Disney's Hollywood Studios
Thousands Refused Entry to Disney World Coaster, Few Given Special Access

Walt Disney World Resort guests expecting a thrilling ride on Slinky Dog Dash were instead met with frustration after the attraction suddenly shut down, leaving thousands stranded in line with no compensation. Meanwhile, a select group of guests was quietly granted free Lightning Lane Passes, sparking debate over Disney’s handling of ride breakdowns.
Slinky Dog Dash Breaks Down, Guests Left Hanging

Slinky Dog Dash, the flagship attraction of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has been a guest favorite since its grand opening in 2018. With its colorful design, playful theming, and family-friendly thrills, it consistently boasts some of the longest wait times in the park. Unfortunately, long lines don’t always guarantee a smooth experience.
During a recent visit, a How to Disney team member joined the 70-minute standby line for Slinky Dog Dash, only to experience firsthand what happens when the popular coaster malfunctions mid-operation.
Shortly after the Lightning Lane merge point, the queue abruptly stopped. Disney Park guests initially assumed it was a temporary delay, but as the minutes stretched into nearly 90, it became clear that something was seriously wrong.
Disney Cast Members Deliver Bad News

Finally, Disney cast members arrived to confirm that Slinky Dog Dash was officially down. Guests past the merge point were instructed to leave the area. However, not all guests were treated equally when it came to recovery options.
As dozens of guests were led away from the ride’s entrance, Disney cast members with mobile devices began scanning MagicBands and park tickets for those who had already reached the merge point, granting them a special Lightning Lane Pass. This Lightning Lane could be redeemed that day for any attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios—except for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
What About the Rest of the Guests?
There was no such luck for the thousands of Walt Disney World Resort guests who had been waiting patiently but were still in the extended queue. These guests were given two options: stay in line and hope Slinky Dog Dash reopened, or leave and try again later—without a Lightning Lane pass.

In the days of FastPass+, Disney cast members were often more generous in issuing skip-the-line passes during unexpected ride closures. However, with the introduction of the paid Lightning Lane system, guests have noted a stark decrease in complimentary recovery passes.
Slinky Dog Dash resumed operations about 30 minutes later, and the guests who had received recovery Lightning Lane passes could board the ride without waiting again. The rest, however, were left weighing whether to wait in line all over again after nearly two hours of lost time.
Is This the New Normal?

Disney’s approach to ride breakdowns continues to evolve with the shift to paid Lightning Lane passes, raising questions about whether standard standby guests are being overlooked in favor of those who pay for premium access.
If you hop in a lengthy standby line at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, just know that you might not get the experience you waited for!
Has Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort given you a free Lightning Lane Pass? Share your story with How to Disney in the comments.
I don’t quite understand what you mean by the merge point? What merge point? There are two lines… a stand by line and a LL line. Each moves forward separately with guests being alternated in batches from each of the lines. There is not point where the stand by line and the LL line “merge” before the ride loads. The only time these lines might – maybe – but not really described as together would be if guests from LL and stand by lane were ready to board the same slinky dog. Just confused about this reference.