A suspicious powder that may or may not have been cremated remains was spotted in the water in the popular attraction, forcing the ride to close briefly Friday afternoon. Security officials were unable to determine what the substance was or find the female visitor who was seen sprinkling the powder.

"A witness described the substance as baby powder that quickly dissipated. We reopened the attraction after determining that there was no danger to our guests," said Rob Doughty, a Disneyland spokesman, in a prepared statement.

While Disney officials deny this is a recurring problem, a Disney watchdog blog said that this isn't the only incident of visitors possibly scattering the ashes of loved ones in the rides, specifically dark attractions.

That report was followed by this one earlier today, which attempts to put the claim in perspective.

But Sgt. Rick Martinez, a spokesman for the Anaheim police department, told ABC News that while a police officer who works inside the park was notified about the possibility of human remains scattered inside the 15-minute flume-style pirate ride last Friday, there was no confirmation that the ashes actually were those of a deceased person.

"As soon as the woman gets off the ride, she says it was baby powder," Martinez said. "And that lady's in the wind."

Not exactly a denial. Whether it's true or not, it seems clear that this is something people would like to do.

Like Martinez, Doughty admitted that there are myths about illegal Disneyland cremation ceremonies, but said the park has never had a confirmed case where human ashes were found. In fact, he said, his department receives, on average, two requests a year from guests eager to spread a loved one's ashes on the grounds of the park.

And this blogger claims the the problem is not only real but disgustingly out of hand.

To respond to this growing problem, Disneyland's custodial department recently had to purchase special vacuums with very sophisticated HEPA filters that can capture the gritty ash of human remains while also capturing the small bone fragments that can also be present after cremation. The Cast Members who work in Attractions know the code words when calling the custodial hotline, and they tell the custodial dispatcher that they need a "HEPA Cleanup" as soon as possible.

This seems like an odd way for Disney fans to go about things. I mean, clearly, the best way to get human remains into the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride is not to cremate the body but rather to dress your dead buddy up like a pirate, drape him in gold jewelry, arrange him in a typically buccaneer-like pose, and wait for rigor mortis to set in.

Then you're only one sloppily executed Weekend at Bernie's-style ruse away from rolling your pal off the raft and into a suitable "chasing women with poultry," display. Perfect!

I guess this is where not giving a fuck about what happens to me after I die really comes in handy. The risk/reward here is dicey at best. Ideally, you end up spending eternity getting gawked at by dumpy, mouth-breathing tourists. Worst case scenario, you get vacuumed up by a 16-year old park employee and dropped into an Anaheim dumpster. Not exactly win-win.

The story mentions that the ash sprinkling got its start at the "Haunted Mansion," attraction. I'm not a huge believer in ghosts but the build-up of years and years of dead people's remains having been tossed into that house can't be great for keeping a place un-haunted.

I mean, how many corpses would it take to flip that place from fun ride to actual walking nightmare of undead agony? My guess would be, any number over ten. Indian graveyards are bad news and some of them must've been on the small side. Especially with the ones who moved around a lot. The Apaches and the... uh... those other guys, too.

The worst part is, no one would ever believe you. That's a horrific lot in life. "Nutball who claims he saw ghosts inside the ghost ride." That's a step above calling PETA and urging them to rescue the flying elephants you spotted being forced to carry children around in a circle all day.

Eventually, after enough people claimed to have seen ghosts, they'd have to create a book of ghost mugshots featuring all the "fake" Disney-sanctioned spirits from the ride. Guests would be asked to go through the book, describing and then checking off the phantoms they saw. If you reach the end of the book and there's still no sign of "Gary, the pleated, khaki shorts-wearing investment banker from Des Moines-ghost," who expressed a desire to "haunt" your vagina, they call in the professional exorcists...

Nobody wants that, right?

TheCoolerKing knows you're going to call him crazy, but he doesn't care. On his last visit to the Haunted Mansion, towards the end of the ride, he believes he witnessed a grim spectre appear in the cart alongside him. He's never told this to another soul...

TidalTantrum

Geary, NB

February 2007

NOV 16, 2007 08:26 PM

Actually makes me want to go to Disney land.

RudieCantFail

Baton Rouge, LA

January 2006

NOV 16, 2007 08:34 PM

You'd have to hate somebody pretty bad to condemn them to eternity in Disneyland.

Caprica

SUICIDEGIRL

Illinois, USA

NOV 16, 2007 08:53 PM

That... is awesome.... I want to do it!

DjDemix

Mississauga, ON

February 2005

NOV 16, 2007 09:01 PM

I want my ashes spread on the teacup ride in full spin.

KitsunePagan

I'm lost

August 2007

NOV 16, 2007 09:17 PM

I didn't know people were doing that I wonder if people also sprinkle at places they used to hang out at like Wal Mart of McDonalds?

Dr3w

Lawrence, KS

February 2003

NOV 16, 2007 09:19 PM

I dunno I'm liking the pirate garb/weekend at bernie's idea... anyone wanna help me write that into my will?

Holdenwrites

Miami, FL

December 2004

NOV 16, 2007 09:23 PM

While for the most part I don't care about where my remains go, a part of me does want my ashes shot into outer space.
Sure, it's a bit vast, but I figure there are at least enough ashes up there to do a B-movie haunting of a space station, or perhaps a top secret vessel created to try and skip through hell to reach another point in space.

Sam Neill, I'm coming for you...

DCruz

Montreal-nord, QC

November 2006

NOV 16, 2007 09:38 PM

that made me lol !

Ainur

I'm lost

May 2005

NOV 16, 2007 09:46 PM

Some people love the ocean, some people love mountains, and some people love Disneyland. Personally, having grown up there, I guess I get it. Regardless, Disney doesn't really sound all that upset about.