A day at Walt Disney World is usually filled with magical moments, unexpected laughter, and maybe a few surprise character sightings. But for some guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently, the biggest surprise of the day didn’t come from a Jedi or an Incredibles sighting—it came from a snake slithering across a ride platform.
The incident took place at Alien Swirling Saucers, a fan-favorite spinning ride located in Toy Story Land. Known for its bright colors, catchy space music, and kid-friendly thrills, this attraction is rarely out of commission for long. But on this day, Cast Members were forced to shut the ride down after a black racer snake was spotted on the loading platform.
And yes—it was a real snake, which you can see here.
While some guests were initially startled by the news, there was no real danger. The black racer is a non-venomous species native to Florida, and although it can move quickly and look intimidating, it’s completely harmless to humans. These snakes actually help control pest populations and are a normal part of Florida’s ecosystem.
Still, snakes and spinning saucers don’t exactly mix. Disney Cast Members quickly jumped into action, clearing the area and pausing ride operations so the little visitor could be safely removed. According to eyewitnesses, the situation was handled swiftly and calmly. The snake was safely captured and relocated far from the park, and no guests were harmed—or even all that close to the action.
After the removal, the ride was inspected and quickly reopened, allowing guests to get back to their intergalactic fun with minimal delay.
This kind of wildlife encounter, while rare, isn’t entirely unheard of at Walt Disney World. The resort spans over 25,000 acres of land, much of which is surrounded by forests, water, and open space—perfect conditions for Florida’s native wildlife. From rabbits and ducks to squirrels and even the occasional wild turkey, animals do make surprise appearances from time to time.
That said, Disney has systems in place for situations like this. Cast Members receive training to handle unexpected wildlife in a safe and respectful way, and incidents like this usually result in very little disruption. It's all part of balancing a theme park environment with the natural surroundings of Central Florida.
Guests who were in Toy Story Land that day may not have gotten the kind of souvenir they expected—but they definitely got a unique story to tell. Imagine coming home and telling your friends that the ride shut down because of a snake. That’s not something you hear every day, even in the Most Magical Place on Earth.
So while the Alien Swirling Saucers may have briefly traded aliens for a reptile, all’s well that ends well. And thanks to quick-thinking Cast Members and a curious snake just looking for a new path, the day was back to normal in no time.
