Disney World is considered the most magical place on Earth. The vacation destination is filled with happiness, childhood, and memories that last a lifetime. Despite the magical fantasy, real-life still occurs. Today we are going to be debunking one of its biggest myths: that no one dies at Disney World.
Of course, this isn’t true. But there are many people who believe the rumors, and there is a good reason for it. In order to keep the magical illusion alive, if tragedy strikes, the person is taken to the Disney hospital (off the park’s premises) and is pronounced dead there. So, no one “officially” dies in Disney World.
The Happiest Place on Earth
When Walt Disney was around, he wanted to create a magic world filled with cartoon mouses, castles, and happy endings. The incredible theme park with all kinds of fun rides wasn’t even half of what Walt Disney had in mind. Initially, he wanted to literally cover it with a dome in order to control temperature, weather, and all that stuff. He really wanted to take guests to the happiest place on Earth.
Although the dome idea didn’t work out, Disney still managed to have a city all to himself, complete with a fire department and hospital so that if a guest passed away at the park, employees would not pronounce them dead there. Disney executives ensure that if anything happens to a guest, they are removed from the property immediately and sent to the Disney hospital. With no “official” deaths in Disney, they can keep the magic alive.
Fasten your seatbelts because it’s going to be a wild ride: We’re looking back at some of the deaths that took place in Disney theme parks. Disclaimer: this may ruin your childhood. Stay tuned for dark Disney secrets.
A Four-Year-Old Drowned in the Water Surrounding Cinderella’s Castle
This first story is the last thing you’d expect to happen at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida. However, back in 1977, a terrible tragedy struck one family: a four-year-old boy named Joel Goode drowned in the moat surrounding Cinderella’s Castle after he climbed over a two-foot-tall fence in the iconic Magic Kingdom theme park.
The water he fell into was five feet deep, and, unfortunately, little Joel didn’t make it. Needless to say, the heartbroken parents weren’t going to let Disney get away with this.
A Four-Year-Old Drowned in the Water Surrounding Cinderella’s Castle
After the tragedy, Joel’s parents, Henry and Marietta Goode sued Disney for their son’s death. They ultimately won the case against the massive corporation, but the court later decided that the family was partly at fault for the incident since they allowed their four-year-old to climb the fence.
In their defense, they didn’t know it was a deathly fence. Nevertheless, their initial $4 million settlement was cut down to $1.5 million. Still, no matter how many millions they get from Disney, it won’t bring back the son they lost in such a freak accident.
A Little Boy Fell Out of His Seat on Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Another heartbreaking incident involving a young boy took place at Disney; this time, it was at Disneyland in Anaheim. When you’re four years old, a trip to Disney is literally the most exciting thing in the world – sadly, it didn’t work out that way for Brandon Zucker.
Back in 2000, a safety bar didn’t lock correctly on Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, and four-year-old Brandon fell out of his car and was trapped under another vehicle. The child’s body was literally “folded in half,” which is a terrifying image.
A Little Boy Fell Out of His Seat on Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
The tragic incident left Brandon paralyzed and with severe brain damage. He was never able to walk or talk again. After the incident, the Walt Disney Company offered to pay for the child’s medical treatment and care. But none of that helped.
Sadly, Brandon passed away at age 13 and never fully recovered from his injuries. After the awful incident, theme park safety was pushed into the limelight to ensure that measures were increased so that nothing like this ever happened again.
A Man Was Killed on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Back in September 2003, 22-year-old Marcelo Torres decided to take a trip to Disneyland (in Anaheim). While he was riding the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the ride became unstable, and the carriage came off the track, leaving Torres badly injured. He later passed away as a result.
So, I’m sure you might be confused. What exactly happened here? The simplest explanation goes like this: The front carriage of the ride experienced technical difficulties, which caused it to come off the truck and hit the roof of the tunnel.
A Man Was Killed on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Unfortunately, it resulted in the first passenger carriage – where Torres was sitting – to collide with its underside. Basically, Disney and the ride were completely at fault for the tragedy. Torres’ injuries included fractured ribs, which led to a laceration of his lungs and severe blood loss.
