2016 has come to an end, and what a strange year it's been. The historic elections in the U.S and the U.K., numerous iconic celebrities and musicians being taken from this world, and numerous terror attacks around the world have many folks glad to see 2016 leave us for good. These unprecedented and bizarre happenings have brought about a slew of conspiracy theories; some off the wall, and some very plausible.
When most people think of conspiracy theories their mind goes to the government, aliens, Tupac's death and 9/11 among other things. Walt Disney World doesn't come to mind when one thinks of out of the ordinary situations; unless it involves some magic from Tinkerbell of course. It turns out the most famous theme park in the world is home to its own crop of conspiracy theories.
Here are some of the most bewildering conspiracy theories surrounding the happiest place on Earth.
1. Guests scattering ashes of loved ones throughout the Magic Kingdom
Apparently back in 2007, a woman was seen scattering a mysterious substance throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. According to Disney, this kind of thing happened all the time. Guests are known to give loved ones a "Disney send-off" by scattering their ashes throughout the park and different attractions. The Haunted Mansion and It's A Small World are other popular "send-off" locations."
2. The Tower of Terror has a long-term guest
The Tower of Terror already gives off an eerie vibe, but Cast Members swear there is something more sinister going on. A former Cast Member and "bellhop" for the attraction supposedly suffered a heart attack while loading guests onto the ride and died immediately. Ever since this tragic incident, "bellhops" have reported numerous strange happenings. Lights and music would randomly go on and off and some even reported seeing a dark figure lurking around the ride platforms. A maintenance camera apparently caught images of ghostly figures. Decide for yourself.
3. Brain-Eating ameba at River Country
River Country was Walt Disney World's first waterpark. It was unique in the fact that part of the park was connected to Bay Lake. There was a barrier in place that filtered lake water to make it safe for guests. However, in August of 1980, a young boy died of an extremely rare brain-eating ameba that was traced back to River Country. The park actually didn't end up closing until over 20 years after the incident. Disney chalked it up to an anomaly as the probability of a repeated incident was extremely low. River Country closed mainly due to the repercussions of 9/11 and the inability to compete with sister parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Nothing was ever done to River Country and it was left as is for nature to take over. You can see its deteriorating state here.
4. Disney is controlling your mind through the Smellitizers
A Smellitizer is a device invented by Imagineer Bob McCarthy. Have you ever wondered why certain areas of the parks smell the way they do? Well, you can thank the Smellitizers for that. These devices are responsible for giving The Haunted Mansion it's musty aroma, Main Street USA the nostalgic scent of an old time bakery, and they are even responsible for creating seasonal aromas throughout the park. Is this simply a way to make the experience more personal or is it Disney's attempt at mind control?
5. Club 33
A private club entitled "Club 33" is located in Disneyland along New Orleans Square. Despite Club 33 being super secret, the sign is in plain view as you enter New Orleans Square. The club is the only place in the park where you can be served alcohol. Back in the day, Walt Disney used this club to entertain elite guests and business partners. Many celebrities are also rumored to be members of the elusive club. Today, anyone can apply for a membership, but the wait list is supposedly years and the memberships given out are few and far between. Read more about Club 33 here and find out how you can apply for a membership.
