When guests board the Walt Disney World Monorail for EPCOT, they probably aren't expecting the transportation ride to become the biggest story of their day.
That appears to be exactly what happened to a group of visitors on September 8, 2026.
An EPCOT-bound monorail reportedly lost power following a lightning strike, leaving passengers stuck aboard the train for nearly two hours. The wait eventually reached the point where guests were instructed to remove windows for ventilation.
One passenger documented the ordeal on TikTok, sharing videos from both the delay and its aftermath.
By the time passengers finally got off the monorail, Disney reportedly gave them a $50 gift card.
What Happened Aboard the EPCOT Monorail?
TikTok user Tanya shared footage from inside the stopped monorail as the unusual situation unfolded.
One of the videos shows passengers working to remove a window from the train. Text included with the TikTok identifies it as a stuck monorail heading toward EPCOT, while the post says lightning knocked out power.
@soaringwithtanya 9/8/26 Lightning knocked out the power somewhere so here we are stuck on a monorail. Disney is full of adventures! Been coming here since a kid and this is a first! #disney #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld ♬ original sound – Tanya🦅❌🐝
Removing windows certainly isn't part of the typical monorail experience.
Disney World's trains normally provide an enclosed, climate-controlled trip around portions of the resort. The EPCOT line carries guests between the Transportation and Ticket Center and EPCOT, making it an important option for visitors moving between the Magic Kingdom area and EPCOT.
Once the train lost power, however, passengers could no longer simply continue toward the park.
They had to wait.
And wait.
The delay reportedly lasted close to two hours.
As time passed, guests were instructed to remove windows to help provide ventilation inside the train.
For passengers who expected to spend those two hours inside EPCOT, the situation likely created a major change of plans.
A Disney park day can involve reservations and scheduled experiences, and an unexpected delay of that length can have consequences well after transportation resumes.
A Second TikTok Reveals Disney's Response
The guest later posted another TikTok showing what happened once the group was finally able to leave the monorail.
According to the passenger, Disney provided a $50 gift card following the incident.
@coastinwdan Wow so much fun #monorail #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld #disney #florida ♬ Star Tunnel (From Disney's Space Mountain) – C13
That added another unusual element to a story that had already gone far beyond a typical transportation delay.
Weather-related interruptions aren't uncommon at Walt Disney World. Central Florida frequently experiences thunderstorms, and lightning can temporarily affect attractions and other operations.
Guests might find an outdoor coaster unavailable during a storm or have to change their plans while waiting for severe weather to move through.
A monorail becoming stranded for nearly two hours is another matter.
The experience also serves as a reminder that transportation time should always leave a little room for the unexpected. Most guests won't encounter anything remotely this extreme, but even Disney transportation can experience delays.
For these passengers, what started as a simple ride toward EPCOT became a lengthy ordeal.
They reportedly lost power following lightning, remained aboard the stopped train for nearly two hours, and were instructed to remove windows as they waited.
Eventually, everyone was able to get off the monorail, and Disney reportedly provided a $50 gift card.
It's safe to say this group got a much different monorail experience than the one they expected when they first stepped aboard.
