September was a difficult month for some of Walt Disney World’s most popular rides.
Weather, technical problems, and maintenance can temporarily stop attractions. But September’s numbers show repeated downtime across all four Disney World theme parks.
And one EPCOT attraction finished at the end of the month with a number far beyond anything else on the list.
If Disney can’t get some of those problems under control, future guests could see their carefully planned days disrupted, too.
Several Attractions Kept Closures Relatively Low
Avatar Flight of Passage had one of the better performances among the attractions tracked. The Disney’s Animal Kingdom ride went down just three times during the period.
Six closures over 29 days followed Na’vi River Journey.
From there, the totals jumped considerably.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets each experienced 20 closures across 15 days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
EPCOT also had problems. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure recorded 27 closures across 20 days, while Frozen Ever After reached 29 closures over 18 days.
Even though those numbers sit near the lower end of this list, repeated interruptions can still throw off plans when guests are trying to fit several popular attractions into one day.
Three More Rides Climbed Above 30
The next group brought even more downtime.
Expedition Everest recorded 32 closures, followed by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with 34 closures across 22 days.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure climbed higher with 38 closures over 23 days.
The weather can affect outdoor rides. Central Florida thunderstorms and lightning can force Disney to temporarily suspend operations, leaving attractions such as Expedition Everest and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure more exposed to weather-related interruptions.
One closure can also affect more than a single queue. Guests who suddenly lose access to a popular ride may head toward other attractions instead, potentially making an already complicated park day even harder to manage.
But several rides experienced even more trouble.
Four Attractions Reached At Least 40 Closures
Kali River Rapids reached 40 closures during the tracked period, putting another Disney’s Animal Kingdom attraction toward the upper end of the list.
Two major rides are tied at 41.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance experienced 41 closures across 23 days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train matched that total across 25 days at Magic Kingdom.
Those interruptions can be particularly frustrating because both attractions can play a major role in guests’ plans. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train remains one of Magic Kingdom’s major draws, while many Hollywood Studios guests make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge a priority.
Losing access, even temporarily, can force families to rethink what they planned to accomplish.
Spaceship Earth and Slinky Dog Dash Near 60
The numbers continued to climb at EPCOT, where Spaceship Earth recorded 54 closures over 25 days.
Slinky Dog Dash went slightly higher.
The Toy Story Land coaster experienced 55 closures over 28 days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Its outdoor design leaves it vulnerable to Florida weather, while its popularity with families can make downtime particularly difficult for guests hoping to ride.
Still, 55 closures wasn’t enough to claim the top spot.
Not even close.
Test Track Reached 93 Closures
Test Track easily recorded the largest number on the list.
The EPCOT attraction experienced 93 closures across 29 days, averaging more than three shutdowns per day during the period tracked.
For comparison, no other attraction had more than 60 closures. Slinky Dog Dash finished second at 55, leaving a 38-closure gap between the top two.
That kind of repeated downtime can make planning around Test Track difficult. Guests may arrive while the attraction is unavailable, wait for operations to resume, or rearrange other plans, hoping to return later.
Downtime Matters More During an Expensive Vacation
The problem becomes harder to ignore when considering what families spend at Walt Disney World.
Admission can cost a family hundreds of dollars before adding hotels, parking, meals, merchandise, and Lightning Lane purchases.
Weather and technical problems happen, but September’s list includes major attractions such as Test Track, Slinky Dog Dash, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
These rides can become major parts of a family’s plans.
Major attractions across all four parks experienced interruptions, with Test Track recording 93 closures in less than a month.
If those problems continue, upcoming guests may need to prepare for more uncertainty around some of Disney World’s most popular rides.