A court subsequently ruled that Disney didn’t maintain the vehicles to the safe and proper standard. They said that the appropriate safety measures were not installed, and the staff working on the ride weren’t trained properly. This death definitely could have been avoided.
A Cleaner Got Trapped Under a Boat on It’s a Small World
The ride that defines Disney is, arguably, It’s a Small World. The ride is supposed to capture the magic of Disney and everything the theme park has to offer. There is no way to get off the ride without getting that stupid song stuck in your head!
It’s also the last right you would ever expect someone to be killed on. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened in the early hours of an October morning, back in 2010. This death wasn’t a little kid or even a guest at the theme park.
A Cleaner Got Trapped Under a Boat on It’s a Small World
Sadly, while a 53-year-old janitor (subcontracted from another company) was cleaning It’s a Small World in preparation for the next day, he died when the ride was accidentally turned on. The man was dragged under one of the boats, which is terrifying.
He was sent to the hospital, where he died from the injuries he sustained after being transferred from the park to the hospital. The fact that he was a worker makes this story even more devastating. He was just trying to do his job.
Indiana Jones Adventure Gave a Woman a Brain Hemorrhage
One of the main attractions at Anaheim Disneyland is Indiana Jones Adventure. Well, I’m about to ruin it with this disturbing tale of a vacation gone terribly wrong. In June 2000, a 23-year-old Spanish woman named Cristina Moreno boarded the ride like any ordinary guest.
But she later complained about an intense headache and feeling like her “head was rolling around.” After passing out in her hotel room later that day, she was taken to the hospital, where they found out that her brain was hemorrhaging.
Indiana Jones Adventure Gave a Woman a Brain Hemorrhage
Unconscious, Moreno was taken back to Spain on an air ambulance. Tragically, she never woke up and died in September of that year. I’m definitely going to think twice before going on that ride!
Needless to say, Moreno’s family sued Disney for “wrongful death” under the assumption that the Indiana Jones ride was responsible for her early death. Disney ended up settling out of court, despite reports from the company claiming that Indiana Jones Adventure was “a safe ride and that it did not cause the injuries to plaintiffs in this case.”
The Curse of The Primeval Whirl Ride
This next incident concerns a Disney cast member (“cast member” is how they refer to employees) named Karen Price. While she was attending the Primeval Whirl ride at Disney World in Florida, Karen was hit by one of the moving vehicles and fell from the platform and hit her head.
Price sustained serious injuries and ultimately died of her injuries in the hospital five days later. Disney was fined $25,000 for committing safety violations that led to the incident. They failed to install a handrail that had previously been reported missing – and something that could have possibly saved Price’s life.
The Curse of The Primeval Whirl Ride
In 2008, as a result of her death, Disney announced that they would add special sensors to the ride, which would prevent it from working if it detected somebody in an area that was “off-limits” or dangerous.
Even with the new sensors added, another Disney cast member, 52-year-old Russel Sherry Roscoe, was killed in a similar manner while working on the Primeval Whirl ride four years later in 2011. Somehow, the ride is still open today.
A Monorail Crash Killed a Driver
Here is another tragic example of a Disney cast member dying in a terrible accident thanks to Disney’s negligence. This incident is a little better known and racked up $24 million in damages. It all started back in 2009.
A Purple Monorail driver named Austin Wuennenberg lost his life at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, during a track change. The pink and purple monorails crashed into each other at the Transportation and Ticket Center station at the Epcot line. The 21-year-old was crushed in the accident.
A Monorail Crash Killed a Driver
After getting crushed, Austin died as authorities tried to cut him out of the carriage. Luckily, no one else was hurt, but this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Austin’s mother, Christine Wuennenberg, sued Disney following the collision, and it was settled outside of court.
It was later discovered that the cause of the collision “was the shop panel operator’s failure to properly position switch-beam nine and the failure of monorail manager acting as the central coordinator.” The pink and purple monorail colors were subsequently retired after the collision.
Space Mountain Dislodged a Woman’s Tumor Into Her Brain… Allegedly
As a Florida native, I went to Disney World in Orlando quite often, and my all-time favorite roller coaster is Space Mountain – but this story gives the classic ride a haunting feeling. This is the strange death of a woman named Sherrill Ann Hoffman. Sherrill boarded the ride in August 1974, ignoring the medical warning signs (which are literally everywhere).
