The mouse isn’t moving: Disney World isn’t ditching Orlando, Florida, for Nashville, Tennessee


Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, 1-9-2019
A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse stands Jan. 9, 2019, in front of the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP)

A recent Facebook post shared a headline purportedly announcing that Mickey Mouse is abandoning Orlando, Florida, for Nashville, Tennessee — but Walt Disney World isn’t really changing addresses. 

“BREAKING,” the Sept. 5 headline said. “Disney World officially moving to Nashville.” 

Text below the headline said: “Breaking news, Disney World is officially moving to Nashville. Starting at the end of September, Disney World will start closing part of their theme parks in order to move them to Nashville, Tennessee.”

The Facebook post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

The Walt Disney Co. didn’t respond to PolitiFact’s questions about the post, but the headline comes from Mouse Trap News, which describes itself as a site that publishes “fake stories about Disney Parks stuff.”

We found no credible news stories, press releases or other evidence that Disney World is moving. The Tennessean, a Nashville newspaper, called the claim a “crazy rumor.”

Disney and Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis had been involved in a yearslong dispute but that ended in June with a deal that cleared the way for Disney World to expand in the Sunshine State. 

We rate claims Disney World is moving to Nashville False.

 

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

If your time is short

  • Disney World isn’t moving to Nashville, Tennessee. This claim originated on a self-described satire site.

Statement

“Disney World officially moving to Nashville.”

Context

a Facebook post

Speaker/Target

Speaker: Viral image

Statement Date

September 11, 2024
Our Sources

Facebook post, Sept. 11, 2024

Blog post, Sept. 5, 2024

The New York Times, Disney and DeSantis Reach Agreement, Ending Protracted Fight, June 12, 2024

The Tennessean, ​​Is Disney World moving to Nashville? Here's how the crazy rumor got started, Sept. 13, 2024

The Walt Disney Co., Press Releases, visited Sept. 18, 2024

 

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