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FACT BRIEF

Do Disney World character performers who die while in costume remain in costume until the park closes?

By Christiana Dillard
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NO

There is no evidence that such a policy exists, according to historians of The Walt Disney Company.

In response to a social media claim that character performers in costume are left in the park for several hours if they die, Lead Stories contacted Sam Gennawey, an author who specializes in Disney history.

"That is not the policy at Walt Disney Productions. These are union employees and negotiated standards have been set for their health and welfare," Gennaway said.

At least 38,000 Disney employees are members of the Service Trades Council Union, which has an agreement with Disney that does not mention such a policy.

Jim Fanning, a Disney historian and author, told Lead Stories:

"I have never heard this before. The Disney Parks undoubtedly have a protocol regarding safety and privacy and protecting both Cast Members and Guests in place."

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Disney Safety and security
Service Trades Council Union The union for 38,000 workers at Walt Disney World
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.