A Disney attraction recently drew attention for a reason no one expected.
Guests riding Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival at Tokyo DisneySea witnessed a bizarre moment involving the ride’s Rapunzel animatronic. The incident quickly spread online after visitors shared videos showing birds attacking the figure’s hair.
Sea’s Rapunzel is getting eaten by a crow, that’s bad.
シーのラプンツェル、カラスに食われててやばい pic.twitter.com/WYSJLoQdn8
— ᴋ_ᴍᴀʀᴜ_ᴅᴀᴜ_ʙᴀʙʏ (@k_maru_dau_baby) April 1, 2026
Moments like this are rare at Disney parks, where attractions typically run with careful precision. Most unexpected situations involve routine issues such as ride breakdowns or weather delays rather than anything unfolding directly within the themed environment.
That is part of what made the scene stand out.
In recent months, Disney attractions have occasionally gone viral for unusual technical mishaps. Videos have circulated showing animatronics malfunctioning or collapsing, including a recent incident involving a walking-and-talking Olaf figure in Disney Adventure World's new World of Frozen area.
The Olaf animatronic at Disney Adventure World has had its first public malfunction.
(Source: magictourclub/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/OrcwrSxk9O
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 30, 2026
The latest situation, however, involved wildlife rather than technology.
Birds Damage Rapunzel Animatronic at Tokyo DisneySea
Guests in Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs area recently watched as several crows landed on Rapunzel’s tower and began pulling at the animatronic’s hair.
The figure appears early in the Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival boat ride, where Rapunzel stands atop her tower looking down toward guests entering the attraction.
Videos posted online show the birds repeatedly pecking and tugging at the animatronic before flying away with pieces of the hair.
The footage suggests the birds were carrying away strands of material, leading some guests to speculate they may have been collecting it for nests.
Tokyo Disney Resort has not publicly explained the incident.
According to recent reports from guests visiting the attraction, the Rapunzel animatronic has since been removed from the tower.
The removal appears to be temporary while repairs take place.
Rapunzel’s Tower Scene Changes After Viral Incident
Guests riding the attraction now report that the tower scene remains visible, but the character herself is gone.
Rapunzel is not here right now!
現在ラプンツェルいません！ https://t.co/g0KuXGVXgn pic.twitter.com/ROyaDfk3uH
— naonao 🕯️ (@naonao_Lumiere) April 1, 2026
Despite the change, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival continues to operate as normal. The slow-moving boat ride follows Rapunzel and Flynn Rider through scenes from Tangled (2010), ending with a recreation of the film’s famous floating lantern festival.
The attraction relies on animatronics, lighting, and projection effects to recreate moments from the film.
Most of the figures appear indoors, making them less vulnerable to outside elements. Rapunzel’s tower scene, however, is positioned outdoors at the start of the ride.
Fantasy Springs opened at Tokyo DisneySea in 2024 and represents one of the resort’s largest expansions.
The themed port includes sub-areas inspired by Frozen (2013), Tangled (2010), and Peter Pan (1953). Each section features attractions, restaurants, and themed environments designed around the films.
Alongside Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, guests can experience Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, a boat ride retelling the story of Frozen similar to EPCOT's Frozen Ever After.
Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure offers a trackless ride through Never Land, while families can also explore Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies in the Pixie Hollow area.
Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland operate under a unique arrangement compared with other Disney parks.
Both resorts are owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company through a licensing agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Imagineering designs the attractions, while Oriental Land Company manages operations.
It remains unclear how long the Rapunzel animatronic will remain absent from the tower.
Have you ever experienced Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival?
