You’re up early, rope dropped Magic Kingdom, snagged your Lightning Lane, and you’re finally about to board one of Disney’s most popular attractions.
And then it happens: “We apologize for the delay. This attraction is currently unavailable.” It’s the dreaded ride breakdown—and it happens more often than you might think.
Every attraction has its hiccups, but some rides at Walt Disney World just seem to break down way more than others. Whether it’s complex ride systems or just aging technology, these rides have gained a bit of a reputation among regular parkgoers. Let’s go through seven of the biggest culprits, and we’ll tell you exactly what makes each one such a breakdown magnet.
You guessed it: Rise of the Resistance
If we’re talking reliability, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance isn’t exactly a model student. It’s massive, ambitious, and absolutely jaw-dropping—when it’s working. This ride combines a trackless vehicle, motion simulators, animatronics, screens, and multiple pre-shows. That’s a lot to keep synced up perfectly. It’s incredible when it works. But sometimes… it just doesn’t.
Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid: Pretty, but finicky
This ride looks simple enough, but the omnimover system used here isn’t as smooth as it should be. You’d think it would be a dependable, low-stress attraction. Instead, it’s developed a history of stalling or stopping for prolonged periods, especially in the undersea scenes. It might be low-stakes, but it still throws off your day.
PeopleMover: The slow ride that stops even slower
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is a beloved classic, but it’s no secret that it has… performance issues. Whether it’s a slight bump that stops a car or an issue with the ride’s propulsion system, PeopleMover stalls a lot. And if you’re on it when it stops, you’re likely just sitting and waiting—with a nice view of Space Mountain’s emergency lights.
Tower of Terror: Breakdown with a side of chills
This ride still slaps, but Tower of Terror is getting up there in age. Guests have reported increased delays and sudden downtime, especially during busier seasons. Sometimes you’ll walk up to a posted wait time of 30 minutes, only to be turned around moments later due to “technical difficulties.” The haunted vibe makes the shutdowns feel spookier, though.
Cosmic Rewind: Spin, launch… and stall
EPCOT’s newest thrill ride is easily one of the best coasters Disney has ever made. But it uses an entirely new ride system, with spinning cars and timed music tracks that must work perfectly together. That means any hiccup can derail the whole experience. It’s not uncommon for this one to go down at least once during the day.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Not-so-breezy journey
Pooh’s whimsical adventure hides a more complicated ride system than it seems. With trackless segments and animated scenes, this ride breaks down more than it probably should. It actually topped Magic Kingdom’s list for most closures over a few weeks last year—which definitely raised some eyebrows.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends: Trouble under the sea
This attraction blends real aquarium views with animated projections, but it’s known to have issues with its ride vehicles and visuals. Whether it’s a projection glitch or full ride shutdown, Nemo doesn’t always cooperate. It’s a slow-moving attraction that often ends up with downtime that doesn’t match its laid-back vibe.
