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Disneyland: a popular place to spread ashes?
Here's a new one.Apparently, Disneyland is seeing an increasing number of incidents where park-goers are sneaking in the cremated remains of a loved one, and scattering them around the park. Seriously.
"The Haunted Mansion is by far the most popular location for this," writes Miceage.com, "but you'd be surprised where else people are dumping cremated remains at Disneyland."
The Haunted Mansion is where it all began, but the epidemic is growing to other areas of the park so much that employees are now trained to deal with the situation.
"To respond to this growing problem, Disneyland's custodial department recently had to purchase special vacuums with very sophisticated HEPA filters that can capture the gritty ash of human remains while also capturing the small bone fragments that can also be present after cremation. The Cast Members who work in Attractions know the code words when calling the custodial hotline, and they tell the custodial dispatcher that they need a 'HEPA Cleanup' as soon as possible."
Truly bizarre. [via]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Shaughn Feb 7th 2008 6:39AM
I thought I was the only one who wanted to go to Disney when I died. At least I know I'm not going to end up in a vacuum and eventually a landfill. I want to be dumped in the Seven Seas Lagoon in Disney World. My spouse and I have made it known to our families that we want to be cremated and then dumped together after the last one dies. We spent our honeymoon there and have since spent several anniversaries there as well. Why not spend eternity in the happiest place on earth!
caroline Feb 7th 2008 6:51AM
If the spreading of ashes at Disney is so important to some people,why doesn't Disney capitalise on this idea and build a memorial park somewhere in the vicinity of the Theme Parks .That way people could fulfill thier loved one's wishes without contaminating a public recreation space.
By the way,how do International Visitors bring their deceased family members' ashes through customs and then subsequently the Parks' gates? I am sure there is a customs violation there somewhere?????
selina Nov 13th 2007 12:57PM
This may sound strange but my Mom always said she wanted her ashes in Disney World. Of course we didn't expect her to pass away at 58. This was one of the happiest places we spent a lot of time. I haven't brought her and the Haunted mansion wasn't where she wanted to be but I know she would be happy there. Still miss my Mom...
Sandy Floyd Jan 14th 2008 11:57AM
Selina,
I am sorry to hear that you lost your mom at the early age of 58. Your mom's request does not sound strange at all. I have made the same request. My daughters first reaction was "they won't let me do that", to which I commented, "don't ask". I had no idea so many other people felt the same way I did. Now I know that my request is not strange either.
nina green Nov 13th 2007 1:23PM
This is really funny to read . I told my daughter a few years ago to do this with my ashes when I die. She thought I was crazy, but Im serious.... I go every year , and it is truly the happiest place on earth , at least for me ... I forget all my troubles , am totally at peace with every thing and never want to leave.... Its the only thing I look forward to each year.. It should be allowed in a certain spot at each park. I want to rest in peace for eternity there !!!!! And I will !!! N.G.
Sandy Floyd Jan 14th 2008 11:56AM
Nina,
I agree with you and my ashes will be spread at DisneyWorld as well. It's in my Will. I will be going there in March and even though we have a trip planned every month, this is the one I look forward to the most. See you there one day!!!!
stacyjuhl Nov 13th 2007 3:44PM
YES! I wanted to be the 1000th ghost, but apparently others have gotten there first. I do seriously want my family to use the life insurance money to take a long trip to WDW and spread my ashes. Yes, I'm a freak - but there are many like me ... so at least I am not alone! lol
Eileen Nov 13th 2007 5:59PM
That is a great idea...I can't believe I never thought of that!!!! Your not a freak.....because that would mean my entire family is full of freaks. I come from a long line of hardcore DisneyWorld "freaks" and proud of it!!!!
Riley Nov 13th 2007 6:22PM
What the heck? You guys are freakin' idiots!!!!
Spreading your ashes at Disneyland?! You're turning the happiest place on earth into a graveyard. Why would you want your ashes scattered there in the first place? It sounds creepy to me.
Andi Nov 13th 2007 7:22PM
All that's gonna happen when you decide you want someone to spread your ashes in Disneyland is that you're gonna end up in the trash. Pick a nice field and leave it at that.
