Disney World is known as The Most Magical Place on Earth.

And while this statement is true, sometimes wild, unbelievable, and creepy things take place at Disney World.

Disney World is filled with magic and pixie dust, and that can make is seem as if nothing strange or scary could happen, but think again! Here are four wild, unbelievable, and creepy true stories that happened in Disney World. 

Before we get into it, let’s talk about a few persistent, creepy Disney World rumors that AREN’T true:

• No, Walt Disney’s body was not frozen, and no, it’s not being stored in the tunnels under Cinderella Castle.
• No, the ghost of a construction worker named George does not haunt the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
• And YES, turkey legs are actually turkey — and not emu or ostrich as the rumors say!

OK, let’s get back to those things that ACTUALLY happened!

Cinderella Castle Fire

Back in December of 2021, there was a small fire in the Magic Kingdom near Cinderella Castle. Emergency vehicles could be seen going down Main Street — which is certainly not something that you see every day. The fire was found behind the castle, and it was assumed that a tree had caught on fire due to a falling firework.

Guests who were dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table were evacuated as a safety precaution and had their meals comped by Disney. Magic Kingdom was completely back to normal the next day, and Cinderella’s Royal Table also welcomed back guests the next morning.

When you think about the nightly fireworks over Cinderella Castle, it really is suprising that there are not more issues like this! If you’ve ever noticed sprinklers going on the roofs of buildings near the castle in Fantasyland, now you know why — Disney wets down the roofs before and during the fireworks to prevent trouble from the sparks that are flying in the sky. After more than 50 years of nightly fireworks, they know a thing or two about fire prevention!

Maleficent Dragon Float Fire

Speaking of fire in Magic Kingdom, there is another fire took place in May of 2018. In the Festival of Fantasy Parade, the Maleficent dragon float breathes real fire. Unfortunately during this parade, the float malfunctioned, causing the float to catch on fire. Guests watched as Maleficent’s head was engulfed in flames. 

The fire-breathing effect had to wait five years until it was used again in Magic Kingdom in 2023. While not at Disney World, Disneyland’s Maleficent dragon also caught on fire back in 2023 during Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is set to return this May in Disneyland after being closed since the night of the fire.

Again, Disney uses pyrotechnics safely nearly every day in Disney World, and they take every precaution. But sometimes, accidents do happen!

Bear in Magic Kingdom

Yet another story from Magic Kingdom, but don’t worry — this one does not involve fire. In September 2023, guests visiting Magic Kingdom were met with half of the park being closed. Why? Oh because a bear was roaming around the park! 

And no, we’re not talking about Big Al or Wendell from Country Bear Jamboree. This was the local wildlife, but we can’t help but think this guy wasn’t just trying to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad before the midday crowds picked up! The bear was found in a tree and was later captured and released into the wild. The rest of the park re-opened the same day. 

Let’s not forget Disney World was built on largely undeveloped land — much of it home to alligators, bobcats, deer, Florida panthers, and yes, the Florida black bear. You might be surprised to know that 62% of the land Disney World owns is STILL undeveloped, and covenants on the land require that 30% of it always remain undeveloped for conservation. So yes, all of those species still live around Disney World, but you won’t see most of them in the parks — guess they aren’t Annual Passholders yet!

Cremains on the Haunted Mansion

It is no secret that there is always “room for one more” in the Haunted Mansion, but unfortunately, people have taken this too literally. People have actually brought their loved ones’ ashes to be scattered in the Haunted Mansion. 

Not only is this illegal, but the fate of the ashes is not great. Disney uses HEPA-filtered vacuums to clean the ashes up, which means your loved one will end up in the trash. This is gross and causes a safety hazard, so please do not attempt to do this. 

Not to mention that sometimes when the Haunted Mansion goes down, this is the reason. We understand that many people love Disney World so much that their loved ones may want to leave a piece of them behind there, but this just isn’t the place.

These stories may be wild or creepy, but Disney’s high safety standards are on display every day throughout Disney World. There are thousands of employees and tens of thousands more travelers in the parks and hotels every day — having a blast in a safe environment. If you ever have a safety or security concern at Disney World, every Cast Member is trained on what to do in an emergency, so don’t hesitate to contact them!

Want to Read More Disney Stories? Click Here for Stories That Will Make You Cry, Laugh, or Cringe!

Did any of these stories surprise you? Let us know down below!

The post 4 Wild, Unbelievable, and Creepy Stories That Actually Happened in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.