If you are planning a family vacation to Disneyland to enjoy the amazing holiday events offered by the Happiest Place on Earth, you might want to stick with the seasonal treats and stray from some of the popular theme park’s more iconic attractions.
According to the L.A. Times, the world’s most famous amusement park is exposing visitors to “excessive” levels of lead. The newspaper reports that Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation has filed a lawsuit against Disney after high levels of lead were found on various items around Disneyland, including: brass door knobs at Minnie’s House, a stained-glass Pinocchio window in the dining area of Village Haus restaurant, drinking fountains, brass rail chains, and stained-glass windows in the salon in Cinderella’s Castle.
According to the L.A. Times, Mateel tested various items at the park and found that Disney has been breaking a California law, which requires warnings be posted if an item’s daily lead exposure tops 0.5 micrograms. The environmental group noted that the stained-glass Pinocchio window had a lead exposure of 350 micrograms. In addition, the group maintains “high” levels of lead can be found on the prime photo op statute of the sword stuck in the stone. How many kids do you think have posed with their sticky paws wrapped tightly around the legendary sword handle?
Court documents obtained by the L.A. Times claim that the Disney is complying with signage requirements, but Mateel says the mega-theme park isn’t doing enough. Recently, the group filed an injunction to force the Disney to post clearer warnings or cover the lead contaminated items.
“We are asking the court to force Disney to take steps that should have been taken when we first told them that children at Disneyland are in danger of illegal lead exposures”, Mateel President William Verick told the paper.
Would you consider modifying your Disneyland travel plans to avoid coming into contact with the items in question?