A routine flight on Walt Disney World Resort’s Soarin’ Around the World attraction took an unexpected twist when guests found themselves stuck 40 feet in the air. The popular simulator ride at EPCOT was halted midway through the flight due to a malfunction, and guests were safely evacuated after a brief wait.
A Sudden Soarin’ Malfunction
Soarin’ Around the World, a long-standing favorite at EPCOT, takes guests on a simulated flight, soaring above iconic international landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China. However, during a recent ride, something went awry. Reddit user u/Pedialytepixie shared their experience, describing how the ride unexpectedly stopped and left them stuck in mid-air.
“Rode Soarin today,” the Disney Park guest wrote on Reddit. “The ride was amazing, as it should be, but at the end of our ride we saw a blue screen, and were stuck in the air for about 10 minutes.”
Behind the Scenes of a Ride Shutdown
While some EPCOT guests may have been nervous about the sudden stop, Disney cast members were quick to inform them about the issue. According to the guest’s account, Disney cast members reassured everyone that the ride was experiencing a malfunction and that they should remain seated until the issue was resolved.
“They said ‘there’s too much fog to land, we’ll have you moving immediately’ and then we waited ten minutes,” the Disney Park guest continued. “We did get to see a little door open through the screen, a cool behind the scenes moment, but it was a lil scary being stuck up 40 feet in the air!”
Safe and Swift Evacuation From Soarin’
Fortunately, the malfunction was short-lived, and guests were safely evacuated. Walt Disney World Resort attractions are known for their well-maintained safety procedures, and this incident was no different. Soarin’ Around the World was up and running again shortly after the evacuation.
At the time of this article’s publication, the attraction was operating normally, and the guests involved in the incident were able to continue enjoying their Walt Disney World Resort vacations without further disruption.
Have you ever gotten stuck on a ride at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments.
