10 Disney Park Myths, Secrets And Rumors Debunked

Myths and conspiracy theories are always intriguing, especially when they originate from the Happiest Place on Earth. Both Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California, have dozens of myths about its famous grounds. Which are real and which are fake? See what Disney park myths we have debunked and which ones are still a mystery below.

Walt’s Haunted Mansion Cameo

One of the singing ghosts in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride may look eerily similar to the park’s late creator, Walt Disney, but don’t believe any rumors he has an on-ride cameo. The fallen singing bust in the attraction in the graveyard scene is actually a projected image of voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft. Snopes reports the singing bust illusion was created years after Walt died in 1966, with the ride opening in Disneyland in 1969, hence his inability to participate.

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Club 21

Don’t be fooled by reports of a secret club within the walls of the park. While Club 33 is a very real and very exclusive dining establishment within Disneyland, Club 21, which has long been rumored to be above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, is just a rumor. Well... sort of.

First announced in 2014, 21 Royal is a small dining space a group of 12 can rent out in the park’s New Orleans Square section in the California park. Coincidentally, the space is located just above the Pirates ride.

Utilizing the space will cost you $15K. LA Weekly reports those who book the room meet their host at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa before being transported to the exclusive spot. There, guests can enjoy a cocktail hour in the two-bedroom apartment. The night continues with a seven course meal, created by Disney chefs, and ends with dessert party on the balcony.

“Andy’s Coming!”

There used to be a time when “Toy Story” characters at the Disney Parks would drop to the floor whenever a guest would shout “Andy’s coming!” The homage to the animated films, however, has since been stopped. An unidentified cast member told Snopes in 2014 why the gag was short-lived.

“The characters USED to drop to the ground when someone yelled ‘Andy’s coming.’ As of the last week or so, however, they no longer do this,” said the Disney worker. “This is because EVERYONE found out about it at the same time (when that meme went viral) and now people are shouting this about 50 times per hour and a half, as opposed to hearing it once or twice a day, like before.”

Galactic Hero Prize

Getting a trip to Disney is a prize in itself, but did you know scoring big on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters will earn you a hard-to-get freebie? The goal of the Buzz Lightyear attraction, which is the same on both coasts but sports a different name, is to help the Space Ranger defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg by shooting targets.

Guests who go above and beyond their duties and get the highest number of points (999,999) earn themselves the Galactic Hero title and a special “I’m Celebrating” button that reads “Galactic Hero.”

So, how do you get high points on the ride? Attractions Magazine reports the best way to shoot the target is to keep your thumb on the trigger at all times during the ride as to make sure your gun is constantly firing. They report aiming for the large red robot in the first room, the highest target on the volcano in room two and the bottom “Z” on Zurg’s spaceship in the third room will result in high points.

It’s A Small World Hanging

Many guests have died at the Disney parks, but the myth about a young guest hanging themselves in the scaffolding of the It’s a Small World ride in Disneyland has never been proven true.

The myth states that in 1999 the ride was evacuated for an “undisclosed reason.” A family’s photo from the ride later revealed what appeared to be a “limp child” hanging from the ceiling. HelloGiggles helped debunked this myth in January, writing, “The photo of what appears to be a small hanging child in old-timey clothes is definitely creepy, but given that It’s a Small World is populated by animatronic small children in old-timey clothes who are definitely creepy, it’s very likely that this rumor is bunk.”

Walt Disney Frozen

Walt isn’t cryogenically preserved, despite what you may have heard. The Disney creator has long been thought to have been frozen following his death, but that myth has been repeatedly debunked. Walt was cremated and his final resting place is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, not a freezer.

The rumor kicked off in 1972 after Bob Nelson, the former president of the Cryonics Society of California, revealed Walt’s desire to be frozen.

“Walt Disney wanted to be frozen. Lots of people think that he was, and that the body’s in cold storage in his basement. The truth is, Walt missed out,” Nelson told Los Angeles Times.

“He never specified it in writing, and when he died the family didn’t go for it. They had him cremated. I personally have seen his ashes. They’re in Forest Lawn. Two weeks later we froze the first man. If Disney had been the first it would have made headlines around the world and been a real shot in the arm for cryonics. But that’s the way it goes.’”

Walt’s Dog

Walt may not be memorialized on the Haunted Mansion, but rumors suggest the image of his favorite pooch will forever live on in the parks. It has long been rumored that the dog in Pirates of the Caribbean, The Carousel of Progress and Haunted Mansion are all modeled after the same canine. Some reports suggest the dog was modeled after Walt’s own pet, but this has never been confirmed.

Guests Can’t Have Tattoos

A false April Fools’ Day article from Inked caused a stir amongst Disney fans in 2016. The article stated that Walt Disney World and Disneyland parks “banned admittance to anyone with visible tattoos,” a false statement from the company going on to claim that they didn’t feel tattoos fit into their family-friendly “wholesome” image.

The Disney Parks do have dress code and tattoo guidelines, but none of which state customers can not show off their ink. “Visible tattoos that could be considered inappropriate, such as those containing objectionable language or designs,” reads Disney’s comments on inappropriate attire. The parks also look down upon guests having bare feet, wearing clothing with obscene language, and those over the age of 14 sporting costumes.

Tower of Terror Ghost

How fitting for a ghost to haunt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios attraction Tower of Terror? When a video hit the web in 2009 showing what appeared to be a ghost riding the attraction, it caused many park fans to believe the ride may be haunted. The video in question shows a maintenance worker testing the ride as an apparition shows up in the seat behind him. There has never been any official word on the footage from Disney, but there are several myths about the alleged haunting.

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Pirates of the Caribbean Ghost

Dead men tell no tales? The urban legend surrounding the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disney World states that a welder died inside the attraction.

“Some say he was crushed by a falling beam, others that he fell to his death from atop the ride’s ‘burning city.’ Ever since, the ride has been haunted by ghostly apparitions and strange occurrences,” reports Stranger Dimensions.

Though many guests may claim to have had ghostly experiences on the ride, the site reports the legend of the ghost, named “George,” is not recognized by Disney, writing, “Perhaps it’s just an urban legend, but every morning, and at the end of every day, Disney World cast members are sure to tell George good morning or good night. Otherwise, the ride has been known to malfunction for unexplained reasons.”