Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort last week encountered unexpected delays at EPCOT after an incident on one of the park’s most recognizable attractions disrupted operations late in the evening.
The situation unfolded inside Spaceship Earth, the slow-moving dark ride housed within EPCOT’s geodesic sphere. The attraction is a staple for first-time visitors and longtime fans alike, particularly during high-attendance holiday periods.
Spaceship Earth traces the history of human communication, moving guests through scenes depicting early storytelling, written language, printing, and modern digital technology. Its pace and design typically position it among the park’s calmer, more predictable experiences.
Opened in 1982, the attraction has undergone multiple updates over the decades. Narration has rotated among well-known voices, including Jeremy Irons and Judi Dench, as Disney refreshed individual scenes while preserving the ride’s overall structure.
A more extensive renovation was announced in 2019 as part of EPCOT’s broader reimagining. That project was later canceled, leaving Spaceship Earth largely unchanged while other planned updates across the park were scaled back or abandoned.
Despite the canceled overhaul, Spaceship Earth continues to draw steady crowds. Demand often increases during seasonal events, including EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, when wait times can remain elevated until park close.
That context made last week’s disruption particularly frustrating for guests nearing the end of their visit.
Guest Exits Ride Vehicle on Spaceship Earth
According to a guest account shared online, a rider exited her Spaceship Earth vehicle during the attraction, prompting an immediate operational response from cast members.
“According to the cast member, she was just suddenly like OK, I’m done, and then tried to walk off,” the guest wrote on Reddit.
The same post claimed the guest later addressed others nearby after leaving the attraction. “We saw her come out and she said ‘don’t get off the ride or they’ll kick you off’ like she was in the right for doing that.”
As required by safety procedures, Disney temporarily closed the attraction. Cast members stopped the ride system and conducted an inspection before allowing operations to resume.
Guests reported waiting more than 30 minutes while the ride remained offline. For some, the delay resulted in missing the opportunity to ride altogether.
“We ended up not getting to ride because we needed to get home, and it was gonna be our last ride of the night, one of my favorites, but she ruined it,” the guest added.
Safety Protocols and Prior Incidents
Exiting a ride vehicle without authorization is treated as a safety violation across Disney parks. Even slow-moving attractions rely on automated systems that require uninterrupted operation.
Spaceship Earth includes elevated track sections and confined show spaces. When a guest leaves a vehicle unexpectedly, cast members must halt the ride and verify system integrity before reopening.
Past incidents underscore the risks involved. In 1999, a 5-year-old boy was seriously injured after exiting a moving ride vehicle. The child broke his leg and suffered additional injuries, requiring several hours of surgery to repair a wound near his shin, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Similar disruptions have occurred on other Walt Disney World attractions in recent years, often during temporary ride stoppages.
In March 2025, a guest exited a log vehicle on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure after the ride paused. “Shout out to this guy, who held up everyone on Tiana’s for 30-40 minutes because he and his son jumped out of their log,” a witness wrote on Reddit.
“The ride had been paused for maybe 10 minutes with very clear announcements to remain seated. He chose to jump out of the log with his kid and try to exit,” the post continued.
In 2024, another guest exited Big Thunder Mountain Railroad while the coaster was climbing a hill, reportedly attempting to retrieve a dropped phone. Disney initiated an emergency stop and evacuated riders from the attraction.
While incidents involving guests leaving ride vehicles remain relatively uncommon, each event results in downtime, inspections, and delayed experiences for other visitors.
Have you ever experienced something similar at Disney World?