She felt sick after riding Space Mountain but was unable to get out of her seat when the ride was over, due to a malfunction. After some miscommunication between employees, she was sent around the ride for a second time.
Read the Warning Signs!
I love going on Space Mountain twice in a row, so they probably figured she would just ride again. They didn’t expect her to return to the unloading zone unconscious. Sherrill was taken to the hospital, where she fell into a coma. Seven days later, she died.
Although Sherrill’s death was officially listed as “natural causes,” it was speculated that the ride had dislodged a heart tumor and pushed it into her brain. Sherrill’s husband tried to sue Disney, but the case was eventually dismissed. Disney made sure to put multiple medical warning signs. It’s not the company’s fault that she didn’t listen. Either way, it’s still a terrible tragedy.
Pluto Got Run Over by a Float
Here is another terrible incident where a cast member died on the job. This time, it involved an actor who dressed up as famous Disney characters and performed around the park. The victim was a 38-year-old man named Javier Cruz. During the parade (at the time of his death), he was dressed as Pluto.
Reportedly, he tripped before getting run over and subsequently crushed by the Beauty and the Beast float as it was heading toward the public area of the theme park.
Pluto Got Run Over by a Float
I actually remember when this happened very clearly. As I mentioned, I grew up in Florida, and my friend’s mom knew Cruz, and I was at her house when she got the terrible news. I remember thinking how insane it is that he got run over by a float.
Sadly, Disney had no choice but to call in a forklift to raise the float from Cruz’s body. A Disney spokesman said that none of the visitors witnessed the incident, thankfully – that would have been traumatic. After the death, Disney was fined just $6,500 for safety violations. That’s barely even pocket change for the massive corporation.
A Man Died After a Metal Cleat Came Loose on Sailing Ship Columbia
Sailing Ship Columba is one of the most famous attractions at Disneyland. The ride is a full-scale replica of the first American ship to sail the entire globe. Guests at Anaheim were allowed to board the ride and sail around the park. However, the ride had a tragic history as it was the location of one of the park’s most notorious deaths.
In 1998, a heavy metal cleat, which is usually fastened to the ride, came loose from the Sailing Ship Columbia and hit one employee and two guests: Luan Phi Dawson and his wife. The cleat hit Dawson in the head after it tore from the hull.
A Man Died After a Metal Cleat Came Loose on Sailing Ship Columbia
The usual hemp rope used to secure it had just been replaced with a cheaper nylon alternative which stretched, causing it to come off the ship. He died two days later. Apparently, the workers in charge of the ship hadn’t been trained properly.
Disney was called out for not allowing proper medical personnel into the park afterward (which could have saved Dawson’s life). I’m assuming they didn’t allow medical professionals in because of their “rule” that no one gets pronounced dead in the park. This was also the first death in Disneyland where the guest wasn’t at fault or partly to blame. Of course, there was a lawsuit, and the victim’s family was awarded $25,000,000.
Dark Disney Secrets
Several dozen people died in total (in Disney or as a result of an injury they suffered at the theme park). However, when you think about the thousands of guests who show up to the theme park every day, it’s actually surprising that more deaths haven’t occurred.
If these deaths don’t alter your perception of “the most magical place on Earth,” this might. As we know, Disney carefully chooses what they put out in order to control the illusion, but it’s not all Mickey Mouse and fairy tales. There are actually some dark secrets Disney tried to hide. Some are a little more disturbing than others. Let’s get right into it.
It Was Supposed to Be a Utopian City
I always knew what Epcot was, but I never stopped to think about what it stands for. What if I told you that Walt Disney intended to make the theme park a utopian city for 20,000 very lucky residents? Yeah, that was the original plan, and my mind is officially blown.
Epcot, which stands for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was originally part of Walt Disney’s ambitious plans to create a futuristic society. These plans included a private airport, above-ground transit (via sky trails), and a 50-acre, climate-controlled area. After he passed away in 1966, Walt’s vision ultimately fell apart.
