Top 5: Ghost Stories From Disney Parks
Disneyland and Walt Disney World are both known as The Happiest Place on Earth, and are some of the most visited places in the world each year. Many of the guests wandering these parks have little clue of anything going on behind the scenes and Disney has planned it that way. Most guests only see the smiles, the characters, and the thrills. I would bet to say that most guests visiting the park hardly know that much about what goes into “putting on the show” each day. They are there simply to have a good time. After the park is closed and all of the guests are shuttled back to their hotel room, a whole new world comes to life. Despite what you may think, Disney parks do have somewhat of a hidden past. Certain stories that shouldn’t be told to frighten the average guest to the park get swept under the rug. Only if you ask will you get told an answer about some of the things cast members and late night workers have seen at the parks. Whether any of these stories are true or not is up for debate, but they are fun and give a darker edge to the Happiest Place on Earth. So what have people seen? Here are the top 5 best ghost stories from the Disney parks.
5-The Peoplemover (Disneyland). Grad Night at the Disney parks has always been a custom since the opening of Disneyland in 1955, but is also a night full of teenage mischief as you’ll soon understand after reading this. On Grad Night in 1967, a 17-year-old boy named Ricky Yama was killed on the Peoplemover attraction. Disregarding the safety rules, Yama decided to jump from vehicle to vehicle on the Peoplemover. It was all fun and games until he finally slipped, fell onto the track, and was killed by an oncoming ride vehicle. The boy was fond of women with blond hair and is said to still haunt the attraction on which he was killed, appearing for blond girls and tugging on their hair.
4-Tom Sawyer Island (Disneyland). Several ghosts have been spotted roaming and running around Tom Sawyer Island. Another Grad Night incident led to the death of at least one teenage boy in the River of America after he jumped in and drowned in the water. After dark, cast members and even guests have said they see someone staring back to the shores from the island when Tom Sawyer Island is no longer open for the day. Small children are also said to be seen on the island. It’s unknown of why they are there, if they are, but screams of joy and running figures have been seen after hours from the island.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland). It is unclear where the story originated or when this really happened, if it did happen, but a woman who was originally denied the right to bury her young son’s ashes on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction decided to sneak the ashes in anyways and scatter them around the ride. Once the attraction is closed for the night and all of the music and sound is shutoff, voices of laughter can be heard throughout the attraction and a vision of a young boy has been spotted toward the end of the attraction. Cast Members and guests have also said this boy has also been seen towards the end of the Haunted Mansion, crying out after hours.
2-Pirates of the Caribbean (Walt Disney World). George is said to be the ghost of a Disney Imagineer who died while welding together the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Walt Disney World in the late 1970’s. Several stories flutter about how he died on the attraction and there is no certain story anymore, but never-the-less he died while creating the attraction. Cast Members say they can see a figure roaming around on the attraction through the monitors, but never in real life. Cast Members even say “good morning” and “good night” to George as somewhat of a superstition about the ride shutting down during operations or coming on at night when nobody is there.
1-Main Street U.S.A. (Disneyland). I had to add Main Street as a whole because it’s the central location for many sightings of Walt Disney at Disneyland. It’s a well known secret that Walt Disney had an apartment built above the Firehouse on Main Street U.S.A. and for many Cast Members and guests alike, Walt can sometimes be seen inside the window or nearby. There is a storage unit behind the Magic shop where he has been seen and a storage area in the attic of the Emporium where he has also been seen. Disney has also been spotted above the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the old Disney Gallery, but more sightings have been noted on Main Street where he used to wander and loved hanging out.
Know any other ghost stories? Care to share them? Leave your thoughts and comments down below. As always, I’ll see you soon.
Josh Taylor
https://ModernMouseRadio.com
Posted on February 8, 2013, in Articles and tagged Death, Disney World, Disneyland, Ghosts, Haunted, haunted mansion, Josh Taylor, Main Street, Modern Mouse Radio, Peoplemover, Pirates, Tom Sawyer Island, Walt Disney. Bookmark the permalink. 29 Comments.
I love stories like these! I’m familiar with the story of George at WDW, but the DLR stories were new to me. I’d love to hear some more…
Love the stories! Great blog!
Thank you so much!
So, I was at Disney’s California Adventure park, and three VERY CREEPY things happened.1.I was walking on the same side as the outside loading area for Tower of Terror and this employee I had never seen gestured at me, sort of like, come here, and I was creeped out so I crossed the street and when I looked back at him he was gone. 2. I was in the pre show area of Muppet Vision 3D and I noticed this weird guy, so I sort of edged away from him. Then, as I went in I didn’t see him, but when I sat down he was right behind me. I kept on turning around to look at him, and at the part where the cannon explodes I turned around and he wasn’t there and a totally different guy was there. 3. I was walking by the Grizzly River Run at night and I stopped near the wheelbarrows of rocks and the rock chutes to tie my shoe and I heard footsteps behind me. They didn’t,t stop till I got to Buena Vista Street but I was alone the whole time. Isn’t it weird that this all happened in one trip?
