Should you hold off on purchasing any annual passes to Disney World ? A recent rumor claiming that the Florida theme parks were moving out of state had quite a few fooled.
Misleading reports circulated online have led some social media users to believe that Disney World would be packing up and exiting the Sunshine State for Tennessee's Nashville. Don't worry — the theme parks are here to stay in Florida.
With the public feud and legal battle between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , many social media users didn't question the reports. Some Disney fans have speculated that the state's largest employer would eventually cut ties with Florida and relocate elsewhere.
But where did the rumor originate? And what other crazy rumors have been started regarding Disney World theme parks this year? Here's what to know.
Where is Disney World officially located in Florida?
The Walt Disney World resort theme parks, hotels and other attractions are located in Lake Buena Vista, roughly 16 miles away from downtown Orlando.
Is Disney World moving to Nashville?
No, Nashville will not be the new home of Disney World.
The news originated from a post by a satirical news site, Mouse Trap News . On Sept. 5, the site falsely claimed that near the end of September, Disney would move just outside of downtown Nashville.
Is Disney World leaving Florida at all?
Disney World is staying in the Sunshine State. Despite its troubles with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state government, the Walt Disney Company has not announced any formal plans to depart from Florida.
Back in March of this year, the infamous DeSantis vs Disney came to a close when members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s board voted unanimously to accept a deal with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to drop most of their legal disputes.
"We are pleased to put an end to all litigation pending in state court in Florida between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District," said Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle in a statement. "This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity in the State."
The feud lasted nearly two years and was full of insults and back-and-forth lawsuits. After Chapek denounced the "Parental Rights in Education" bill, DeSantis called the company a "woke corporation."
Multiple retaliatory bills and lawsuits followed. In August of 2023, DeSantis announced the state had "moved on" from its feud with the company.
What other crazy Disney World theme parks rumors went viral this year?
Thanks to Mouse Trap News , there have been several rumors that have gone viral this year despite it consistently marketing itself as a "Disney satire website."
Earlier this year, a rumor about Disney World “ officially removing drinking age ” requirements started making the rounds. Building off a report they made the year prior, it claimed that Disney’s previous attempt to lower the drinking age on the property was challenged by the state, which wanted the company to create a “system that would ensure anyone from 18-21 who has been drinking does not get behind the wheel and operate a car.”
The truth is that Disney World is only allowed to sell alcohol to adults 21 years old or older, just as it has always been.
Another rumor that tricked some social media users was that the Florida theme parks would be banning guests with tattoos . The Walt Disney World Official Rules regarding Guest Courtesy and Attire Policies only states, "Visible tattoos that could be considered inappropriate, such as those containing objectionable language or designs, are not permitted"
Some less circulated rumors this year, almost all also stemming from Mouse Trap News, include:
Misinformation vs. satirical content: What is the difference
Over the years, it's grown tougher to spot misinformation posted online, even when the source comes from a satire website. How many times have you seen an article from "The Onion' or 'ClickHole' shared to social media by a naïve relative or friend?
In an 2020 interview with Toronto Magazine , former writer and editor for The Beaverton Aaron Hagey-Mackay discussed how the two are different and its impact on the general public.
"The motive underlying them is different. Satire uses fiction or humor to point to a larger social or political truth. It only works if you know it’s made up," Hagey-Mackay said. "Fake news operates under the guise of credible journalism to convince you of a falsehood – usually for political or monetary gain. It only works when you don’t know it’s a lie. In short, satire plays with its audience; fake news preys on its audience."
In his own piece about satire versus misinformation , Robert Phiddian, a professor of English at Flinders University, agreed that satire has to be recognized as such by its audience. He said satire that is widely mistaken for news ceases to be satire and instead becomes misinformation.
But Phiddian also makes the point of the overall use of satire and how it can be used to communicate important topics.
"We’re in the early days of the digital revolution, so chaos often wins out over clarity, tolerance and sense. But while this is annoying, the better path forward is through the mess, rather than towards technical fixes," Phiddian said on whether to outright label satire as misinformation.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is Disney World moving to Nashville? Some of the strange Florida theme park rumors this year