Disney Urban Legends

No phenomenon in popular culture has inspired more legends and myths than Walt Disney. Over the past decades, Walt Disney's theme parks and himself have been the topic of many urban legends. As with the ever popular myth of Walt Disney is chronically frozen, it just goes to prove Disney's magic still continues in the world.

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Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen.  False
Ever since Walt Disney passed away there have been rumors surrounding his death. The most persistent rumor is Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen, and his body is in a hidden chamber beneath Pirates of The Caribbean at Disneyland. The privacy Disney maintained concerning his personal life extended to his death. Combined with his reputation as a technological innovator have allowed this legend to continue to be believed even today. Walt Disney, was cremated on December 17, 1966, two days after his death.

If you are a Disney urban legends buff, Magical Mountain recommends the fictional novel Waking Walt, by Larry Pontius. Waking Walt is a spellbinding take on one of America's most enduring urban legends. Could it be true; Walt Disney was never cremated and buried at Forest Lawn as the official story goes? Imagine that, for nearly 40 years, the great entertainment genius has been in cryonic suspension, waiting... Order this book today and get it personally signed by Larry Pontius! To order your signed copy of Waking Walt please click here.

One of the last phrases Walt Disney wrote before his death was Kurt Russell  True
During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2007, Kurt Russell confirmed this Disney Urban Legend. Apparently, the last two words that Walt Disney wrote were "Kurt" and "Russell". "It's true." said actor Kurt Russell, "I don't know what to make of it. I was taken into his office one time after he died and I was shown that." At the time of Disney's death Kurt Russell was a child actor for the Disney company.

Two Monorails Once Collided Into Each Other  True
This urban legend sprung up with guest's trying to figure out why they are not allow to ride in the back of the Monorail. While it is true that this is not the reason you can not ride in the back this crash did happen. The crash occurred on February 14th 1974. One monorail was approaching the magic kingdom station and was unable to stop when it crashed into the departing train ahead of it. The crash occurred inside the station, no guests were injured however the monorail driver, Harvey Triplett was seriously injured but recovered. Attached is copy of Eyes & Ears referencing the crash. There have also been three other minor crashes throughout the monorails history involving the monorail work tractor, and a fire in the 80's.

* A special thanks to Thomas Morgan who contrubuted to this information.

A Cast Member was thrown into the Magic Kingdom lagoon and was electrocuted.  False
This is a common myth surrounding Grad Nite at Walt Disney World®. The story goes that some high school students threw Mickey Mouse into the lagoon at the Magic Kingdom, and the cast member died from electrocution from the air-conditioning unit inside the costume. There are 2 myths in this legend. First, there is no proof that Mickey was ever thrown into the lagoon. Second, the cast member would not have been electrocuted, as the character costumes do not contain air-conditioning units.

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The Disneyland version of "The Haunted Mansion" has bullet holes from a shooting that occured in the 1970s  True
During the 1970s at Disneyland a guest brought a gun into "The Haunted Mansion" attraction, and started shooting holes in the large pane of glass used in the ballroom scene. Since the glass was too large to move, Disney just taped up the bullet holes. You can still see some of the spider-webbed glass caused

Someone was killed on Fasntasyland's Skyway.  True
Reports that there was a death on the Skyway are in fact true. Howerver, it was not a guest who lost their life. In February of 1999, a part-time Cast Member, while not wearing any protective equipment or safety harness, was working in the loading area when he accidentally fell to his death.

A guest's head was severed by standing up on Space Mountain  False
This Disney urban legend has been around for quite some years now. However, it does have some basis in fact. When Disney Imagineers were testing Space Mountain they had a test dummy standing up on the ride. As a result of this the test dummy's head was severed from it's body.

Cinderella's Castle can be taken apart in case a hurricane is going to hit The Magic Kingdom.  False
This legend has been in circulation almost as long as Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom has been open. Unfortunately, this feat is not possible. Cinderella's Castle is made entirely of fiberglass and can not be taken apart.