THE secret to keeping mosquitoes at bay in WaltDisney World has been revealed – and it’s as simple as it is clever.
A TikTok video has gone viral after claiming to have discovered the central Florida site’s top tips for keeping out the bugs.
In the video, posted to the account @disney_dad1, the narrator explained the unique ways Disney staff and management manage to keep the water-filled site mosquito-free.
“You’re in central Florida … swamps, humidity. It should be a mosquito paradise,” they said.
“But somehow, there’s nothing buzzing in your ears. So here’s the secret … and it’s honestly kind of genius.
“When Walt was designing DisneyWorld, he hired an actual entemologist … a bug expert.”
The video goes on to explain how the expert designed the bug-free site with three key issues in mind.
“First, Disney doesn’t let water sit still. No standing puddles. Everything drains fast. Fountains flow constantly. Even decorative moats have circulation.
“No still water means no mosquito breeding grounds.”
Spray repellent
The second trick, said the narrator, is for staff to lightly spray the parks – with a garlic-based repellent.
“You don’t smell it but mosquitoes hate it,” said the narrator. “It’s non toxic, safe for guests, and enough to keep bugs away.”
Finally, to ensure a mosquito-free experience, staff apparently use natural predators such as dragonflies, birds – and even bats at night.
“Disney basically created a little ecosystem where mosquitoes lose every time. And the wildest part? It’s all designed to be invisible. Just like the trash tunnels and the background music, the bug control blends into the magic.”
The video has likely left many intrigued, as it has racked up more than 23,000 views on the video sharing platform.
Visitors’ reactions
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts on the secrets.
One person said: “Disney world is ‘genius’ at everything.
“That’s what separates them from all the others.
“Their attention to detail is incredible.”
A second person posted: “Walt was a genius like he had to figure everything out before it opened. From the smallest detail it’s crazy! Intelligent man.”
A third wrote: “It’s not just mosquitoes. It’s bees, ants, flies. It’s so weird. I pointed out to my group when we went and they all laughed at me. I said, for real, pay attention.
“None of those things are in the parks.”
Staff at Disney World have never officially revealed how they manage to keep the park mosquito free.
The company’s website only states it has an “extensive” mosquito prevention and monitoring program in place.
Threat of new mosquito disease
Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus, which spreads to humans through infected mosquitoes.
Major outbreaks and scattered cases have been reported across the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
Now, with smaller flare-ups starting to appear in Europe, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms.
Not everyone infected with chikungunya will show symptoms, but for those who do, symptoms typically begin 4 to 8 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include:
- Sudden onset of high fever
- Severe joint pain (often debilitating)
- Joint swelling, especially in the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Rash
Most patients recover fully from chikungunya infection, although occasional cases can involve serious complications affecting the eyes, heart, or nervous system. Some can also be left with deformities.
Newborns infected either during delivery or by mosquito bites shortly after birth, and older adults with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of severe disease.
In such cases, hospitalisation may be necessary due to the risk of organ damage and even death
