsy, but every once in awhile it’s interesting to hear about some of the darker aspects of this fantasy world.
Although I love discussing all the great aspects of Disney, I personally believe it is a disservice to the corporation to leave out some of the more grisly aspects. The more you understand about the history, the more you can appreciate just how far they have come in the 60 years or so since the opening of Disneyland, and their dedication to making your experience a safe and positive one. I'm going to discuss only eight of these in today's article, but stay tuned for part two in a later article :)
Due to some of the content contained below, I strongly advise you to consider your personal tolerance for some of the less pleasant aspects of the park. Here is a kitty buried in marshmallows to help you decide:
Not sure if you should delve ahead? Go watch cat videos or something instead.
Still with me? Okay.
Without further adieu, let’s delve into the countdown of eight lesser known Dark Disney facts that will make your skin crawl!
8. Leaving Loved Ones on Their Favourite Ride
In 2014, a woman was seen scattering what looked like white powder on the Haunted Mansion ride after being told she could not scatter ashes on the ride. When questioned, she said her son had died and his favourite ride was the Haunted Mansion. She wanted this to be his final resting place. It was also rumoured to have happened on a separate occasion on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Don’t do this, folks. A hazmat team will need to come in to dispose of your loved one’s ashes, and you don’t want that.
7. Disney Hotel Suicides
In 2008, a man jumped to his death from the Disneyland hotel’s 14th floor. Why, we don’t know. What we do know is that it appeared to be a deliberate act, as he went out on the balcony away from his four associates to commit the deed.
Another suicide supposedly took place at the Contemporary Resort in 2016, when a man jumped from the A-Frame Tower of the Resort to his death. Why anyone with that close of a proximity to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH would choose Disney World as his doom machine is beyond me.
Keep in mind that many hotels have macabre histories hidden behind the scenes! Don’t let this keep you from living your dream to stay here. :)
6. Tom Sawyer’s Island Death
Let’s take it back to 1973. An 18 year old man and his 10 year old brother were visiting Disneyland when they made the ultimately fatal decision to hide out on Tom Sawyer’s Island past closing time. Eventually they decided enough was enough and decided to leave by swimming across the Rivers of America. As his younger brother did not know how to swim, the older boy tried to carry him on his back. He ultimately drowned trying to cross the river. His 10 year old brother dog-paddled until being rescued by a cast member.
Roughly 10 years later in 1983, an 18 year old man and his friend were celebrating their graduations. Both were heavily intoxicated and decided to take a Disney motorboat for a cruise, GTA style. Unfortunately, they could control a boat about as well as I can (read: NOT) and ended up crashing into a rock. One of the boys was thrown from the boat. Although the other boy went for help, his friend had drowned by the time help arrived.
5. Brain Eating Bacteria
In 1980, a family from New York visited Walt Disney World. After visiting the River County water park (now closed), their 11 year old son died from Naegleria Fowleri, a parasite that FLAT UP EATS YOUR BRAIN.
This incident was rumoured to be a contributing factor to the closure of the park. Given that the park closed in 2001, 21 years after this incident and with with more profitable water parks abounding, the Disney explanation that they simply chose to close River County makes sense to me.
My advice: listen to your brain and don’t get into any 'questionable' Florida water that may not only have parasites, but alligators too. If you watch Zombie Houses on HGTV, KFC is supposedly a good distraction. For the alligators, not brain parasites. Geesh.
4. People Mover Deaths
In 1967, a 17 year old boy from California was killed when he jumped from car to car. He ended up slipping and being crushed underneath the oncoming cars.
13 years later, a recent high school graduate died from following the rules on the People Mover.
Wait, no he didn’t. He died from ignoring the rules and jumping from car to car as well. Sigh.
3. Epcot Suicide
In 1992, life was taking a turn for the worse for Allan Ferris. His longtime girlfriend had broken off their relationship.
