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Walt Disney World has reportedly removed black mold from the “It’s a Small World” ride — after thousands of guests may have been exposed, according to a new report.
One fan posted to social media claiming that there was once black mold on one of the gondola animatronics in the Italy section of the beloved ride in Magic Kingdom, and it appeared to finally be scrubbed clean.
“They finally did it! Disney has cleaned the thick black mold line on this little gondola on it’s a small world,” the guest shared on X in a viral post that has garnered more than 653,100 views.
They shared in the thread an undated photo of an apparent line of mold on the gondola, noting that “it was much worse recently before they cleaned it.”
It’s unclear when the photo was taken or how long the substance was there — but other riders shared that they’ve been waiting for it to be cleaned, too.
“You don’t know how much that line bothered me,” someone replied.
Another wrote, “Just ruining our childhoods more and more,” to which the original poster replied, “Yep, the magic is lost.”
Walt Disney World has not publicly acknowledged the situation.
The Post has reached out to Disney for comment.
Inside the Magic surmised that if the mold got worse or spread, it could have resulted in a shutdown of the classic ride — and water-based rides in particular “demand rigorous upkeep.”
According to the site, the find has sparked Disney fan discourse regarding concerns of cleanliness, maintenance and attraction operations, especially on a ride that sees so much visitor traffic.
“Fans are heartbroken,” a fan said on Reddit, the blog said.
“Black mold is no joke,” one commenter wrote, per Disney Fanatic. “If that’s really what it is, that’s concerning.”
“Disney usually keeps things spotless — how did this slip through?” another asked.
This isn’t the first time fans have spotted what appears to be mold on a Disney attraction or property.
Back in 2022, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed, reportedly due to a mold infestation, and parkgoers assumed it was closed forever until last year, when the park opened The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure in the same space.
More recently, one family staying at Disney’s Beach Club Resort in Florida in December discovered what they thought was mold on the sliding glass door leading to the balcony, sharing a photo on Reddit.
The user posted an update claiming that they were immediately offered a new room — an offer she did not take — and were met with surprises for the children.
“My daughters had left an Elsa Barbie in the room when we left today, and magically, when we returned, Elsa had lots of friends that came and joined her!” she wrote.
The consensus on Reddit is that Disney guests should inform cast members or staff about any presence of suspected mold.
Black mold isn’t something to take lightly, experts warn. It’s a fungus that can impact the immune system, with symptoms including sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation.
While it rarely causes serious illness or death, it can pose serious health risks to those with respiratory conditions, allergies, asthma or weakened immune systems.
