Google AI Search Answers Are Spreading Disney Misinformation

As a general rule, you shouldn’t believe everything that you read on the internet. There’s a large amount of misinformation and falsehoods all over the web. This is true even in regard to information about the Disney parks. Since a large number of people who browse the web have never been to Disney, they often don’t know better than to believe the information that’s made readily available for them.

Here at Mickey Visit, we pride ourselves on the excessive work that we put into our articles to provide our readers with useful, factual, and up-to-date information. By fact checking, using reliable sources, and gathering firsthand information in the field, we’ve created a trustworthy platform where readers can find factual information about the Disney Parks and beyond.

Unfortunately, not every Disney-related site out there has the same ethics. There are even some, called satire sites, that purposely publish false and misleading information for entertainment.

It pains us when we see this information spread, especially when we see that readers are believing what they read. Today, we’re going to explain how untrue information about the Disney Parks is spreading faster than ever. We’re also going to provide you with helpful tips on how you can avoid being tricked by these untruths.

AI Search Results Created Big Changes

Over the past few years, AI features and functions have grown tremendously. In today’s world, we see AI being used to create pictures and graphics, summarize comment sections and emails, generate answers based off of text messages, have verbal conversations with users, and so much more.

As of May 14th, 2024, Google started using AI Overviews to start summarizing search results for its users. After entering a search, a blurb will appear at the top of the results page, summarizing the information that was collected from a variety of sources. The intent of Google’s AI Overviews is to quickly provide helpful answers to searches when the systems determine that a summarized answer will be useful.

Unfortunately, with the mass amount of misinformation that’s online, the AI may gather this false information and include it in the AI Overview. Because of this, misinformation is quickly spreading among Google users. While the overviews include links to the site where the AI sourced the information from, many users don’t click on the links to investigate further or even look at the results that the search actually pulled. Oftentimes, users take the AI Overview answer at face value and then move on.

Where is the Misinformation Coming From?

There are a few places that misinformation about the Disney Parks and other Disney Destinations come from. The first is from websites that don’t thoroughly fact check their information. Websites that don’t get their information from reliable sources or from firsthand experiences often end up spreading lies, rumors, and false information. A lot of times, this isn’t done maliciously. Unfortunately though, they are only aiding in the circulation of falsities.

Another place that false information comes from is satire sites. As I briefly mentioned earlier, satire sites purposely publish false information. To some, this may be a humorous gesture or a fun outlook on topics. However, not everyone browsing the internet is aware that this information is completely false. Especially when they aren’t familiar with the topic.

There’s one satire site that’s made quite the name for itself in the Disney community. This site is called Mouse Trap News. In defense of this fake news outlet, it is clearly stated on their “About” page that they are a satire site that publishes fake stories. It also says that nothing on their site is real, true, or accurate. At least they’re honest about that.

Even so, not everyone that stumbles upon their website or their articles may be aware that what they’re reading is intended to not be believed. This includes the AI that scours the internet to quickly find answers to Google searches. Because of this, news and information about the Disney Parks, that’s as far from the truth as possible, often ends up at the top of users' pages when they try to search for information.

False Information that AI is Spreading

While a large amount of false information is being spread by AI, we wanted to give an example of some of the “news” that is being picked up from sites such as Mouse Trap News. Due to a recent article that was published by the site, many are under the impression that Walt Disney World is now requiring Guests to leave a tip before they can exit the ride.

This is the information that is being pulled from Mouse Trap News and is being displayed at the top of Google searches as part of a Google AI Overview.

To clarify, this information is completely false. No tips are required to exit the rides at Walt Disney World. Actually, if you tried to tip the Cast Members working at the rides, they would not be allowed to accept it. Only select Cast Members, such as those working at table service restaurants, bell services, in housekeeping, and as private drivers, are allowed to accept tips from Guests.

The link provided with this AI Overview does direct readers straight to Mouse Trap News. However, as I mentioned earlier, not everyone clicks on the link provided to check sources. Plus, there’s no guarantee that everyone would recognize Mouse Trap News as a satire site.

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How to Avoid Being Misinformed

The best way to avoid being fooled by false information is by doing as much research as possible. Don’t simply accept the first answer that pops up on Google. If you’re doing a Disney-related Google search, and it provides you with an AI Overview at the top of the results page, make sure that the information is truthful and accurate. At Mickey Visit we work hard to deliver up-to-date, fact-checked, information so that you can have a great trip with no mishaps.

As I mentioned before, all of the Google AI Overviews provide links to show where the information was sourced. The links may not be very obvious, oftentimes just appearing as a tiny circle with the image of a link in the bottom corner of the blurb. Make sure that you click this link to see if the information provided comes from a reliable source.

Beyond that, take time to look through the results that the search pulled. Make sure that you can fact check the information with multiple reliable sources before accepting it as truth. There are a number of factual Disney-related news sites on the internet. Of course, we fully understand if you’re weary about which ones to trust.

Information You Can Trust

Rest assured that you’re currently on a site that only relays information that’s factual, reliably sourced, and able to be proven. At Mickey Visit our goal is to provide our readers with as much information as possible to help keep them up-to-date on the latest Disney news and to help them plan the most magical vacation possible.

However, if you’re ever unsure about the information that you find online, you can head directly to an official Disney website to have your questions answered. Besides the Disney websites, you can also find useful information on the Disney Parks Blog, planDisney, and the official Disney social media pages.

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