Visitor May Have Sprinkled Ashes on Disneyland Ride

By The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Disneyland officials will likely never know whether the woman who sprinkled some sort of powder onto the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride was trying to send a loved one straight to Davy Jones' locker.

Disney officials shut the ride down for about 45 minutes Friday after they saw the woman sprinkle something into the ride's water. But they said they couldn't determine what it was because it dissolved so quickly.

Blogger and longtime Disneyland watcher Al Lutz said he received several tips indicating it was human ashes.

Disneyland Resorts spokesman Rob Doughty said he couldn't confirm that. He said the rider, who was not arrested, told park employees she had dumped baby powder over the side of a "Pirates" boat.

Lutz, who first reported the event Tuesday on his Web site miceage.com, said more and more people are leaving their loved ones' ashes behind at Disneyland.

"It used to happen every once in a while at the Haunted Mansion, but now it's happening more," he said.

Without written permission, it's a misdemeanor violation of the state Health and Safety Code to scatter human ashes on private property, but enforcement is difficult. Officials say the ashes pose no health threat.

"I can tell you that we do get people from time to time asking for permission to sprinkle ashes. Our policy is when we are asked for permission, we deny the request," Doughty said. "Beyond that, we don't know."

[So, where would you scatter a loved one's ashes?]

I have a friend whose hubby is a rabid deer hunter. He even came close to missing his first child's birth because it fell on the opening day of deer season! I think it would be appropriate to scatter his ashes on his favorite deer lease.

Janette A

Are there a lot of rabid deer out there? Do they foam at the mouth like dogs? And, just how does one prepare such meat for consumption?

Very funny, John! Perhaps "rabid" is not the right adjective. Maybe "zealous" deer hunter would be better.

J Ansolabehere

Disney could convert a nuisance to a profit center:

http://www.artificialreefs.org/Articles/Resting%20with%20the%20Fish%20--%20Forever.htm

What does a zealous deer look like? Is it like a mule deer?

Oh well, at least the alleged sprinkler didn't snort her loved one's ashes, as a Pirates of the Carribean actor Keith Richards claimed (first righteously, then jokingly) he did with his father's ashes.