Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Takes a Tragic Turn Amid Reports of Guest Death

For decades, Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion has been a rite of passage for theme park fans — a slow-moving journey through ghostly ballrooms, stretching portraits, and grim grinning ghouls. During the Halloween season, it transforms into Haunted Mansion Holiday, a crossover with Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas that blends two fan-favorite worlds.

This year’s seasonal overlay, however, has been overshadowed by a tragic event that unfolded inside the attraction.

On October 7, visitors reported seeing a heavy emergency presence near the attraction’s New Orleans Square entrance. Security and medical personnel rushed into the building, halting operations and leaving bystanders confused. Soon after, reports began circulating online that a guest had suffered a heart attack while riding.

Sad Report at Disneyland Resort

Posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, claimed that the guest in question was found unresponsive at the end of the ride.

“Sadly a guest had a heart attack on Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland last night,” one user wrote. “She was unresponsive when it was her turn to unload and declared DOA once she reached the hospital. Sending condolences to her family and loved ones.”

Sadly a guest had a heart attack on Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland last night. She was unresponsive when it was her turn to unload and declared DOA once she reached the hospital. Sending condolences to her family and loved ones 😢

— Matt (@DisneyScoopGuy) October 8, 2025

Eyewitnesses in the Disneyland Annual Passholder Facebook group shared similar experiences. Aaron AJ Brody recalled: “I saw all the security and medical personnel running into Haunted Mansion and knew something bad had happened. Thoughts and prayers to her family.”

Another member, Lisa Cortijo, described the scene as “heartbreaking,” noting how quickly security rushed through the area as guests looked on.

Disney has not yet released a statement regarding the incident. The attraction reopened later that evening.

Haunted Mansion’s Legacy — and Past Emergencies

Haunted Mansion has been a staple of Disneyland since 1969.

The Omnimover-style ride is celebrated for its blend of elaborate set design, atmospheric music, and dark humor. Each fall, Haunted Mansion Holiday brings Jack Skellington and the residents of Halloween Town into the mansion, creating one of the resort’s most popular seasonal offerings through January.

While the ride itself is slow and generally considered suitable for all ages, medical emergencies can occur on any attraction.

For example, in August, a guest at Hong Kong Disneyland passed away after suffering a heart attack on Frozen Ever After.

Outside Disney parks, similar tragedies have occurred. Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando experienced its own headline-making incident in September, when guest Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died following a ride on Stardust Racers.

Officials later attributed his death to “multiple blunt impact injuries.” Despite family appeals, the roller coaster reopened last weekend.