On Aug. 28, 2024, Mouse Trap News published an article claiming that the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, was closing due to the outbreak of mpox.
The article (archived) alleged that Disney was closing the theme park indefinitely, making it the first U.S. company to close its doors because of the virus:
Breaking news, Disney World is closing following the Monkeypox outbreak. This makes them the first company to close their doors in the United States because of this new disease.
According to an internal source, the Monkeypox pandemic is hitting close to home and Disney wants to be prepared. In order to keep all guests and other cast members safe, Disney World has decided to close their doors indefinitely. This is very similar to when they shut down their parks due to COVID-19 back in spring of 2020.
In fact, there has been no announcement yet on how long Disney World will be closed. However, according to our source, when the parks reopen, they will follow the same guidelines from the coronavirus.
The claim was also posted on the Mouse Trap News TikTok account, where some commenters dismissed the news as fake, while others expressed concern at the thought of another potential shutdown:
“I work for Disney World and haven’t heard a single fact about [this],” wrote one commenter. “It’s really sad, they didn’t refund any already purchased tickets or hotel stays,” another posted.
However, there was no evidence to support the claim that Disney World was closing due to an mpox outbreak. Moreover, the alleged news had not been reported by any reputable news outlet, nor had The Walt Disney Company released a statement regarding any such closure due to global health measures. Disney did not immediately return our request for comment.
Rather, the rumor originated with Mouse Trap News, a website that openly describes its output as satirical. Its about page clearly states that its stories are not true, real or accurate, but are intended for entertainment:
Mouse Trap News is the world’s best satire and parody site. We write fake stories about Disney Parks stuff. From Disney Park announcements to Disney Hotel and resort news to made-up Disney partnerships, you can be assured that anything you read here is not true, real, or accurate, but it is fun. So technically our slogan The Moused Trusted Name in Disney News isn’t true, but we thought it was creative and funny, so we are running with it.
Mouse Trap News was created on a whim to have some fun and write stories about Disney we wish were true. Some Disney sites write deceptive stories for clicks. We write 100% made-up parody and satire stories for your enjoyment. We also hope that Disney sees how much people like some of our stories and decide to actually make one of our stories a reality!
The @mousetrapnews TikTok account, which is affiliated with the website, likewise describes itself in its bio as “100% FAKE‼️”
Although the satirical news about Disney World closing due to mpox is easily debunked, on Aug. 16, the Disney news outlet Inside the Magic raised concerns following the World Health Organization’s declaration of mpox as a “public health emergency of international concern” made by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Inside the Magic discussed the potential implications of this public health emergency for theme parks and other public venues:
If you’re planning an upcoming Disney vacation, the recent mpox outbreak in Congo and other parts of Africa, now declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), may have implications for international travel, especially regarding health and safety precautions.
While Disney Resorts worldwide have not reported any cases of mpox, travelers should stay informed about the latest health advisories and be prepared for any travel restrictions or health protocols that could arise due to the situation.
Mouse Trap News has a history of making up stories about Disney properties for shares and comments. In addition to the site’s previous false claim about Disney World adding tampon machines to men’s restrooms, Snopes has also addressed allegations that climate change rioters set Disney World’s Cinderella Castle on fire.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.
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Publish date : 2024-09-02 00:00:00
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