Viral TikTok dupes the internet with fake Disney booze story

ORLANDO, Fla. — A viral TikTok video falsely claiming that Disney World had lowered its drinking age to 18—and was battling the state of Florida in court over it—sparked widespread confusion online this week. The video quickly racked up millions of views, even making it onto a segment aired by ABC10 News before being debunked.

The story, however, was entirely fabricated. It originated from Mousetrap News, a satirical website that clearly states on its homepage that it only publishes fake Disney-themed stories. Despite the disclaimer, many social media users—and even some media outlets—mistook the piece as legitimate news.

Experts say this incident underscores how quickly misinformation can spread when users share sensational headlines without verifying them. “Just because something goes viral doesn’t mean it’s true,” said fact-checkers at Snopes, which investigated the claim and found no evidence of any legal dispute or policy change involving Disney and the state of Florida.

To avoid being misled, media literacy advocates urge the public to pause before sharing questionable content. Readers should examine the credibility of the source, look for supporting evidence or official citations, and conduct a lateral search to see if other reputable outlets are reporting the same story.

The viral hoax serves as a reminder that staying sharp online means applying the same critical thinking used in the real world.