The third time’s the charm. Recently, we got wind of another swirling rumor of a tragic accident on Space Mountain where a man lost both his hands, and consequently, Disney took measures to account for the happening.
The rumor mill has been hard at work these past few months, and it started in late August of last year with the closure of the Cinderella Castle attraction at Magic Kingdom. After this, we heard about the possibility of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park’s permanent closure, and now there’s a third that has swept the internet.
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World/Courtesy of Disney
The latest rumor is to do with Space Mountain. Sportskeeda reported on the story, sharing,
Following a tragic event where a man sustained severe life-threatening injuries, Disneyland and Disney World have decided to keep the lights on in the ride permanently. It stems from the fact that several people have lost their arms while riding the roller coaster and keeping the lights on will hopefully let people realize how close they are to the track.
In the comment section, a Disney fan asked, “Satire courtesy of Mouse Trap News. You fell for it huh?”
Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom/Courtesy of Disney
A self-described satire news site, Mouse Trap News shares entirely false news stories. Their “About” section reads: “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.”
Every once in a while, Mouse Trap News shares a story that goes viral or catches other news sites off-guard, causing the information to circulate as if it were an actual occurrence.
But the rumor made its way across the internet and Disney community:
some guy lost both his hands on Space Mountain at Disney yesterday. this is why I don’t put my hands up on rollercoasters ?
— Mariah Hoebee (@_itsmariahhh_) January 2, 2023
Another account, @theDIBB, even questioned,
Space Mountain: Has anyone else seen any news about an accident on Space Mountain? DS sent me a TikTok saying they were going to leave the lights on permanently due to an accident where a man lost his… https://t.co/2glnygHXmv
— theDIBB (@theDIBB) January 1, 2023
While many fans are now aware of this site and engage with it as intended, there are occasionally some stories that unfortunately make a mark, and this was one of them.
More on Space Mountain from Disney World
Dip and careen into the inky blackness as a futuristic soundtrack echoes all around you. Fly past shooting stars and celestial satellites. Roar past streaking orbs of light, wayward comets and migrant meteors. Feel the pull of gravity as you’re drawn into a swirling wormhole!
We at Disney Fanatic will continue to report on all Disney news and debunk rumors as they come to light.