A character was quietly removed from the route during a recent performance of the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Walt Disney World Resort after a visible costume malfunction midway through the show.
The moment occurred in front of guests lining Main Street, U.S.A., during the afternoon presentation at Magic Kingdom on January 27. Cast members stepped in quickly, escorting the performer backstage as the parade continued without stopping.
Mid-Parade Removal Draws Guest Attention
The issue took place during the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) unit, one of several character sections that rotate through the daily procession.
In that segment, Snow White walks the route with the Seven Dwarfs, interacting with guests and posing for photos as they move between floats.
Guests nearby said Sneezy’s eye appeared to come loose from the costume, leaving an empty socket that was noticeable from the curb.
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“Y’all never in all my years as a WDW fan have I experienced something like this,” wrote one guest on Reddit. “This was at the end of the afternoon parade route on [Main Street]. He was taken out shortly after with a cast member covering the eyes and taking him out one of the back entrances.”
The guest added that the detached piece did not fall onto the pavement.
“I kinda think it fell inside the costume, if that makes sense?” they wrote. “The other eye looked like it was kinda half poked out too.”
Cast members shielded the character’s face and guided the performer off route. The rest of the parade proceeded as scheduled.
No extended delay was reported.
A Long-Running Show With Complex Moving Parts
Festival of Fantasy is Magic Kingdom’s primary daytime parade and one of the park’s highest-capacity entertainment offerings.
Debuting in 2014, the production replaced the former Celebrate a Dream Come True parade and introduced larger floats, more intricate costumes, and a broader lineup of animated properties.
Floats themed to Tangled, Peter Pan, and The Little Mermaid anchor the procession, alongside dancers, stilt walkers, and dozens of performers.
The parade typically runs once or twice daily, depending on season and crowd levels, traveling from Frontierland (which is currently undergoing a massive transformation) through Liberty Square and down Main Street, U.S.A.
Over the years, the lineup has shifted. Some elements have been retired, including a float based on Brave, though the core structure has remained intact.
Like many outdoor productions, the show depends on weather conditions and moving mechanical units, making brief operational issues inevitable.
Several similar disruptions have occurred in recent years.
In 2023, Flora experienced a technical issue with her “floating device” during the Sleeping Beauty portion of the parade, requiring cast assistance.
In 2024, the Beast’s tail appeared to fall off while evacuating the Beauty and the Beast float during a rainstorm.
Heavy rain also interrupted a June 2025 performance, when Snow White escorted Bashful off the route early.
In most cases, performers are removed quickly and operations teams keep the experience moving for guests.
What’s the wildest character incident you’ve ever experienced at Disney?
