An April 23 article in Mouse Trap News has a headline reading "National Guard Blocks All Entrances to Disney World."
"Anyone who wants to visit Disney World now needs to go through the National Guard first." the article reads. "In fact, it's a lot like US border checkpoints."
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The article was shared more than 500 times on Facebook, according to CrowdTangle, a social media analytics tool. Many of those users took it as fact.
"DeSantis is pushing this too far," reads one comment on a Facebook post sharing the story. "It could be expensive, but who knows, Disney could always go to one of the states wooing it."
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The article is from a site that labels itself as satirical. The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the National Guard have both said the story is false.
Mouse Trap News does not attempt to hide its satirical nature, labeling every article "totally made-up" in a blurb urging readers to follow the site on social media.
The "About" page for the site also emphasizes its satirical nature.
"We write fake stories about Disney Parks stuff. From Disney Park announcements to Disney Hotel and resort news to made-up Disney partnerships, you can be assured that anything you read here is not true, real or accurate," it reads in part.
Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for DeSantis, said in an email to USA TODAY, "This claim is false."
Nahaku McFadden, a National Guard spokesperson, said likewise.
"There are no requests for the National Guard to support any missions to Disney World from Gov. DeSantis," McFadden said in an email.
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Disney and Florida government officials have been locked in a dispute that started more than a year with a law that limits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
After Disney opposed the bill, DeSantis called the state Legislature into special session to take control of the special district that governs Disney's properties in Florida. But before that law was approved, Disney pushed through a series of contractual agreements that would allow the company to work outside of the state's oversight for decades.
DeSantis is pushing for ways to nullify those agreements, both through legislation and actions of the new oversight board. He has also mused about opening a prison or competing theme park next to Disney World.
Disney has in turn filed a federal lawsuit claiming DeSantis is unconstitutionally retaliating against the company over a political disagreement.
Reuters, the Associated Press and Check Your Fact also debunked the claim.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: No, National Guard is not blocking Disney World entrances; claim is satire