People Have Been Regularly Scattering the Ashes of Loved Ones at Disney

[SeaBreeze]

Frequently at Disneyland and Disney World, people bring the ashes from the remains of deceased loved ones and scatter them there, or place them in the Haunted Mansion. More on this weird story here.

For at least 11 years, an unnerving story has made the rounds on Disney fan blogs: people regularly scatter the ashes of loved ones at Disneyland and Disney World. Well, today, the Wall Street Journal has confirmed the urban legend. And we’re not talking about a couple of isolated cases. This happens on a monthly basis. Disney employees even have a special code to report when it happens.


The code is “HEPA cleanup.” You’ll know that acronym if you’re a vacuum enthusiast because it refers to a special kind of filter you need to suck up very fine particles, like human ashes. For its recent report, the Journal talked to custodians of the park who have taken part in cleaning up human remains as well as at least three families who have spread them.

It’s worth quoting this part at length:

Current and former custodians at Disney parks say identifying and vacuuming up human ashes is a signature and secret part of working at the Happiest Place on Earth. It is grisly work for them, but a cathartic release for the bereaved, who say treating Disney parks as a final resting place is the ultimate tribute to ardent fans.

Human ashes have been spread in flower beds, on bushes and on Magic Kingdom lawns; outside the park gates and during fireworks displays; on Pirates of the Caribbean and in the moat underneath the flying elephants of the Dumbo ride.

Most frequently of all, according to custodians and park workers, they’ve been dispersed throughout the Haunted Mansion, the 49-year-old attraction featuring an eerie old estate full of imaginary ghosts.

“The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny,” said one Disneyland custodian.​

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[Gary O']

talk about coincidence

a poster I made in another life;


(sorry SB)

 

[Linda]

They should not do this as they shouldn't have their ashes scattered over the strip n Las Vegas. But people do it...........

 

[Aunt Bea]

I think that instead of trying to stop people Disney should designate a portion of a flower bed or a park as a memorial garden and quietly embrace the idea.

They could even do a macabre version in the haunted house where grandpa's ashes could be deposited into a contraption that would swirl them into a ghostly apparition as they pass into the netherworld. nthego:

 

[Trade]

If I got some kind of violation like a speeding ticket and the punishment was a choice of either paying a $200 fine or spending a whole day at Disney World free of charge, I would pay the fine.

But if the fine was $500 I would suck it up and go to Disney World.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I'm with you Trade, never had a desire to go to Disneyland or World, but if it saved me $500, I'd bite the bullet.

 

[Linda]

I wonder what they do with the ashes after they vacuum them up? Throw them in the garbage is my guess.

 

[RadishRose]

I wonder what they do with the ashes after they vacuum them up? Throw them in the garbage is my guess.

I agree. Or, maybe turn into the soil to enrich for some plantings! Especially bulbs, they like bone-meal.

 

[squatting dog]

If I got some kind of violation like a speeding ticket and the punishment was a choice of either paying a $200 fine or spending a whole day at Disney World free of charge, I would pay the fine.

But if the fine was $500 I would suck it up and go to Disney World.

I'm with you trade. don't have any desire to go there.

 

[Falcon]

I see little harm in it, as long as it's done VERY carefully and Mickey doesn't mind.

 

[Sunny]

Better than having a plane fly over a ball park during a game and scatter the ashes. I've heard of that being done, but I think it's been banned. Imagine sitting at a game and having somebody's ashes dumped on you.

 

[Geezerette]

Some people I knew were scattering their loved one's ashes off a cliff at Big Sur as he had wanted & just as they did it, a huge gust of wind came up & blew the ashes back on them, & one of them hold me later they thought it was "A" having the last laugh..

 

[PopsnTuff]

This is disturbingly gross from the article above

Human ashes have been spread in flower beds, on bushes and on Magic Kingdom lawns; outside the park gates and during fireworks displays; on Pirates of the Caribbean and in the moat underneath the flying elephants of the Dumbo ride. Most frequently of all, according to custodians and park workers, they’ve been dispersed throughout the Haunted Mansion, the 49-year-old attraction featuring an eerie old estate full of imaginary ghosts.
“The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny,” said one Disneyland custodian.
It’s all very sad. But it’s also surely frowned upon to scatter human remains in very public places, especially amusement parks.

 

[Fyrefox]

Many vacation sites and communities allow for a fee the placing of memorial plaques or bricks on benches, walkways, and the like. It allows for the memory of a departed lived one to abide in a favorite place and be associated with it. Diehard Disney aficionados should perhaps content themselves with something like this, which also raises revenue for their favored site...