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After Hurricane Milton, Russians Come for Walt Disney World

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Posted on by Rick Lye 1 Comment
A dramatic stormy sky looms over a Disney World castle with a statue of Walt Disney holding Mickey Mouse's hand in the foreground. A yellow warning sign with a hurricane symbol reads "Hurricane Season." The scene blends iconic imagery with an urgent reminder to prepare for the impending weather.

Credit: Inside The Magic

The photo was jarring. It showed a young girl holding her small dog on a boat, awaiting rescue after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina.

An AI-generated image of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort destroyed by a hurricane.
Note: This image was created with artificial intelligence and does not represent hurricane damage at Walt Disney World Resort. Credit: @jaybaskinforreal via TikTok

The nation was devasted as this photo circulated on social media. There was no slight issue: the photo was completely fake.

Donald Trump used photos like these to criticize Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s response to Hurricane Helene. Still, the photo was part of a larger plan, and many Americans bought it.

That photo, like many other deep fakes on social media, was created by Russian bots to help stir discontent among Americans. In the wake of Hurricane Milton, Walt Disney World is also being dragged into it.

Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to Central Florida, with a storm surge causing flooding in Tampa Bay and winds damaging Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays. However, the damage to the Walt Disney World Resort seems minimal.

Even before the storm ended, the disinformation campaign on social media had already started. Some were clearly fake, including one that showed Pluto rescuing a girl from the flooding at the Magic Kingdom.

However, upon closing examination, Pluto had human legs and was absolutely jacked. Although that is obviously an AI-generated image, others aren’t so clear.

These other images show flooding and damage at the Magic Kingdom, with Main Street, U.S.A., flooded. Some people believed these images were real and commented on the destruction of the beloved American icon.

While some people commented on the tragedy, others said that Disney “got what they deserved,” clearly feeding into the discontent that Russia wanted from these images.

Moustafa Ayad, ISD executive director for Africa, the Middle East and Asia, told The Guardian:

It’s well-known that Kremlin-backed outlets and the Kremlin itself often exploit natural disasters and political crises to sow chaos and spread misinformation for their own gain. The use of this image is no different.

A large airplane soars over a fairytale castle backdrop near Orlando Airport, with a massive swirling storm depicted in the sky. The scene elegantly combines elements of aviation, fantasy, and weather phenomena—perfect for those dreaming of vacations to Disney World.
Credit: Inside The Magic

Like President Abraham Lincoln said, “Don’t believe everything you see on social media.” In this case, users should pay close attention to all disinformation on these platforms, especially in an election year.

While most Disney fans know these are fake, some still believe that Disney World was flooded and, in some cases, “got what it deserved.”

Do you often fall for fake social media posts? 

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Rick Lye

Rick is an avid Disney fan. He first went to Disney World in 1986 with his parents and has been hooked ever since. Rick is married to another Disney fan and is in the process of turning his two children into fans as well. When he is not creating new Disney adventures, he loves to watch the New York Yankees and hang out with his dog, Buster. In the fall, you will catch him cheering for his beloved NY Giants.

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