Image courtesy of Mouse Trap News/TikTok & Getty Images
A rumor that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is buying Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida circulated online in fall 2024. For instance, on Nov. 2, 2024, the TikTok account Mouse Trap News posted a clip claiming that Musk planned to purchase the amusement park for $50 billion, “which is more than he paid for Twitter.”
Some readers seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. One TikTok commenter wrote, “I haven’t been since I was a kid but I will return back if they bring back the family atmosphere and less treating us like ATM. Let’s bring back the nostalgia back, I have good memories,” while another responded, “He needs to purchase Disney as a WHOLE.”
The claim was also shared on the Mouse Trap News website a day earlier in an article providing additional detail about Musk’s purported purchase of the amusement park:
BREAKING: Elon Musk is Buying Disney World
Breaking news, Elon Musk is buying Disney World. According to officials, Musk will buy Disney World for $50 billion, which is more than he paid for Twitter.
He wants to bring the theme park back to its glory days and remove the woke from their parks. Musk plans to bring Splash Mountain back. Also, he will also put an end to discrimination days, which we reported on here.
These are just two small steps he is taking towards making Disney World a family place once again. Elon Musk was able to successfully rebrand Twitter as X and turn it around. He is planning to do the same with Disney World.
However, what people are most excited for are his plans to lower prices and improve the guest experience. Disney World is known for slow projects that drag on. Musk knows how to quickly complete huge projects and he will bring that to Disney World.
However, there was no evidence to support these claims. No such announcement was reported by any reputable news outlet or on The Walt Disney Co.’s website.
Rather, the rumor originated with Mouse Trap News, a website that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. Its “About” page states:
Mouse Trap News is the world’s best satire and parody site. We write fake stories about Disney Parks stuff. From Disney Park announcements to Disney Hotel and resort news to made-up Disney partnerships, you can be assured that anything you read here is not true, real, or accurate, but it is fun. So technically our slogan The Moused Trusted Name in Disney News isn’t true, but we thought it was creative and funny, so we are running with it.
Moreover, the Mouse Trap News TikTok account describes itself as “‼️Real Disney News That is 100% FAKE‼️”
Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims from Mouse Trap News in the past, including the similar assertion in May 2023 that Musk had plans to purchase Disney World after stepping down as CEO of X.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.
