Anyone who’s been to Disney World more than a few times knows the truth: rides break down.
It’s just part of the experience. Sometimes it’s a brief pause while the system resets. Other times, it’s a full-on evacuation, where you're walking off the ride through a backstage hallway and wondering if you'll ever trust technology again. But there are certain attractions that seem to break down more than others. Whether it’s due to complicated ride systems, aging infrastructure, or just bad luck, some rides just have a reputation for going down—and staying down.
At the top of that list is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It’s one of Disney’s most technologically complex attractions ever, which is both a blessing and a curse. You get a truly immersive experience when it works, but getting through the ride without a delay feels like winning the Disney lottery. Between its trackless vehicles, motion simulators, animatronics, and timed effects, there are just too many things that can go wrong—and they often do.
Then there’s Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid. It’s a slow-moving, family-friendly omnimover that you wouldn’t expect to give anyone trouble. But oddly enough, it does. Guests have been evacuated off of it on multiple occasions, and it’s had more frequent closures than you’d expect from a ride that doesn’t do anything particularly intense. It’s become a bit of a running joke among fans that Ariel’s attraction might need some TLC of its own.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is another one that earns a spot on this list. It’s charming, nostalgic, and an ideal break from the crowds—but it also has a habit of stopping mid-ride. Sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes for minutes at a time.
On especially rough days, it’s listed as temporarily closed on the My Disney Experience app multiple times. The worst is when it breaks down while you’re inside Space Mountain and you sit there in the pitch dark, waiting for the ride to move again.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror may be iconic, but it’s also had a noticeable increase in technical problems over the last couple of years. While it's still a top-tier attraction, guests have noticed longer-than-usual downtimes and delayed openings, particularly during busy seasons. With all of its intricate theming and precise lift mechanics, even a small issue can cause the entire ride to shut down.
Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a newer ride at EPCOT that wows just about everyone who tries it. But all those thrills come at a price. The rotating ride vehicles, synchronized music, and backward launch make for a phenomenal ride—but they also mean more opportunities for things to glitch. While it’s not as prone to all-day closures as some of the older attractions, it has its fair share of unexpected halts and downtime.
Another unexpected name on this list is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Most guests don’t think of it as a problem ride, but it has quietly been one of the more breakdown-prone attractions in the park. It uses a slightly older track system combined with animated elements and has racked up a surprising number of closures over the last year. It’s the kind of ride that looks innocent but can throw off your day if it’s down when you get to Fantasyland.
Lastly, there’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. This one is starting to show its age. The blend of screens and physical sets used to feel fresh, but now the attraction often runs into problems with glitchy effects, stalled vehicles, or flat-out closures. Guests have reported that it’s frequently in “not quite working right” mode, and many feel like it’s one of the more neglected rides in the park.
In the end, every ride at Disney World is going to go down now and then—it’s just the nature of moving parts, safety systems, and Florida humidity. But these seven? They’ve made names for themselves. If any of these are high on your must-do list, it might be smart to plan a backup, check the app frequently, and maybe not save them for the very end of your day. Because there’s nothing more heartbreaking than walking up to a ride and seeing that dreaded “temporarily closed” sign just as you’re about to board.
