[WishUponAStar]

Well, I never would have pegged TMZ as "nice" honestly, usually I am watching their ridiculously mindless, yet addictive, show while my fat butt is sweating on the eliptical at the gym. I didn't watch today b/c I went to the gym earlier but everything they said about the deepening of the trenches to suit heavier loads HAS been denied by the Disney Company. I had read that a representative from the Disney Company claimed that all the fiberglass patches that have been spackled on the bottom of the boats due to natural ware & tear was the cause of the scrapage & the needed trench deepening, amongst other practical issues.

Who knows what's REALLY true but I would assume that if it REALLY was just because "Americans are so fat" the same refurbishments would need to be done on the Storybook Canal Boats, IASW in WDW, possibly PotC, etc.
I have a tendency to believe what the Disney reps. claim, but you never know.