Undercover Spies
In most Disney parks, you can find your favorite princesses wandering around. But there were also the spies hired by Walt Disney himself.
Remember that cute little firehouse on Main Street? Behind the second-floor window was a real apartment where Walt and his family would stay pretty frequently. That’s where they would eavesdrop on guests and hear what they were saying about his theme park. These days, there is a candle burning in the window, honoring his presence.
Real Human Skulls
You wouldn’t think a family-friendly amusement park would take it upon themselves to import real skeletons to use in their exhibits. But according to former producer, Jason Surrell’s tell-all book, Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, that’s exactly what Disney did.
The theme park’s design team revealed that the fake skeletons they initially used in the Pirates of the Caribbean were “just too unconvincing.” So, they did what anyone would do: imported cadaver skeletons from UCLA’s medical school. There is still a huge debate on whether the skulls were eventually replaced with fake ones.
Disney’s Underground World
Dubbed the “nerve center” of the theme park, there are 392,040 square feet of hidden tunnels strategically placed throughout various different Disney World locations. The secret system was the first thing built into the Orlando Park, and it was extremely important to Walt Disney – and a lot goes on down there.
Situated right under Cinderella’s castle, everything is controlled from these tunnels, including lighting systems, security, music, parades, and a secret employees-only café. It also used to house 1.2 million costumes in what was referred to as the “character zoo.”
They Take the Magical Illusion Very Seriously
But the main reason for the tunnels was to keep the illusion alive. What I mean by that is the costumed characters have a long list of rules to follow. First of all, there can’t be two Cinderellas out at the same time because it takes away from the illusion that you’re in this fairy tale world.
Another thing is that the characters could only be in their specific locations. Walt Disney would be rolling around in his grave if he saw Snow White in Toy Story Land or a Pirate on Main Street. Since certain characters can’t walk through certain areas of the park, depending on their costume, the tunnels are to help the staff get around without ruining the illusion for guests.
Disneyland Crematorium
If you’re spending the day at a Disney theme park and hear the staff discussing a “HEPA cleanup,” I suggest evacuating the premises – immediately! It means that yet another person scattered their loved one’s ashes on the site. I’m not even joking. This happens way more often than you would think.
Perhaps the Haunted Mansion truly is haunted. It’s become almost a tradition to toss a loved one’s ashes around various attractions, but the most popular is the Haunted Mansion – shocker. At night, the staff do their preventative vacuum cleaning, but they’ve probably missed a few spots over the years.
The Smellitizers!
Who could forget that heavenly smell we inhale as we hit Main Street and its various candy shops? Their treats may be yummy, but they’re not as tasty as they smell. They use a device called Smellitizers to give off those delicious scents. Wow! I don’t even know what to believe anymore!
The smell of freshly baked cookies is a good way to get guests to spend more money, so it’s definitely a clever move. I mean, I fall for it every time. But it turns out that these smellitizers are also used in our favorite rides: Pirates of the Caribbean has a saltwater scent, and the Haunted Mansion has an aroma of musty air.
Those Screams of Horror
As the story goes, five people met their terrifying fates inside the elevators of the Hollywood Tower Hotel on October 31, 1939. Or did they? Every kid remembers being haunted with nightmares after riding the infamous Twilight Zone-themed ride, Tower of Terror, but it seems like we might have been tricked this whole time!
All those horrific screams that we heard as we walked into the attraction weren’t actually from fellow riders (as we were meant to believe). If you listen to the sounds, they are identical every time. That’s because there are hidden speakers playing looped, pre-recorded screams at the entrance.
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
In the enchanted world of Disney, magic always awaits us. But I’m not just talking about the park’s realistic rides and attractions. As it turns out, their stunning landscaping is just as magical. This one will surely leave you hungry, folks!
There is a famous rumor that the plants at Tomorrowland are edible! What is this? Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? I thought the sugary churros and massive drumsticks were the main snacks! I know it sounds crazy, but the theme park revealed that “The visionary landscaping doubles as a potential farm, projecting an ecologically estate future.” I’m tasting the grass on my next visit!
