In this episode of The Reference Desk, Katie is bewitched by the myths and legends of Walt Disney World.

Known around the globe as “the happiest place on Earth,” Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is a vacation destination like no other. This sprawling property is home to four unique theme parks, a host of themed accommodations, hundreds of restaurants, and a world of carefully-curated experiences. But are there secrets lurking beneath the surface?

Was Walt Disney cryogenically frozen and kept in suspended animation beneath one of his most beloved attractions?

Is an uncontainable flesh-eating bacteria the real reason for the sudden, quiet closure of a wildly popular water park? And is it true that no one dies on Disney property? We explore these myths and more in this magical episode.

Recommended Titles available at our bookshop

Manacled by SenLinYu

Disney War by James B. Stewart

It’s Kind of a Cute Story by Rolly Crump and Jeff Heimbuch

The Disney Story: Chronicling the Man, the Mouse, and the Parks  by Aaron H. Goldberg

The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between by Jeff Kurtti

Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghaiby Kevin and Susan Neary

Cleaning the Kingdom: Insider Tales of Keeping Walt’s Dream Spotless by Ken Pellman and Lynn Barron

Ink and Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation by Mindy Johnson

Secret Stories of Walt Disney World series by Jim Korkis

The Kingdom Keeper series by Ridley Pearson.

Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow

Links: 

Abandoned: The Rise, Fall and Decay of Disney's River Country

Is Walt Disney's Body Frozen?

List of Incidents at Walt Disney World

The Inside Story Of Walt Disney’s Secret Tunnels Beneath The Magic Kingdom

Park Secrets Disney Doesn't Want You to Know

Fact Check: Does No One Ever Die at Disney Parks?

Fact Check: Was Walt Disney Frozen?

25 Secrets About Disney World The Execs Would Never Tell Us

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