A squirrel recently brought the Space Mountain ride at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to a halt, causing a significant delay.
The incident occurred after the squirrel appeared on the ride platform and then scurried into a restricted area near the tracks. Cast members had to stop the ride immediately to ensure guest safety and remove the animal. This highly unusual incident is not a common reason for a ride closure.
A guest captured the entire event on video and posted it to TikTok, where it quickly went viral. The video shows the squirrel running across the boarding area, causing cast members to react and guests to point and laugh at the unexpected delay, as you can see below:
@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
Ride delays at Disney parks are not uncommon, but a technical issue is the usual cause. An animal-related closure is a much more rare occurrence. While small birds sometimes fly into ride buildings, a squirrel appearing on the ride platform itself is a very unique event. Cast members train to handle a wide range of situations, but this one was certainly out of the ordinary.
Cast members safely brought guests on the ride back to the station. The delay was frustrating for some, but many people found the humor in the situation. Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Many people commented on the randomness of a squirrel causing such a stir. The incident has now become a quirky new story to tell about a trip to Disney World. The ride eventually resumed operation after cast members safely removed the animal from the area.
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