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Guests Reportedly Held Hostage on Disney World Ride, Forced To Pay Tip to Exit

A viral report claimed that Walt Disney World Resort guests were held hostage on rides, locked into their restraints until they used their MagicBands to pay a tip to exit. Is it true?

This week, Redditor u/BlueJeanMistress shared this screenshot of an artificial intelligence (AI) summary from Google Search, responding to a question about the alleged incident.

AI is going to be the end of common sense…

AI is going to be the end of common sense…
byu/BlueJeanMistress inWaltDisneyWorld

“Yes, as of January 4, 2025, guests are required to tip to exit Disney World rides,” the response read. “To leave a tip, guests can scan their MagicBand to unlock their seatbelt and exit the ride. The minimum tip is $5, but guests can also choose $10 or $20, or leave a custom tip.”

Thousands of Disney Parks fans interacted with the post. Many said they received a similar answer when Googling whether tips are required to exit rides at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Spaceship Earth at Disney World, sits prominently under a clear blue sky, surrounded by fountains and tropical palm trees. The structure's geometric surface shines in the sunlight, with water jets misting around.
Credit: Disney

“I cannot fathom how any company would ever just leave this shit up,” said u/BrewKazma. “With all of the mistakes AI makes, it is not even close to be ready for the public. We are going to end up with some really, really, dumb kids, who don’t know better.”

The claim appears to have originated from an article on the Disney satire news site Mouse Trap NewsThe article claimed Walt Disney World Resort generated $10,000 an hour by forcing guests to tip upon exiting rides. Google’s AI pulled the article’s information devoid of its satirical context.

Three children are riding a roller coaster with looks of excitement and surprise on their faces. The roller coaster cart, reminiscent of Expedition Everest, is surrounded by rocky terrain, and the sky is clear in the background. They are seated with safety bars across their laps.
Credit: Disney

Unfortunately, it seems like the rumors spread beyond social media.

As a [cast member], I can tell you no matter how stupid an article these parody sites put out I will get numerous calls from angry people,” u/scoutmaster0214 wrote. “EVERY ONE OF THEM!”

Verifying any information you see online is essential, especially from generative AI. While advanced, the tools can and do make mistakes.

What’s the wildest rumor you’ve heard about Walt Disney World Resort? Share it with Disney Dining in the comments!

Jess Colopy

Jess Colopy is a Disney College Program alum and kid-at-heart. When she’s not furiously typing in a coffee shop, you can find her on the hunt for the newest Stitch pin.

One Comment

  1. Are you kidding? People actually believed this and were angry? You wait in line, for an hour sometimes, for a relatively short ride. I’m not tipping! I’ll keep going. Best Day Ever! I’ll get paid to exit, so I can use to the bathroom properly, 😉

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