Enter Epcot’s part in this story. His ex-girlfriend, a cast member of the park, was his target for the evening when he came to the park 90 minutes after closing. He demanded to see his ex-girlfriend but was refused. After firing shots from a 12-guage shotgun at the guards, he took the two of them hostage in the restroom. When deputies arrived, he let the hostages go, but tragically fired a shotgun blast to the head.
2. Death on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Nobody likes to think that their favourite ride is dangerous. But that’s just what ended up happening in September 2003 in Disneyland. Due to mechanical failure, the train became derailed when entering a tunnel section of the ride and collided with the roof of the tunnel. The locomotive fell on top of the first passenger car, crushing a 22 year old man and severely injuring 10 other individuals.
An investigation was undertaken, with the ride being reopened six months later.
1. The Death of Deborah Stone
In 1974, Debbie Stone became a cast member at the America Sings attraction in Disneyland for the summer before she was to head to college in the fall. The ride, like the Carousel of Progress, was based on four rotating scenes, with the first and last scene including the loading and unloading of guests. Each scene was two to four minutes long, with the stage rotating counter-clockwise after each scene.
Nine days after the opening of the attraction, the area between the stationary and rotating wall crushed Stone to death. Guests heard her screams and notified park staff. Her dismembered body was found; some guests and employees thought that her screams were part of the show. The attraction was automatically closed until walls that would break apart in the case of a similar incident occurring were installed.
Disneyland was sued by Stone’s family, with a small settlement being issued.
Although some incidents have occurred throughout the history of both Disneyland and Disney World, the majority of incidents have generally been due to a failure to follow the rules or take care of the individual’s safety. As long as you’re following the rules and following common sense, you should be able to have a great time and avoid a Darwin Award.
I think we have a winner...
Which of these did you find most shocking? Any other skin-crawling secrets you know of? Looking for more articles like this? Comment and subscribe :)
Let me book the magic for you! Fill in this form for a FREE quote and/or click here for my contact information!
Although I love discussing all the great aspects of Disney, I personally believe it is a disservice to the corporation to leave out some of the more grisly aspects. The more you understand about the history, the more you can appreciate just how far they have come in the 60 years or so since the opening of Disneyland, and their dedication to making your experience a safe and positive one. I'm going to discuss only eight of these in today's article, but stay tuned for part two in a later article :)
Due to some of the content contained below, I strongly advise you to consider your personal tolerance for some of the less pleasant aspects of the park. Here is a kitty buried in marshmallows to help you decide:
 |
| "Oh, hey fam." |
Not sure if you should delve ahead? Go watch cat videos or something instead.
Still with me? Okay.
Without further adieu, let’s delve into the countdown of eight lesser known Dark Disney facts that will make your skin crawl!
8. Leaving Loved Ones on Their Favourite Ride
In 2014, a woman was seen scattering what looked like white powder on the Haunted Mansion ride after being told she could not scatter ashes on the ride. When questioned, she said her son had died and his favourite ride was the Haunted Mansion. She wanted this to be his final resting place. It was also rumoured to have happened on a separate occasion on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Don’t do this, folks. A hazmat team will need to come in to dispose of your loved one’s ashes, and you don’t want that.
7. Disney Hotel Suicides
In 2008, a man jumped to his death from the Disneyland hotel’s 14th floor. Why, we don’t know. What we do know is that it appeared to be a deliberate act, as he went out on the balcony away from his four associates to commit the deed.
Another suicide supposedly took place at the Contemporary Resort in 2016, when a man jumped from the A-Frame Tower of the Resort to his death. Why anyone with that close of a proximity to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH would choose Disney World as his doom machine is beyond me.
Keep in mind that many hotels have macabre histories hidden behind the scenes! Don’t let this keep you from living your dream to stay here. :)
6. Tom Sawyer’s Island Death
Let’s take it back to 1973. An 18 year old man and his 10 year old brother were visiting Disneyland when they made the ultimately fatal decision to hide out on Tom Sawyer’s Island past closing time. Eventually they decided enough was enough and decided to leave by swimming across the Rivers of America. As his younger brother did not know how to swim, the older boy tried to carry him on his back. He ultimately drowned trying to cross the river. His 10 year old brother dog-paddled until being rescued by a cast member.