Joe B Jan 15th 2008 4:34AM
JLB4PEACE@AOL.COM:
I agree with those who think that WDW is the happiest place on earth. We live in OH but buy annual passes because we go there 3-4 times every year (especially this time of year when the weatherman calls for a "wintery mix" of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and sub-freezing temperatures. I never thought of the Haunted Mansion, either, however, and still don't want my cremains there. I hate to make it tough on the custodians, but my family knows I want little baggies distributed in the big lake at Epcot, the lake between the Boardwalk Resort and the Beach Club (my home resorts in the Vacation Club) and especially in the water hazards on the golf courses, since I spent so much time there already! However, I also told them to scatter some ashes in the fairways, so I could remain in death in places I rarely visited while alive!
And I don't think it's sick to leave your ashes there, as long as they aren't left in the water or sand at one of the water parks, or in a restaurant or a building or where other visitors might see them and be grossed out by them.
I know Disney doesn't allow it, so I told my family not to ask, either, just to take a couple of small baggies ...
donna Nov 13th 2007 8:10PM
I can't believe it has taken this long for them to figure this out. Almost 20 years ago my sister and brother in law springled his sister from the cars in the air that hang from a metal bar...sorry forget name. If done discretely so be it is what I say. I do love Disney as well, my family lives in Osceloa County and when I visit I enjoy going at least once a year.
mary Nov 14th 2007 2:46PM
What a bunch of selfish creeps!! Who the heck wants to go someplace where people's ashes are being spread? It makes me sick to think that I may have inhaled someones remains. I hope that they start doing DNA on the ashes they find and fine the families of those idiots thousands of dollars. If I want to sniff something, it won't be the ashes of a corpse! And the dead person who wanted to be there isn't there anyhow, just their stupid ashes! They are no doubt in HELL!
James Nov 14th 2007 5:29PM
Wow, this is really stupid. Why would you want to bring the grim idea of death to a theme park that advertises as the happiest place on earth? Its completely selfish and hypocritical.
Oh, and regarding the second comment on this page by nina green, How would you feel knowing that your idiot kids got kicked out of the park and arrested for trying to fulfill your stupid death request?
Its amazing how many people dont think anymore.
Kathy Nov 15th 2007 9:07PM
I would love to have my ashes at Disneyland. I can not BELIEVE that Disney has not found a way to capitalize on the idea.
AJ Nov 15th 2007 9:55PM
Disneyland should be thrilled that people love the park so much that people want their ashes placed there. I asked my daughter over three years ago to PLEASE put my ashes near the waterfalls in front of the Bonita Towers where we always stay. To keep some for Its A Small World (my favorite ride) and Pirates (my second favorite ride. There is NO place in the world that I would rather be. Lots of laughter from precious children, beautiful flowers, the sound of the waterfalls,
and my two favorite rides. That is the way to go.
Thanks Disneyland hopefully way ahead of time. AJ
Jim Nov 15th 2007 10:51PM
Wow its stuff like this that shows you why the world and especially the selfish Americans are so screwed up. Anyone that is so self absorbed and self centered that they want to make Disney a graveyard of ashes is only thinking of themselves. If you act that way in your marriages no wonder Disney means so much to you. Maybe you all should pay more attention to your loved ones and think less of yourselves. No matter how much I liked a public place I certainly wouldnt impose my wishes (and my ashes) on the people that go there for the reason the place was intended. It wasnt designed as a graveyard. Get a grip and stop being the ugly selfish Americans that so many countries despise.
Bobbie Nov 16th 2007 12:56AM
As a retired cast member you people are all living in a dream world.If you think your loved ones ashes remain
at the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH you are DEAD WRONG.In all the years that I worked there I saw every inch of the place cleaned,refurbished,washed,drained,etc.Simply stated where ever you think your ashes may be,they could be anywhere.It is a park for pleasure not a grave yard.The ashes could and most likely left the park a long time ago. PLEASE people out of respect for your loved ones tell them what I have told you and do not put them there.Let them rest in peace some where that will be a place you know for sure they will not moved to GOD KNOWS WHERE. With all do respect and good intentions. Bobbie
Jennifer W. Nov 16th 2007 12:47AM
How in the hell can you think that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth? It's an amusement park. Period. And an overcrowded and over-priced one, at that.
Don't dump anyone's ashes there, though. That's just plain bizarre.
Micheal Nov 16th 2007 8:09PM
I certainly do think that they should clean up the corpses scattered about Disneyland. However, it is so sad that people have taken their loved ones to rest there and now they are in the trash.