Walt Disney World Resort, widely known as the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” is a beloved destination for millions of visitors every year. With its four theme parks, two water parks, and endless shopping and dining options, there’s no shortage of magic to experience. From the iconic Cinderella Castle to the newly updated rides in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the park is an incredible place for making lasting memories.
However, not everything about Disney World is as magical as it seems, and sometimes, there are things that are better left unknown — like certain behind-the-scenes codes that are used by cast members to address some very unsettling situations.
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Disney fans love to share fun facts, stories, and tidbits about the park, and in the age of social media, some of these details make their way to various platforms. One Reddit user recently shared a startling piece of Disney trivia, revealing a behind-the-scenes code that will likely make you rethink your next Disney vacation—especially if you value cleanliness and the magic of the parks.
It’s not uncommon for guests to try and spread the ashes of a loved one at Disney parks, despite the clear rules prohibiting it. The Haunted Mansion has often been a target for this, with some guests hoping to give their family members a “magical resting place.”
But here’s the twist: when Disney cast members discover that a guest has tried to scatter ashes in the park, they don’t just clean it up like a regular mess. They have a special code for it.
TIL Disney has a code word for when guests attempt to scatter ashes at one of their theme parks: a "white powder alert"
byu/rezikiel intodayilearned
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A former Disney cast member took to Reddit to shed light on this very bizarre situation. According to the user, cast members have a code word for when someone attempts to spread ashes in the park: “Code Grandma.”
Ex Disney Cast Member here. My area called it a code grandma and to request our supervisors to call the Ghostbusters.
This tongue-in-cheek comment from the former cast member has since gone viral, adding a humorous, albeit dark, twist to what would otherwise be a rather uncomfortable situation. The addition of the Ghostbusters reference adds an unexpected levity to the grim task of cleaning up the ashes, but the reality is much more serious.
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Code Grandma is just one of many codes cast members use when dealing with less-than-magical circumstances. Other codes are more straightforward, like Code V for vomit or Code H for poop. These codes help staff communicate quickly and discreetly about the situation without alarming guests or causing any unnecessary panic.
While the term might seem somewhat funny, there’s a much more serious side to it. The presence of human ashes in the park is considered a biohazard. It’s not just about cleaning up a mess; the cast members are required to take extensive precautions.
The clean-up process involves wearing a hazmat suit, using a special HEPA vacuum to suck up the ashes, followed by a thorough disinfection of the area. Once the area has been sanitized, the ashes are placed in a sealed trash bag and disposed of appropriately. While the cast members’ approach is both professional and necessary, it’s certainly not the “magical” experience guests expect when visiting Disney World.
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This situation raises an important point: no matter how much you may want to honor a loved one, there’s never a good time to scatter ashes at a theme park. In addition to the legal issues, it also brings unnecessary disturbance to others who are there to enjoy the magic.
If you’re thinking about spreading a loved one’s ashes during your next visit to Disney, please don’t. Doing so will likely result in you being escorted out of the park, and the ashes being disposed of in a landfill.
Have you ever heard the term “Code Grandma” while at Disney? What do you think about people trying to spread a loved one’s ashes in the theme park? How do you think Disney should handle these situations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
