If you’ve ever been annoyed by a glowing phone screen while on a Disney ride, change may be coming your way. Disneyland has started cracking down, beginning with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, where every item—from phones to hats—must be stored away before the ride begins.
This decision comes from two major concerns: safety and show quality. The trackless ride system is easily disrupted by dropped objects, and constant filming ruins the carefully designed environments. Fans are split, with some happy about the return of immersion while others miss the chance to capture TikTok-worthy moments.
TRON Lightcycle / Run at Walt Disney World already requires riders to lock up their belongings. But it won’t stop there. More attractions are likely to see the same restrictions soon.
The Rides on the Chopping Block
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
The spinning coaster at EPCOT depends on complete darkness and projection effects. Even the smallest light can ruin the illusion, not to mention the danger of a phone slipping from someone’s hands.
Space Mountain
Phones have been a headache here for decades. The attraction is dark by design, and one glowing screen instantly kills the thrill. Flying phones have also caused safety scares in the past.
Haunted Mansion
Many fans can’t resist recording the hitchhiking ghosts or ballroom scene, but in doing so, they break the eerie mood Imagineers created.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Much like Haunted Mansion, this attraction thrives on darkness and subtle effects. Phones have chipped away at the atmosphere for years, and Disney may finally step in.
Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios
Since the California version already has the ban, it’s only a matter of time before Florida follows suit. The risks are identical, and the show experience is just as vulnerable.
What This Means for Guests
Disney hasn’t confirmed these rules yet, but all signs point to a bigger shift. The company has spent decades building rides that feel like stepping into another world, and that magic is easily broken by phone screens. With safety and immersion at stake, Disney may soon make cellphone bans a permanent fixture at several of its most iconic attractions.
