If you’ve ever spent a full day in a Disney park, odds are you’ve walked out with at least one of their signature blue-and-white plastic shopping bags. They’re practically a rite of passage for souvenir hunters. But now, guests are raising concerns over a less-than-magical side effect: those bags might be leaving blue stains behind — especially in the heat.
A recent Reddit post brought the issue back into the spotlight, showing a photo of a guest’s hand covered in what looks like blue-purple ink smears. The culprit? Disney’s merchandise bags.
“This is what happens when you hold their bags,” the post reads. “And for people saying hold the handle, it will still rub off on your hand somewhere.”
“Especially, as we know in the summer in this hot climate, it rubs off even easier. You will unknowingly stain light colored clothes if you’re not careful.”
It didn’t take long for other Disney parkgoers to jump in with their own experiences — many of them just as messy.
Disney, do you want us to have purple hands?
byu/catpancake87 inDisneyland
A Not-So-New Issue in the Heat
It turns out this isn’t a one-off problem. According to dozens of commenters, this has been happening for years. The combination of Florida’s intense heat and humidity, plus typical products like sunscreen, lotion, or hand sanitizer, seems to be enough to loosen the dye on the plastic bag’s surface and transfer it to skin, fabric, or anything it touches.
“Ahhh summertime heat and merch bags strikes again,” one commenter wrote. “They’re never going to fix this, are they?”
Another said:
“This has been an issue for decades. I will never understand why it’s never been fixed. We used to turn the bags inside out to try to avoid the stains.”
Why It Happens
The blue ink printed on the bags isn’t fully sealed — which means that when it heats up, especially if you’re sweaty or using hand products that break down the ink, it can start to smear or transfer. Many guests don’t notice until it’s too late — when they find blue smudges on their hands, white clothing, or car seats.
While it may not be harmful, it’s definitely frustrating for those who expected a flawless Disney experience. It’s also especially surprising considering Disney’s reputation for quality and attention to detail.
“Disney is so good with so many things, it’s surprising they let this go on,” one guest commented.
What You Can Do to Avoid It
If you’re heading into the parks anytime soon — especially in the hot summer months — here are a few ways to keep your hands and clothes stain-free:
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Avoid holding the printed part of the bag directly, especially if your hands are sweaty or recently used hand sanitizer.
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Transfer your merchandise to a backpack or other bag as soon as possible.
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Bring a reusable tote, which many guests do now anyway as part of the parks’ push for sustainability.
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Turn the plastic bag inside out — a clever workaround some guests have used for years.
A Fix Long Overdue?
While this may seem like a small issue in the grand scheme of Disney operations, for longtime fans and frequent visitors, it’s the kind of thing that sticks out — literally. Many are wondering why something so simple hasn’t been corrected, especially given the millions of bags handed out each year.
Whether Disney will eventually address the dye issue remains to be seen. For now, it’s one of those quirky park truths you don’t find in the brochures — but you’ll definitely remember the moment your hands turn blue after a successful merch run.
So if you’re planning a day of shopping at the parks, maybe pack a tote — or at the very least, some wipes. Just in case.
