Ariana Grande recently revealed that her mother, Joan, had a special wish to have her ashes scattered at Cinderella’s Castle in Disney World, Florida, after her passing.
In an episode of the Las Culturistas podcast, the singer shared that her mother had mentioned this request multiple times. Ariana jokingly added that if she were to fulfill her mother’s wish, it might result in some “awkward” consequences, such as park performers accidentally getting ashes on their heads while working.
While this request may seem unusual, it’s actually not uncommon for people in the U.S. to try to scatter their loved ones’ ashes at theme parks for various personal reasons. This practice is more widespread than one might think.
However, scattering ashes at theme parks is illegal and strictly prohibited. A 2018 report from the Wall Street Journal highlighted that guests caught attempting this could be expelled from the park. Disney World has also taken measures to prevent such activities, including banning “In Memory Of” inscriptions on commemorative bricks. If ashes are found in the park, staff must use powerful vacuum cleaners to clean the area.
The cleanup process at Disney World is so specific that it has a code name: “HEPA Cleanup,” which alerts staff to the presence of scattered ashes. Despite these precautions, some people have still managed to get around the rules. For example, in 2010, Whoopi Goldberg shared on Late Night with Seth Meyers that she and her late brother had scattered their mother’s ashes inside the It’s a Small World ride at Disney.
While Ariana Grande and her family continue to remember her mother’s unique wish, Disney World remains vigilant in its efforts to maintain a clean and magical environment for all guests.