Wow, interesting story!
In May 2009, on my 42nd birthday, I was at Disneyland with my girlfriend who used to work at the park. We started the day with a stop at the Tiki Room and during the performance I kept seeing a man in a suit sitting over on one side of the room, out of the corner of my eye…and I swear, he looked like Walt Disney…but every time I looked directly, there was no one there. My gf later told me that the Tiki Room was Walt’s favorite attraction. Whether it was his ghost or a “residual” doesn’t matter; it made my experience that day all the more magical.
Love it!
I must share a few little stories of my own. I live in Orlando and am a cast member at WDW. I’d like to share a couple of my own experiences.
Firstly, the first day I got to see Magic Kingdom I rode the purple monorail. Little did I know, that this was the monorail that had been in an accident a few years back resulting in the death of the purple monorail driver’s death. I kept getting a weird, creeped out feeling the entire time I was on the monorail and when I departed, I saw an extra driver. I thought nothing of it until later when I heard the story. It’s also common knowledge for employees and guests to see an extra driver or someone sitting in the car when no one is there.
Secondly, of there are many little rumors about the Haunted Mansion really being Haunted. Well, in my opinion, when you name something and say it’s haunted, that draws out spirits. There are countless stories of employees hearing whispers when the ride is shut off, seeing shadows on the video, etc. A few people have mentioned there are artifacts of people who loved the ride so much that when they died they were donated to the attraction. Perhaps lost spirits cling to these objects and have fun adding some terror to the attraction.
It is rumored that after Walt’s death, the nurse or maid (it’s unclear which it was) went to turn out the lamp in the window in his apprtment above the Fire Station on Main Street. When she came back into the room, it was turned back on, so she turned it off again. The same thing happend once more, and when she found it on the second time, she left it on, and it has been on ever since.
I am glad that the lamp is always on. Anytime I walk into Disneyland I look up to see that lamp in the window to somehow honor the man that provided Disneyland for all of us.
1. On July 8, 1974, an 18-year-old employee was crushed to death between a revolving wall and a stationary platform inside the America Sings attraction. She was in the wrong place during a ride intermission; it was unclear whether this was due to inadequate training or a misstep. The attraction was subsequently refitted with breakaway walls. The ride was only open two weeks before the death. They closed the ride for two days. I’ve heard people say that they’ll see a teenage girl in that area, but only out of the corner of their eye.
2. On September 5, 2003, a 22-year-old man died after suffering severe blunt trauma and extensive internal bleeding in a derailment of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster that also injured 10 other riders. As the train entered a tunnel the axle came loose and jammed against a brake section, causing the locomotive to become airborne and hit the ceiling of the tunnel. The locomotive then fell on top of the first passenger car, crushing the victim. I’ve heard people say they see him outside of the final turn of the ride, just standing and staring at the train.
3. On December 24, 1998, a heavy metal cleat fastened to the hull of the Sailing Ship Columbia tore loose, striking one employee and two park guests. One of the guests, a 33-year-old man, died of a head injury, which is an understatement. The guy got part of his head removed by the cleat. I don’t know if people see this guy’s ghost, but this is a creepy story nonetheless.
4. On January 3, 1984, a 48-year-old woman was killed when she was thrown from a Matterhorn Bobsled car and struck by the next oncoming bobsled. They say that you can see or hear a woman on this ride who is not fastened into a bobsled.
5. On a Grad Nite in 1966, a 19-year-old-male was killed while attempting to sneak into the park by climbing onto the monorail track. Ignoring the shouted warnings of a security officer, he was struck by the train and dragged 30 to 40 feet down the track. The security guard in question later stated he had to “hose the kid off the underside.” Don’t know if this kid haunts the monorail or not, but I’ve heard of the monorail getting ice cold in spots for no apparent reason.
6. In June 1973, an 18-year-old man drowned while attempting to swim across the “Rivers of America”. He and his 10-year-old brother stayed on Tom Sawyer’s Island past closing time by hiding in an area that is off-limits to guests. When they wanted to leave the island, they decided to swim across the river even though the younger brother did not know how to swim. The victim attempted to carry his younger brother on his back and drowned halfway across. His body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by “dog paddling” until a ride operator rescued him. Yet another ghost for Tom Sawyer Island.
7. On June 4, 1983, an 18-year-old man drowned in the Rivers of America while trying to pilot a rubber emergency boat from Tom Sawyer’s Island that he and a friend had stolen from a “cast members only” area of the island. People have said they’ve seen a boy out in the water swimming and seemingly struggling, but when they look again, he is gone. Damn, Tom Sawyer Island, you scary.
