
One of Walt Disney World Resort‘s most sophisticated animatronic figures recently left guests in shock after it unexpectedly malfunctioned mid-performance at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The dramatic moment, caught on camera, quickly went viral, sparking intense reactions from Disney Park fans.
Shaman of Songs Animatronic Suffers Dramatic Malfunction
The Shaman of Songs, a stunningly lifelike animatronic on Na’vi River Journey in Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, has been praised as one of Disney’s most technologically advanced creations. The performer gracefully and seamlessly moves and sings for guests.
However, even Disney’s most cutting-edge technology isn’t immune to errors. To prevent downtime, Walt Disney Imagineers implemented a “B-mode” backup system, allowing the animatronic to be swapped with a digital screen if necessary. But on January 12, instead of smoothly transitioning to B-mode, the Shaman suffered an alarming collapse in full view of stunned riders.
Viral Video Captures Shocking Malfunction
Last month, TikTok user @jessprettypink7 shared now-viral footage of the moment the animatronic malfunctioned. In the video, the Shaman of Songs produced a loud snapping noise before its movements abruptly stopped, its head drooping and body slumping unnaturally. Though the animatronic ceased functioning, the ride’s audio track continued playing, creating a surreal scene for guests.
@jessprettypink7
“Your telling me they spent 23M on this just to turn it into a screen,” the guest captioned their video.
The footage has since racked up millions of likes and thousands of comments.
“That snap was personal,” @coreyfeldmans.wifeirl commented.
@hipsterishfox added, “The look of shock on its face right before it powered down is terrifying actually.”
How Disney Handles Animatronic Failures
When animatronics like the Shaman of Songs malfunction, Disney cast members act swiftly to restore operations. While it’s unclear how long the ride operated with the broken animatronic, standard procedures suggest the Shaman was quickly swapped for the digital B-mode display.
Disney Dining’s team recently visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and confirmed that the Shaman of Songs is once again fully functional, indicating a quick resolution to the issue.
Have you spotted an animatronic mishap at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments.