Credit: Ken Lund, FlickrAn increasingly popular trend of leaving so-called “pixie dust” around Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort has ignited a heated debate among Disney Parks fans. One family recently sparked backlash after packing dozens of small plastic trinkets to hide throughout Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney. What some call magic, others call trash…
Pixie Dust at Disneyland
The most recent debate began on Monday, when Redditor u/Loud-Possibility-244 shared a screenshot from a Facebook group for Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders. The image shows the dozens (if not hundreds) of Snowgie figurines, inspired by Frozen Fever (2015), a family planned to hide around the Southern California Disney parks as a form of “pixie dust” for other guests.
Guests spreading “pixie dust”
Guests spreading “Pixie Dust”
byu/Loud-Possibility-244 inDisneyland
The post drew hundreds of comments about the increasingly popular trend of leaving presents known as “pixie dust” for other Disneyland Resort guests to find. Overwhelmingly, social media users condemned families who left trinkets around the Disney parks. Here’s why.
Security Risk
“Pretty sure Disney tells people not to do this,” said u/imlegos. “At least so they aren’t legally responsible when someone does something like lace candy or other things that people sure do like to do around minors.”
“If anything, I think things like this will normalize people stealing from others,” u/PassivelyAwkward replied. “Imagine putting down something on the bench next to you or something just to have someone grab it because they think it’s a one of these magical drops.”
Some commenters noted that the small toys could pose a choking hazard or safety issue for young Disney Park visitors.
“Kinda tired of garbage like this being 3D printed for no real reason,” u/Goth_Muppet said. “It ends up in the trash. It’s like please don’t make additional choking hazards for kids to find especially at a theme park.”
“My special needs family member is obsessed with Disney. It actually causes huge problems for his caregivers,” u/FaelingJester replied. “…They have spent a lot of time training social and safety rules. Don’t take things that don’t belong to you. Don’t take food from strangers. Don’t litter and then people run up to them and get very offended when they don’t gratefully accept gifts or being told where to find ‘pixie dust.'”
Plastic Waste/Littering
Many Disney fans argued that the “pixie dust” trend was nothing more than elevated litter that makes more work for employees.
“Cute and all but hiding, or rather littering plastic crap everywhere is awful and a major security and environmental risk, stop doing this,” u/N64Andysaurus92 wrote. “Just hand them out or better yet, leave the pixie dusting to the [cast members].”
“If you want to spread pixie dust, get a job at Disney,” said u/ZardozZod. “Otherwise, you’re just spreading junk around and making things less special.”
“Pixie Dusting” the Right Way
Guests can still make magical moments for other families during their Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort vacations. Consider offering sealed candy or small toys directly to other visitors (always asking for parent permission first, of course). Or, remember that a smile, a held door, and a bit of patience go a long way, even at The Happiest Place on Earth.
Is it wrong to leave a sprinkling of pixie dust at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments!