Ariana Grande Says Her Mom Wants Her Ashes Spread at Cinderella Castle — Here's Why That Can't Happen

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Amy Sussman/Getty; imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Amy Sussman/Getty; imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Ariana Grandeis revealing an unusual request from her Disney-loving mom,Joan.

As the trio discuss landmark attractions at Disneyland and Disney World, Grande then shares how her mom repeatedly tells her and her brotherFrankie Grandethat they have to spread her ashes at the Florida theme park.

“When it comes to Florida. When it comes to the Disney in Florida,” Grande begins, “first of all, we get Cinderella’s Castle. Which is, you know, also a landmark.”

She continues, “My mom tells us too often that she wants her ashes sprinkled over it. And I’m like, ‘Mom, it’s Christmas. Do we have to talk about this right now?' And she’s like, ‘Yeah. You have to make sure that happens.’”

Ariana Grande and her mom Joan in 2013.John Sciulli/AMA2013/Getty

Grande — who has beenbusy promoting part one of her highly anticipated filmWicked(out Nov. 22) — recalls her response to her mom’s ask: “I’m like, ‘Mom, I don’t wanna make sure that that happens.'”

She also points out a rather morbid issue she foresees happening as a result of her mom’s plan.

“I think there’s actors back there working. So you’re gonna be sprinkled on people’s heads who are like, dressed as Tinker Bell waiting for their cue,” she jokes.

“Totally. There’s like a hotel room in there,” Yang adds, referring to the exclusiveCinderella Castle Suite.

“I’ve been in there because I performed at the castle one time and I got to change in there, which was really cool," Grande notes. “It’s really beautiful and it feels very real.”

Cinderella Castle at Disney World in Florida.Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty

Unfortunately, the Grammy winner’s mom’s wish will never be fulfilled as it’sillegal to spread a loved one’s ashes at Disneytheme parks.

According to a 2018 report from theWall Street Journal, a Disney rep confirmed that the act of dispersing ashes at any of the parks is “strictly prohibited and unlawful. Guests who attempt to do so will be escorted off the property.”

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If ashes were to be discovered on an attraction, the ride then has to close down on account of “technical difficulties” and a manager has to go through it alone to identify any ashes, according toWSJ.

Custodians, who refer to it as a “HEPA cleanup,” then use an ultra-fine vacuum to collect all of the small particles.

Thishasn’t stopped some guests from tryingto do it anyway.

The most popular final resting places within the parks are flower beds and bushes, Magic Kingdom lawns, outside the park gates, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the moat underneath the flying elephants of the Dumbo ride — and above all, the Haunted Mansion, according to the outlet.

Said one custodian, “The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny,”

source: people.com