A routine safari ride came to a sudden stop at Disney's Animal Kingdom yesterday.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to some of Walt Disney World Resort’s most unpredictable attractions, but guests usually expect the surprises to come from the animals — not other visitors.
Kilimanjaro Safaris has operated at the park since opening day in 1998. The attraction takes guests through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve aboard open-air trucks, passing elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, crocodiles, and other live animals across a massive savanna environment.
Because of the attraction’s design, Disney enforces strict rules about remaining seated inside ride vehicles at all times.
Those rules were ignored this week.
Guest Leaves Disney Ride Vehicle During Kilimanjaro Safaris
A TikTok video shared by @itsedwinlv on May 5 captured the moment a guest climbed out of a Kilimanjaro Safaris truck midway through the attraction.
According to the video, the man ran toward nearby bushes while the safari vehicle remained stopped on the attraction path.
Guests onboard appeared stunned by what was happening. In the background, one person can be heard saying, “they're gonna kick him out of the park now.”
Another safari truck was forced to wait behind the stopped vehicle as the situation unfolded.
The guest’s daughter was also heard shouting, “Daddy, hurry up, they're waiting for you.”
A short time later, the man ran back toward the truck and climbed onto the side of the vehicle before saying, “Sorry, I had to.”
A Disney cast member then called the guest to the front of the vehicle.
The video ended shortly afterward, and Disney has not publicly commented on the incident.
It remains unclear where exactly on the attraction the guest exited the truck or whether any animals were nearby at the time.
Disney Has Strict Rules Around Ride Safety
Unlike traditional Disney attractions, Kilimanjaro Safaris operates inside a live animal environment with constantly changing conditions.
The attraction spans roughly 110 acres and features more than 30 species. Ride vehicles regularly stop for crossing animals, traffic backups, or operational delays.
Disney warns guests to remain inside ride vehicles throughout the experience due to the safety risks associated with restricted areas and active ride paths.
Incidents involving guests exiting attractions have occurred at Disney parks before.
In recent years, guests have climbed out of ride vehicles on attractions including Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, and Autopia at Disneyland Park.
One of the most infamous cases happened in 2023 when a guest exited a boat on “it’s a small world” and stripped naked during the attraction. Unsurprisingly, the guest was later arrested and escorted out of the theme park by police.
Kilimanjaro Safaris presents additional concerns because of the attraction’s open layout and live animals.
Disney cast members are trained to stop rides when guests break safety rules, particularly on attractions involving moving vehicles or restricted backstage areas.
Have you ever experienced something like this at Disney?
