Before Disneyland Resort transformed its version of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, one Disney Park guest had an unusual experience that forced an evacuation mid-ride. The incident, which occurred long before the retheme, led to a system alert and immediate response from Disney cast members.
A Safety Alert Mid-Ride on the Tower of Terror
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror first opened at Disney California Adventure Park in 2004, following the original version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While Disneyland Resort later retired the attraction in favor of its Marvel-themed counterpart, the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris versions continue to operate in their original form.
Despite early skepticism, the Mission: BREAKOUT! overlay has become a fan favorite. However, some longtime Disney Parks fans still reminisce about their experiences on the original Tower of Terror, including Redditor u/Dis-Ducks-Fan-1130, who recalled an unexpected ride stoppage that resulted in an evacuation.
“Was on Tower of Terror in DCA and they stopped the ride during the drop sequence because their system got an alert that the force on one of the seatbelts exceeded the limit,” the Disney Park guest shared.
Disney Takes No Chances
As soon as the attraction system detected the anomaly, Disney cast members took action.
“They brought the vehicle back to the unload dock, under control, and got us off,” the guest explained.
Rather than restarting the ride with passengers on board, Disney followed protocol and escorted guests off the vehicle. Fortunately, the issue only affected one “elevator,” allowing impacted guests to board another and complete their experience.
What to Do if a Ride Stops
While unexpected ride stops can be unnerving, Disney Park attractions are designed with multiple safety mechanisms to ensure guest security. In cases like this, it’s important for guests to remain seated, avoid tampering with restraints, and wait for instructions from Disney cast members.
Has a technical problem ever occurred while you were on a Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort attraction? Share your story with How to Disney in the comments.