Undercover “Tourists”
The happiest place on Earth may also be one of the safest. With tons of excited tourists in just about every area of the park, you may not realize that some of these “tourists” aren’t who we think they are – and they plan on keeping it that way.
Pretty much every Disney Park has undercover security guards disguised as tourists – which is kind of funny if you think about it. They try to stay as low-key as possible, but you can recognize them by their hidden earpieces.
A Very Exclusive and Secret Club
Up until now, this big secret was pretty well hidden – and with good reason. The West Coast’s Disneyland features a very exclusive VIP club, and it costs about $25,000-$100,000 just to be admitted. The invite-only club has a waiting list many years long! Some of Hollywood’s biggest names have hung out there, like Johnny Depp and Sir Elton John.
So, what special treatment do these VIPs get that we don’t? When they arrive at the club, located at 33 Royal Street, members must ring a bell for entry. Once they pass, guests are greeted to the restaurant, Le Grand Salon, and the jazz lounge, Le Salon Nouveau. These special guests also get access to the 1901 Lounge in California Adventure.
An Employee Getaway
Ever since 1959, Disneyland’s Matterhorn attraction has given visitors a realistic adventure “through the Alps.” As it turns out, the modeled mountain contains a secret area where all the exhausted Disney employees hang out. Oh, and there’s a basketball court.
Situated at the peak of the 200-foot mountain is an employee’s-only backstage area stocked with a basketball hoop. Tony Baxter, former Senior VP of Creative Development at Walt Disney’s Imagineering admitted that they came up with the idea when they needed to fill an empty space in the upper part of the mountain.
I’ve Seen This Horror Movie Before…
No matter what we do, It’s a Small World will always haunt our memories with its annoying but nostalgic song. Even years after riding the famous attraction, the catchy yet obnoxious tune continues to play in my mind. So, now, imagine what it’s like for the Disney cast members who spend every day listening to that sound.
Reportedly, it was causing too much financial and physical trouble to stop and restart most of the sound systems on the rides. Therefore, songs are left playing all night – well after the park closes. That means night workers are welcomed into the abandoned park with creepy singing dolls. If I ever work at Disney, I’m taking the day shift!
Cinderella’s Overrated Castle
Anyone who has been alive for longer than five minutes has definitely heard about the iconic Cinderella’s Castle. But the truth is, despite its impressive appearance, the Disney World attraction isn’t the magical palace it’s hyped up to be.
As it turns out, the fiberglass structure was built as an optical illusion back in 1971. Under 200 feet tall, the landmark looks much bigger than it actually is. As a matter of fact, the top section of the castle is half the size you’d think it is. The entire tower consists of one gift shop, a single restaurant, and a would-be suite.
Who Let the Cats Out?
Now that we know Cinderella’s Castle isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, that’s not the only misleading thing we need to worry about. At night, when the lights go out, and the park officially closes, Disneyland releases some unlikely visitors – who are free to roam the empty park.
Founder of Disneylandcats.com, Taylor Roberts, admitted that there are around 50 wild cats that live on the property. During the day, they try to keep them hidden in a special cat area. But at night, the cats are let out – apparently, to get rid of rodents in the park. Watch out, Mickey!
Do Your Business at Tomorrowland or Something?
As you’re roaming through the Haunted Mansion, you might be too distracted by the horrors to notice the neighboring brown pavement in Liberty Square’s center. It’s a strange, odd, brown kind of color, and the reason behind it will probably gross you out.
The intention behind the design is to remind visitors of the sewer that once ran through colonial streets – you know, way back before indoor plumbing was invented. In fact, in order to stay true to the era, there are zero bathrooms installed in Liberty Square.
Even the Trash Is Magical
It’s a known fact that Disney parks were designed to be as close to perfection as possible. And they didn’t skimp out when it came to designing their garbage bins! But at this point, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their garbage removal system is just as magical.
While you’re navigating through the theme park, AVACS Systems – Automated Vacuum Assisted Collection Systems – are sucking waste bins and garbage through underground pipes. This all happens right under your feet every 20 minutes. Also, another interesting garbage fact is that a bin is placed every thirty steps because Walt Disney realized that people start to litter if they are more than 30 feet away from a garbage can.