9 wild Disney conspiracy theories that will never die

Today, any major corporation, franchise, and famous figure are fair game to conspiracy theorists. So it’s no surprise that Walt Disney, his empire, has become the target of numerous far-fetched rumors. Conspirasphere’s standards are a bit odd, but even by those, Disney conjectures seem a little outlandish.

The House of Mouse has been the subject of many bizarre and enduring myths.

1. Walt Disney’s head is in cryogenic storage

It is possible that this myth about Walt Disney or the Disney Corporation has been the most widely spread and popular. Walt’s head or, in other versions, even his whole body, was cryogenically froze when he died in 1996. This would be used to reanimate him when technology allowed it. The National Spotlight tabloid published the story in 1967. Later, the French magazine picked up the tale. Ici, Paris and The National Tattler.

While it is true that the first instance of cryogenic freezing of a human took place in 1967, there is zero evidence that the Disney creator’s head or body are on ice. Diane, Walt’s daughter, publically rejected this idea in 1972. Speculation may have been fueled by Walt’s particularly private funeral. He was actually cremated and interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

2. Walt’s micromanagement videos span five years and were left for his executive team

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The least-fanciful theory of all. Walt’s death from lung cancer was relatively sudden, and came at a pivotal moment for the company. Walt Disney World was still under construction, and Walt’s brother Roy deferred his retirement to oversee the project. Walt Disney taped, in his final days, a series short films, addressed specifically to Disney executives. These films contained instructions about the future direction of the company and a secret list of films not suitable for home video, a market that was yet undeveloped. Walt’s vision was so important to Disney, the theory goes, that he detailed every step that his followers should take.

The popular fact-checking website Snopes has already been over this one, pointing out the misconception that Walt had a tight rein on the company’s minutia. In fact, by the time of Walt’s death, Roy Disney was already running most of the day-to-day business. Walt’s role at that time was more akin to that of creative advisor, and he held far less than a controlling share in the company. It is unlikely that Walt would leave these personal notes for his employees.

3. Walt Disney’s will includes money for any woman that gets pregnant.

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This is a truly bizarre post. Even Snopes can’t help us out with an explanation about where this strange idea came from, beyond pointing out that the trope of an eccentric rich man leaving odd requests and stipulations in his will is very old. It must be said, however, that while Walt Disney was a creative thinker, he wasn’t particularly eccentric. Walt was interested in technologies that could advance the human potential, but he never wrote or spoke about it.

Unlike some of the items on this list, this one can relatively easily be put to bed, given that Walt’s will is now a matter of public record. Walt clearly left his children and wife 45% of the estate, while 45% went to Disney Foundation. Rest of the estate was distributed amongst other family members, and no pregnant men were included on this list.

4. Walt Disney is born in wedlock

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If it’s in print, it must be true, right? It can all be traced to one book, published in 1994 and titled ominously Walt Disney: Hollywood’s Dark Prince. It was written by a man named Marc Eliot, and within its pages you’ll find accusations that Walt was an anti-Semite and a spy for the House Un-American Activities Committee, and that he faked his birth certificate, having really been born to a peasant woman in Spain.

In actuality, it’s well-documented that Disney was born in Chicago, and Marc Eliot has been thoroughly discredited by experts, including Disney historian Didier Ghez, who labeled the book as “So full of mistakes, guesses, intentional lies and non-intentional ignorance it is hardly worth mentioning.” Eminent animation historian Michael Barrier concurs, describing Dark Prince as “easily the worst Disney biography I’ve ever read.”

5. Cinderella Castle may be moved and dismantled

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This myth is not entirely clear, but it does make some sense. Florida, being so close to the tropics, is subjected to severe weather conditions. The summer is when Disney World receives the most visitors, and hurricanes are common. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so surprising if one of the leisure park’s most-loved attractions, the 189-foot Cinderella Castle, could be dismantled in times of emergency.

However, this is a rumor that has no truth. After 18 months, the castle was finished in July 1971. The building is said to be able to resist winds up 125mph thanks in part, due, to the 600 tons of bracing steel, a reinforced wall, and concrete substructure. The castle’s exterior design takes inspiration from real-life medieval castles around the world. It isn’t a modular piece of architecture designed to be easily broken down and moved.

6. Disney World has a protective giant dome covering it

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According to some posts on Quora, this is one of the longest-lasting myths. Unbelievable numbers of people continue to believe that Disney World has a large invisible dome covering it, which is supposed to keep out insects and bad weather.

The number of blogs that recommend visiting Disney World at the right time to avoid the rain refutes this story. This story is easily refuted by the number of holiday blogs that recommend the best times to visit Disney World in order to avoid rain. This story may have been inspired by a real-life project to build a climate controlled dome at Disney World. Provisionally named “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” the idea was abandoned before construction began.

7. No one can die at a Disney park

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Here’s a macabre, but surprisingly popular, entry. To clarify, no one is claiming that Disney’s properties emit magical life-giving energy, at least so far as we know. The claim instead is that nobody has ever been declared dead at a Disney Park. According to this myth, Disney staff removes dead bodies from the park before informing authorities.

Snopes, a fact-checking site that examines the truth behind stories and claims about Disney property, has once again come to our rescue. The fact-checking site has unearthed at least three documented cases of deaths on Disney property, including four from the 1980s and another from 2018, when a utility worker at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort died after the cart he was working on flipped, pinning him to the floor. While the Disney corporation has certainly been accused of overzealous protection of its public image, on this one, it’s in the clear.

8. The busts in the Haunted Mansion are modeled on Walt Disney’s face

Disneyland, Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland are all home to the Haunted Mansion. This popular ride-through attractions uses both old-fashioned theater techniques as well as modern-day technology in order to create a number of frightening surprises. The singing busts are some of the best-known residents in the Haunted mansion. They consist of a grouping of five plaster torsos with no arms, but whose faces come to life to sing to visitors, using some neat video effects.

According to some versions, Walt Disney is the inspiration for one of these busts. In other versions, it’s all of them. Walt is known for being a multi-talented performer. However, the identity of the performers and singers who are behind the busts can be easily dismissed. Verne rowe, Thurl ravenscroft, Chuck Schroeder and Jay Meyer are among the performers on display.

9. Walt Disney was an Nazi sympathizer

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The book Marc Eliot, which was discredited, is at least partially responsible for this inflamatory theory. Walt Disney: Hollywood’s Dark Prince. But modern animated comedy like Robot ChickenThe following are some examples of how to get started: Family GuyThere have been jokes that make reference to the myth. Walt worked on top secret training films that were made for the U.S. Army during World War II. These films would have needed the highest security clearance. Also, he produced many short propaganda videos criticizing Nazis.

It is true that German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, whose documentaries glorified Hitler’s regime, visited Disney Studios in 1938. Her visit to America was to promote a new movie about the Olympics. Walt offered to show her around his studio but declined to support or screen the film. Walt never met Benito Mussolini, nor is there any evidence that he did.