Having been the Happiest Place on Earth for over 60 years, it wouldn’t shock us to find out that there are some creepy things lurking around Disneyland. In fact, a quick web search about odd Disneyland happenings yields stories about ghosts, tragic deaths, and Illuminati-related conspiracies. But perhaps the most disturbing myth about Disneyland isn’t a myth at all.
According to current and former Disneyland custodians, people spread their loved ones’ ashes at Disney parks at least once a month.
The Wall Street Journal reported on ash-scattering at both Disney World and Disneyland in an October 24th writeup. Per People, the piece claims that people dump ashes so often that custodians have a codename for handling the dicey situation: “HEPA cleanup,” which references the super-powered vacuum needed to suck up the finest of ashes.
A Disney representative told the WSJ that spreading ashes without permission is against Disney policy and considered a misdemeanor. “This type of behavior is strictly prohibited and unlawful,” the rep stated via People. “Guests who attempt to do so will be escorted off property.”
But this warning is clearly not being heeded by park guests. Those who have actually spread ashes at Disneyland or Disney World claim it’s pretty easy to get away with.
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“Anyone who knew my mom knew Disney was her happy place,” Jodie Jackson Wells told the WSJ. She added that she smuggled her mother’s ashes into the park in a pill bottle. “I had two fistfuls of the ashes and I literally leapt like I was a dancer.”
Others admitted they’ve simply put a loved one’s ashes into a Ziploc bag, or strategically packed them into a makeup compact, in order to get them into the park.
The WSJ reports that the most popular places to sprinkle remains are on Magic Kingdom lawns, on flower beds, outside parking gates, throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and in the moat under the Dumbo ride. However, the Haunted Mansion is the place to scatter ashes, according to custodians who have experienced countless HEPA cleanups at the site.
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It’s routine to close down a ride once ashes are spotted. The operators will tell guests the reason is “technical difficulties.” It’s then up to one brave soul to go through the attraction alone and vacuum up as many ashes as they can.
But we all know that even the best vacuum cleaners leave some stuff behind. Therefore, Disneyland may be crawling with spirits, and the Haunted Mansion might be extremely haunted after all.
