Ariana Grande Will Be Removed From Disney World If She Acts on Mother’s Illegal Wishes

Ariana Grande, known both as a Grammy-winning pop star and former Nickelodeon icon, is gearing up for her big-screen moment in Wicked: Part One (2024), where she’ll be seen in the beloved role of Glinda the Good Witch. Paired with Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked adaptation has already garnered glowing early reviews, solidifying its status as one of this year’s biggest upcoming releases.

As the November 22 release approaches, Grande’s promotional interviews have revealed some surprising insights—not about the film, but about her unusual connection to Walt Disney World Resort.

On a recent episode of the Las Culturistas podcast, hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, Ariana Grande shared a personal and unexpected story about her experiences at the Magic Kingdom’s famous Cinderella Castle. Disney parks are a cherished destination for fans and celebrities alike, including big names like the Kardashian/Jenner family and Jojo Siwa, who can often be spotted enjoying the parks.

Recent visitors also included Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori, who turned heads with her casual, barefoot stroll. Among these exclusive Disney stories is one involving Grande herself, who has a unique connection to the castle and a rather peculiar family request tied to it.

Reflecting on her time at Disney, Grande shared that she once had a rare opportunity to visit the ultra-exclusive Cinderella Castle suite. “I’ve been in there because I performed at the castle one time, and I got to change in there, which was really cool,” she explained, describing the experience as “really beautiful” and “very real.”

Disney’s Cinderella Castle suite has gained near-mythical status, with other stars, like Katy Perry, throwing private pizza parties within its walls and Paris Hilton reportedly wearing prosthetics to sneak through the parks unnoticed. Grande’s backstage access added another chapter to the exclusive list of celebrity memories at the Magic Kingdom.

However, Grande’s recollection of Disney World memories took a turn when she shared her mother’s unusual request. According to Grande, her mom, Joan Grande, frequently expresses a unique wish: to have her ashes spread over Cinderella Castle after her passing.

“My mom tells us too often that she wants her ashes sprinkled over it,” Grande recounted, adding that the conversation often comes up at unexpected times. “And I’m like, ‘Mom, it’s Christmas. Do we have to talk about this right now?’” While Grande expressed her mother’s wish with humor, she also pointed out the complications, jokingly mentioning that cast members are always in and out of the castle: “So you’re gonna be sprinkled on people’s heads who are, like, dressed as Tinker Bell waiting for their cue.”

Though touching, Joan Grande’s wish poses a practical challenge: Disney strictly prohibits the scattering of ashes on its property. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Disney custodians dread hearing the call for a “HEPA cleanup,” a code used when ashes have been scattered at a park location. The Haunted Mansion reportedly sees the most cases, as guests try to leave a piece of their loved ones in the Disney park. But, as a representative explained, ash scattering at Disney is “strictly prohibited and unlawful. Guests who attempt to do so will be escorted off the property,” according to PEOPLE.

Even celebrities aren’t immune from these rules—Blake Lively once admitted to being put in Disney “prison” for a rule violation, while Rebel Wilson was banned from Disneyland after taking a selfie in a bathroom.

With Wicked set for worldwide release on November 22, fans are eagerly awaiting Grande’s transformation as Glinda.

How do you feel about Disney’s policy on spreading ashes? Should guests be allowed this final connection to the park, or is the ban justified? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!