Roughly 10 years later in 1983, an 18 year old man and his friend were celebrating their graduations. Both were heavily intoxicated and decided to take a Disney motorboat for a cruise, GTA style. Unfortunately, they could control a boat about as well as I can (read: NOT) and ended up crashing into a rock. One of the boys was thrown from the boat. Although the other boy went for help, his friend had drowned by the time help arrived.
 |
| Unless you’re THIS guy, probably should not be stealing boats and taking them for a joyride. Just saying. |
In 1980, a family from New York visited Walt Disney World. After visiting the River County water park (now closed), their 11 year old son died from Naegleria Fowleri, a parasite that FLAT UP EATS YOUR BRAIN.
This incident was rumoured to be a contributing factor to the closure of the park. Given that the park closed in 2001, 21 years after this incident and with with more profitable water parks abounding, the Disney explanation that they simply chose to close River County makes sense to me.
My advice: listen to your brain and don’t get into any 'questionable' Florida water that may not only have parasites, but alligators too. If you watch Zombie Houses on HGTV, KFC is supposedly a good distraction. For the alligators, not brain parasites. Geesh.
4. People Mover Deaths
In 1967, a 17 year old boy from California was killed when he jumped from car to car. He ended up slipping and being crushed underneath the oncoming cars.
13 years later, a recent high school graduate died from following the rules on the People Mover.
Wait, no he didn’t. He died from ignoring the rules and jumping from car to car as well. Sigh.
3. Epcot Suicide
In 1992, life was taking a turn for the worse for Allan Ferris. His longtime girlfriend had broken off their relationship.
Enter Epcot’s part in this story. His ex-girlfriend, a cast member of the park, was his target for the evening when he came to the park 90 minutes after closing. He demanded to see his ex-girlfriend but was refused. After firing shots from a 12-guage shotgun at the guards, he took the two of them hostage in the restroom. When deputies arrived, he let the hostages go, but tragically fired a shotgun blast to the head.
 |
| A ball of what can only be described as deep, dark secrets. |
2. Death on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Nobody likes to think that their favourite ride is dangerous. But that’s just what ended up happening in September 2003 in Disneyland. Due to mechanical failure, the train became derailed when entering a tunnel section of the ride and collided with the roof of the tunnel. The locomotive fell on top of the first passenger car, crushing a 22 year old man and severely injuring 10 other individuals.
An investigation was undertaken, with the ride being reopened six months later.
1. The Death of Deborah Stone
In 1974, Debbie Stone became a cast member at the America Sings attraction in Disneyland for the summer before she was to head to college in the fall. The ride, like the Carousel of Progress, was based on four rotating scenes, with the first and last scene including the loading and unloading of guests. Each scene was two to four minutes long, with the stage rotating counter-clockwise after each scene.
Nine days after the opening of the attraction, the area between the stationary and rotating wall crushed Stone to death. Guests heard her screams and notified park staff. Her dismembered body was found; some guests and employees thought that her screams were part of the show. The attraction was automatically closed until walls that would break apart in the case of a similar incident occurring were installed.
Disneyland was sued by Stone’s family, with a small settlement being issued.
Although some incidents have occurred throughout the history of both Disneyland and Disney World, the majority of incidents have generally been due to a failure to follow the rules or take care of the individual’s safety. As long as you’re following the rules and following common sense, you should be able to have a great time and avoid a Darwin Award.
I think we have a winner...
Which of these did you find most shocking? Any other skin-crawling secrets you know of? Looking for more articles like this? Comment and subscribe :)
Let me book the magic for you! Fill in this form for a FREE quote and/or click here for my contact information!
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