Disneyland Resort’s Dark Secrets Revealed

in Disneyland Resort

Mickey Mouse in front of Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland; the image has been turned to black & white to convey some secrets are being hidden.

Credit: Disney

Disneyland Resort isn’t The Happiest Place on Earth for what one medical professional called a “constant” stream of injured Disney Park guests. According to multiple reports, the number of severe injuries at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney is one of the Southern California Disney Resort’s darkest secrets.

Significant accidents at the Disney parks make the news. Just this month, a Main Street, U.S.A., light pole fell on multiple Disneyland Park guests, and another guest died after falling from the Pixar Pals parking structure. But even more stories slip through the cracks, like a woman who allegedly died on Splash Mountain in 2016 after her stitches broke open on the attraction.

This week on Reddit, a Disney Parks fan asked about Disneyland Resort’s “dark secrets.” Multiple cast members, lawyers, fans, and medical professionals shared that they believed the general public doesn’t realize how many injuries occur on Disney property.

Mickey's Fun Wheel and Incredicoaster on Pixar Pier at Disneyland Resort's California Adventure
Credit: Brandi Alexandra via Unsplash

“You’d probably be surprised at how many moderately severe injuries happen on Disney property which never make headlines,” u/nuggetsofchicken wrote. “I’m an attorney now and what I hear from colleagues is that they are constantly trying to investigate and resolve disputes pre-litigation as much as possible so it never shows up even in court filings.”

“When I worked as a [Cast Member] on Soarin’, the big issue we had was guests swinging their seats while CMs were trying to load other guests,” they continued. “Those thousands of pounds of steel would then swing back and hit CMs who were walking behind them and many would get concussions.”

Folks enjoying Downtown Disney
Credit: Disney

“That’s what I was thinking of,” u/ElJayDude replied. “Just random injuries. Like somebody’s in a wheelchair and somebody’s not paying attention to the curb along side them and next thing you know somebody’s hitting their head on the road. Or just random heart attacks. I was in custodial and we ran into all kinds of random stuff just because you’re walking around all day. But you think of a town that size and how many people die every day it pretty much fits.”

“I’m not a CM but work for a hospital nearby and got constant patients from visitors ranging to CMs with injuries that result in fractures from falls I would say once a week,” u/Veinti_Cuatro echoed.

But some warned that injuries aren’t a Disneyland Resort-exclusive problem.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse accompanying the Disneyland Main Street Marching Band down Main Street, U.S.A, with Disneyland Park's Sleeping Beauty Castle in the background
Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Related: The Dark Secret of Disney’s Shocking Haunted Mansion Changes

“There are so many injuries daily at all theme parks,” u/WithDisGuy explained. “Disney def has a lot of medical attention needed and yes, the more moderate to serious is all settled long before court… People just don’t understand how this works. It’s not admitting guilt and shared fault is common in a lot of cases.”

For your safety, always follow instructions on theme park attractions. Notify a cast member if something goes wrong during your Disneyland Resort visit.

Have you ever been injured at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort? Share your story with Inside the Magic in the comments.

Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on personal Disney Parks experiences. No two experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with Inside the Magic’s personal views on Disney Park operations.

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