FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Rumor: Disney must re-make their movies every 20 years due to Walt’s will

Accuracy: FALSE

Image: DisneySo, Disney has spent the past several years re-making some of the world's most beloved animated movies. They've primarily cycled through the Disney Renaissance era of classics like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

The movie division chose this strategy because they appreciated the lucrative nature of such films. Thanks to special effects advances in the field of CGI renderings, Imagineering wizardry has blurred the lines between what's real and what's computer-created. And the company has earned billions of dollars in re-making these films.

Some kind-hearted folks don’t want to believe that Disney makes artistic decisions based on money. For example, a twitter user who went by @samanthapaigeu posted, “i was today years old when i found out that Walt Disney put in his will that all Disney classics are to be re-made every 10 years, so each generation gets to enjoy them" (sic). Roughly 370k likes and 80k retweets later, a scary percentage of Twitter believed her. But it wasn't true.

Apparently, the user had misread a comment from an article that quipped about the why of Disney re-makes. The following day, after substantial media attention, the person renounced her own claim, stating that she wasn't sure if it was factual. Soon afterward, the person deleted the account. The post still exists on the internet since everything gets archived, though.

I think you understand why this one isn’t true. Uncle Walt loved and valued innovation over all else. The thought of re-making his own stories likely wouldn't have appealed to him, at least not as quickly as we've seen with 1990s titles.

A 20-year gap is a paltry period to repeat the same story, but as Disney fans, we love the timeless classics so much that we go anyway. It’s not what Walt Disney would have wanted. If it makes us happy, we’re okay with the concession, though, right? Still, it most assuredly wasn’t a part of the company founder’s will.

Rumor: Headless cast members have traumatized small children

Accuracy: TRUE

Image: DisneyNo, this one isn’t grim. I’m not talking about a horrific death that happened in front of children or the like. Instead, I’m referencing the times when Disney’s costumed cast members removed their heads, breaking the illusion.

In some unlikely situations, children have watched this happen, which is admittedly pretty freaky. When someone pops off their head, only to reveal another head, you’re going to remember it, especially if you’re a kid.

This unfortunate turn of events has happened a few times over the years. For example, a family once took an unwanted trip to Disneyland jail. Security officials believed that they were shoplifting and took them to the security facility onsite. The goal was to question everyone and broken a confession.

What happened next was unfortunate. Cast members hung out in this area, and one of them happened to remove their character costume. The 5-year-old and 2-year-old freaked out over this and started crying, which led to a lawsuit.

The family sued Disney for wrongful imprisonment and argued in court documents that the 5-year-old had to visit a therapist for three months afterward. She felt that much grief over the headless Disney character.

Disney actually settled this matter out of court and apparently paid the family a decent sum of money. It would have been cheaper to let them get away with the alleged shoplifting.

Rumor: Turkey legs are emu legs.

Accuracy: FALSE

Image: DisneyNo. Just no.

 
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Comments

Thanks for a fun read. I had never heard anyone speculate that Goofy is a cow but that made me crack up. I guess it is a little weird that Goofy can talk and Pluto can't. But whatever, it's cartoons, anything goes! (Wonder if Mickey has ever had a rodent infestation in his home?)

Add new comment

About Theme Park Tourist

Theme Park Tourist is one of the web’s leading sources of essential information and entertaining articles about theme parks in Orlando and beyond.

We are one of the world’s largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe.

Find Out More About Us...

Plan Your Trip

Our theme park guides contain reviews and ratings of rides, restaurants and hotels at more than 80 theme parks worldwide.

You can even print them.

Start Planning Now...