There’s something that happens in Disney World and Disneyland far too often that is expressly not allowed, and that’s spreading the ashes of loved ones who have passed on.
Many Disney fans have told their family members that they’d like to be spread somewhere in a Disney park, such as at their favorite attraction or near the castle. The truth is that many have done this, and when they’re caught, the spreaders are promptly removed from the park and the ride has to be shut down to be cleaned (yes, so those ashes get sucked up and thrown away), but there are also many who haven’t been caught. We understand the sentiment of wanting your final resting place to be somewhere that you love going to, such as Disney World or Disneyland. Now, one funeral home owner is wondering why Disney doesn’t officially get into the business instead of ignoring requests to spread ashes in their loved ones’ favorite places.
It is illegal to spread human cremated remains on any private property without the permission of the property owner, so in the case of Disney World and Disneyland, that would be the Walt Disney Company. The chance of getting them to reply to a request is slim to none, which is why many people just try to spread the ashes on their own and risk the consequences.
Homer Elwood, the owner of Gray Funeral Home in South Carolina told the Washington Post that the idea of ashes being spread somewhere the deceased loved, or in some cases, in a wild way like being shot out of a cannon, reflects their mindset around death. Instead of sitting on a shelf somewhere, they want their remains to be spread in a lively way, to reflect how they lived.
He believes that Disney could make their customers’ desires around spreading the ashes of loved ones into a business opportunity, saying, “People would pay probably a large sum of money if they put a private niche somewhere on the property, whether it’s Cinderella Castle wall or something. That could be a real moneymaker for them.”
For many people, fulfilling their loved one’s final wishes can help them process the loss they’ve experienced. Instead of feeling helpless, or like they can’t do anything for their deceased loved one, being able to spread their ashes where they wanted (even if it seems impossible), gives those left behind a feeling of purpose. If Disney were to allow a private place for remains to be placed, in an area that wouldn’t be a biohazard or cause issues for anyone involved, it would not only be a moneymaker for the company but ease a lot of people’s minds by allowing them to fulfill their loved one’s final wish.
At this time, it doesn’t appear Disney has any plans to go through with a plan along these lines, but it will be curious to see if anything comes out of this idea in the future. We’ll keep you updated on all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to AllEars!
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What do you think? Should Disney provide this service?
Please don’t spread the ashes of loved ones at a Disney park. Disney cast members will issue a “White Powder Alert” signally to other cast members that ashes are in the park and could be actively being spread. If that happens, the area or attraction is closed off to other guests while HAZMAT is called in to clean up. So instead of your loved one spending eternity in a Disney park, they spend eternity in a landfill.