Walt Disney World Resort is no stranger to the unexpected, but one recent incident left theme park guests startled as a panicked animal dashed through EPCOT before making its way to a nearby hotel. While some might assume an escapee from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the truth behind this chase is a little more surprising.
A Wild Dash Through EPCOT
Guests visiting EPCOT on Sunday evening were caught off guard when a four-legged blur shot through the World Showcase, weaving between parkgoers and cast members in a desperate sprint. Social media lit up with reports of the unexpected intruder, with some witnesses even claiming they were knocked into during the chaos.
But this wasn’t an escaped exotic animal from The Seas With Nemo & Friends. Instead, the unexpected runner was a service dog in training that had been spooked by EPCOT’s nighttime fireworks spectacular, Luminous The Symphony of Us.
First-hand Accounts of the Chase
According to reports, the frightened pup bolted from the American Adventure Pavilion, tearing through the park as Disney cast members and guests scrambled to catch up. The dog’s escape quickly gained traction online as Walt Disney World Resort visitors shared their first-hand recollections of the incident.
Reddit user u/Mysterious_Pain_9598 recalled:
“Around 9:00 last night at EPCOT, walking over the bridge from Paris towards the Skyliner, a dog ran directly into the back of my legs. Poor thing was panicking and appeared scared of the fireworks. A man was running after him, but that dog was fast…
I was so worried about him. He looked terrified. I heard security talking about him and people were trying to help. I believe he headed past the Skyliner and over the bridge towards either Boardwalk or the Yacht Club.”
A High-Speed Escape to a Nearby Hotel
Despite efforts to stop the runaway dog, the service animal made it out of EPCOT entirely, dashing toward the nearby Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels. The determined canine covered an impressive distance in a matter of minutes—what usually takes a guest a 15-minute walk became a full-speed sprint for the panicked pup.
Another witness, u/mjd459, posted, “We saw a dog running by the Swan/Dolphin about 20 minutes ago but weren’t fast enough to catch him. Looked like he had a vest on and might have been a service dog.”
The Dog’s Fate Revealed
Thankfully, Disney Parks fans soon provided additional details, confirming that the dog was part of a training group undergoing a final evaluation at EPCOT.
According to u/colets23, “A service dog training company was in the park with 4 mals as part of their final test to graduate their service dog course. Once the fireworks started the dog took off from the US allll the way out the park by France. My wife and I ran after it from Japan to France and we met with the trainer where she said it was her client’s dog. We talked to the owner and trainer both. They said it had a tracker. Heard later it was found.”
Shortly after, another Redditor, u/rilanthefirebug, confirmed, “Dog was fine and was caught.”
Disney’s Response to the EPCOT Incident
At this time, Walt Disney World Resort has not issued an official statement regarding the incident, though service dogs are a common sight at the parks. Disney welcomes service animals throughout its theme parks, ensuring they can accompany their owners on many attractions and experiences. However, as this situation demonstrated, loud noises and unpredictable settings can sometimes create challenges—even for well-trained animals.
While this particular “animal escape” ended with a happy reunion, it certainly made for an unforgettable night at EPCOT.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
