A rumor that Disney added mandatory tipping to Disney World rides is circulating online. For example, the TikTok account Mouse Trap News posted a video (archived) on Jan. 5, 2025, claiming that visitors would not be able to unlock the ride seatbelt until they paid a minimum $5.00 tip:
@mousetrapnews Disney is really gonna make you pay to get off their rides!😡 #disneyworld #disneynews #disneyrides #tipping #disneycastmember #disneyemployee ♬ Nothing Can Stop Us Now - Kyle Allen Music
The Mouse Trap News Instagram account also shared the claim, linking to an article on the Mouse Trap News website that began:
Disney Adds Mandatory Tipping to All Rides
Disney adds mandatory tipping to all rides. This is an effort to help pay their employees more fair wages.
Disney is adding tipping tablets to every single ride car. Then, when the ride is over, guests will be asked to leave a tip in order to unlock the seatbelt and actually get off the ride. The minimum tip you can leave is $5.
There will also be options to leave a $10 or $20 tip. Guests can also place a custom tip as long as it is greater than $5. To leave a tip, all you need to do is scan your MagicBand and it will pull right from your My Disney Experience account.
Once a tip is left, your seatbelt, lap bar, or whatever the safety restraint is, will unlock, so you can exit the attraction. Moving forward, leaving a tip is the only way you will be allowed to get off Disney rides. The only exception to this is if the ride breaks down.
Some readers seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. However, there was no evidence that Disney added mandatory tipping to Disney World rides.Â
Rather, the rumor about mandatory tipping originated with Mouse Trap News — a website that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. Its About Page states:Â
Mouse Trap News is the world's best satire and parody site, and authors of The Ultimate Guide to an Affordable Disney Trip, a best-seller. 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.
The heading of the site's Facebook and X account also announced in all caps: "FAKE NEWS."
Mouse Trap News has a history of making up stories for shares and comments. Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims stemming from the site in the past, including the assertion that Disney banned women from driving on the Tomorrowland Speedway and a rumor that Disney bought TikTok for $100 billion.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.