Here's What Happens When Your Ride Has To Be EVACUATED in Disney World

Disney World may be The Most Magical Place on Earth, but sometimes things can still go wrong there.

Frozen Ever After being evacuated

Sometimes, the weather is completely uncooperative (rain, we’re talking about storms and rain). Sometimes, you have to deal with crowds. Sometimes, rides close because of technical or other issues. But what happens if you’re on a ride when those issues arise and it needs to be evacuated?

Usually, there’s a sign that a ride may be having an issue when it unexpectedly stops and then doesn’t start moving again. Now, this does happen often on rides like Haunted Mansion, but an announcement is usually made to tell you to wait patiently because the ride will start moving again soon. If you are on a ride that does stop like this, that’s exactly what you should do: wait patiently for the ride to either start moving again or for a Cast Member to give you other instructions.

Do NOT get out of the ride vehicle unless a Cast Member tells you to do so.

If a ride stops, stay in the vehicle unless you are instructed otherwise

We know just sitting there can be nerve-wracking, but Cast Members will not forget about you. They are working as quickly as they can to ensure sure you make a safe exit off the ride (one way or another). You may hear instructions over an intercom, or you may need to wait until a Cast Member approaches your ride vehicle, but you will be told exactly what you need to do.

PeopleMover being evacuated

Once you are given instructions, you may have to wait for a Cast Member to release you from the ride vehicle. Cast Members will then tell you to evacuate the ride and show you where you need to go to exit. On some rides, you may even be directed to backstage areas and get some behind-the-scenes looks at the attraction. On water rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, a Cast Member will be present to help you exit from the vehicle safely so you don’t end up in the water.

Guests walking through the ride sets on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

If you need some help, or you’re a guest who cannot walk, Cast Members will work with you to safely remove you from the ride. In some instances, the fire department may arrive to assist. The key is not to panic — you will be evacuated as quickly as possible. The most important thing you can do is remain calm, be patient, and listen to Cast Members.

Rise of the Resistance Evacuation

If you had used a Lightning Lane or Individual Lightning Lane selection to ride the attraction, you’ll need to see a Cast Member on the way out or at Guest Relations so that you can get an experience redemption to return to the ride’s Lightning Lane later once it reopens. These experience redemptions might be in the form of “anytime” Lightning Lanes, which can generally be used at most attractions that accept Lightning Lanes.

Lightning Lane

It doesn’t happen all the time, but these instances do occur. It’s important to follow all instructions from the Cast Members. We hope you don’t need this info, but you never know!

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney resources, tips, tricks, and news!

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