Space Mountain has seen its share of shutdowns, but no one could have predicted what happened recently at Magic Kingdom. Guests were ready for galactic thrills—until an unexpected visitor had other plans.
It wasn’t lightning or a technical issue. It was something smaller. Fuzzier. And very, very fast.
Space Mountain’s Legendary Status
Space Mountain isn’t just another ride at Magic Kingdom—it’s a Disney icon. Since 1975, the indoor coaster has hurled guests through a pitch-black galaxy of twists, dips, and sharp turns. It was groundbreaking then, and even today, it delivers a one-of-a-kind thrill that doesn’t rely on modern screens or big-name characters. It’s one of the few attractions that has stayed mostly the same for decades—and people love it for that reason.
The music, the flashing lights, the sudden drops—everything about Space Mountain screams nostalgia and adrenaline. Whether it’s someone’s first or fiftieth visit, riding it has become a rite of passage. Even after all these years, the coaster pulls massive crowds daily. So when it shuts down, whether for maintenance or emergencies, people take notice—and start asking questions.
Not the Only Ride Struggling
While most Disney guests expect the occasional closure, it’s happened more often lately—not just for scheduled maintenance. Test Track at EPCOT, for example, just reopened after a significant refurbishment and already had several frustrating breakdowns during its first week back.
Guests lined up for hours, eager to experience the updated ride, only to be turned away mid-day after unexpected shutdowns. Some waited twice, hoping for a reopening that never came.
But sometimes it’s not equipment or weather that’s the problem. Sometimes, it’s something else entirely unexpected.
TikTok Reveals the Real Reason
That “something else” turned out to be a squirrel. TikTok user @alimarie1183 captured the whole thing on video, and it’s honestly one of the most unexpected Disney moments you’ll ever see.
The video shows a squirrel casually strutting around the Space Mountain loading platform. It wasn’t panicking or hiding—it acted like it had a Lightning Lane. Guests watched, amused and confused, as it inspected the ride area and strutted around like it owned the place.
Eventually, the squirrel disappeared into a hole near the track, likely heading underneath the structure. Cast Members had to stop operations while figuring out if proceeding was safe. The delay lasted a while, with TikTok showing plenty of commentary and laughs from those stuck waiting.
Space Mountain has seen its share of shutdowns, but no one could have predicted what happened recently at Magic Kingdom. Guests were ready for galactic thrills—until an unexpected visitor had other plans.
@alimarie1183 We got stuck on Space Mountain… because of a curious squirrel… caused a long delay after this. Sandy go back to @Universal Orlando Resort SpongeBob is over there 🙈🐿️ #magickingdom #spacemountain #wdw #squirrels #disney ♬ original sound – Alicia Marie
A New Disney Star?
After the delay, Space Mountain resumed operations like nothing had happened. But online, the squirrel became a bit of a sensation. The video racked up views quickly, with comments ranging from “only at Disney” to jokes about the squirrel working for Universal.
Disney World has always been full of surprises. But this? This might be the furriest one yet.