8 & 9. I put these 2 together because they’re not really reported as ghost sightings, but they are stories that could add to the amount of possible spirits roaming around Disneyland. On March 7, 1981, an 18-year-old man was fatally stabbed with a knife during a fight in Tomorrowland. On March 7, 1987, a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot in the Disneyland parking lot.
Wow! Thanks for all of this info. Glad you checked out the post and gave us this comment.
I have stayed at Walt Disney’s Fort Wilderness and had heard a rummer of the old water park River Country having ghosts. So me and my friend went to check it out. During the day you could see glimpses of the watersides threw the trees, but if you took the boat to Magic Kingdom you could see the old lagoon with the jungle gym and everything still very visible. We didn’t really see anything till that night on the boat ride back from Magic Kingdom. We thought it would be hard to see the old place in the dark but we were wrong. All of the lights were on and you could hear music and laughter coming from the shore and what looked like children playing on the jungle gym. Long story short it was creepy as all get up. This trip was on September 2013.
How close were you to the park? I know they don’t really have the area on lockdown but I think it’s hard to get to right?
I can’t account for the sighting, but Disney leaves the lights and old music on all the time. The water fountains even work there. When River Country originally closed it was supposed to be temporary, but for whatever reason they decided to let it go and not reopen it.
River Country closed because of a deadly amoeba that lives in Florida lake water. The amoeba attacks the nervouse system and kills. Because River Country’s water was fed in from Bay Lake and after an 11 year old boy died from the amoeba after playing there, they had to close the park. They eventually decided it would remain closed because not only would it have cost a lot to retrofit the water park to not have Bay Lake water but by that time they had both Blizzard Beach and Typhone Lagoon up and running successfully.
This isn’t really a ghost story but its funny. When my family and I were at Disney we went get on the monorail in the morning and saw a security guard getting a crushed stroller and a babies shoe off the track and telling us there was nothing to see and walking away with both… weird….
And peter pan is an angel there to take kids to heaven, Nederland, and that’s y none of those kids ever grow up. They’re all dead… dun dun dun!
This is why flashed photography is not allowed in Pirates of the Caribbean. They say it gets on Georges nerves if there is a flash. There have been sightings when there is flash photography that George will appear in pictures. I was so scared when I went on the ride and guests in front of me were taking pictures with the flash.. I wonder what happened to them.
River County… I have been IN the park 6ish years ago with a group of friends. It is true that laughter and music can be heard, as well as laughs and visions of children playing
My friend had to use the bathroom when we were there, so he told me he was going, as soon as he said that I heard a bloodcurdling child’s scream and turmed around… but he was gone. We met outside that gate later.
It was infested with snakes and likely crocodiles when we were there, we were pretty deep into the attraction.
love the pirates of the carrabean haunt!! sounds awsome then next time i go to disney world i have to say “hello george!!” and “bye george” when i go on the ride
kaleb snakes and crocodiles arent scary for “me”
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Disneyland Ca. Is very haunted. Activity reaches beyond the property. This place attracts spirits of all kinds.
I’ve brought Infrared Cameras to Dland, a few times. I’ve caught wandering orbs, ghosts and shadow people, just about everywhere. I’ve captured images on my cell phone as well.
My favorite spots to linger are around the Fire Station, Walt and Mickeys Statue, the old ice cream shop with the stage and fiddle show by Pirates of the Caribbean and Snow Whites Wishing Well area.
Late night when the park is emptying, I like to choose one of these areas to end the night with. I’d sit and share the days experience with the spirits, give my thanks, wish them well. These areas, I believe, are the most active places accessible to all. The whole park is active. But some areas seem to be more populated than others.
I had a season pass so I was able to go all the time. I was lucky.
The spirits can go where they wish. Stay as long as they like. Do what they want. Their park is always open.
It’s the happiest place on earth. Why wouldn’t they want to spend time there and revisit memories and people watch.
Love this place. It’s got ghosts, and all my favorite childhood stories. It’s perfect!
Pay attention to your photographs. Revisit old photos.
I’ve got a few good ghost photos from this park.
Lots of people unknowingly capture spirits in their photos. It’s where most photos on the internet come from…family gatherings, birthday parties, a day at Disneyland. Then you send off these photos to friends and family, post it on FB for all to see.
That’s when the strange and unusual gets noticed lol. “Who’s that with the kids?”
Love this park. Glad I found this link.
Michelle Mikka H of Dark Slide ParaNormal. “626”
I would love to read more stories about peoples experiences with ghosts at dland.
Happy Hauntings!
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we have a picture we took in front of the tree house steaps about 15 years ago, its a big purplish blob to right of the bottom steps
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